DSRIP Community Needs Assessment

This guidance document is to assist emerging DSRIP Performing Provider Systems (PPS) to plan, undertake and complete a Community Needs Assessment efficiently and effectively. The Community Needs Assessment should be a comprehensive assessment of the health care resources, including behavioral health, and community based service resources currently available in the service area and the demographics and health needs of the population to be served. The Community Needs Assessment should also include evaluation of the data related to health care service use and needs as provided by the Department and collected by the PPS. To choose the most appropriate projects for the PPS to undertake, the PPS needs a solid understanding of the currently available and the needed components of the health care system and the health status and needs of the population in the geographic region in which they are functioning.