Western > Resources > Planning and Best Practices > Step 4 > Data Analysis

Resource Assessment Data Analysis

How do we analyze all of the data we have collected?

Once you have collected resource assessment information, it is time to analyze the data. Your data analysis will assist you in selecting new prevention programs to implement and/or modify existing programs to enhance their effectiveness.

The following are questions (excerpted from the Communities That Care training manual) that need to be asked of the data. Use the questions to assess each current community program from which you collected information:

For a form to assist you in summarizing the answers to the above questions, click here.

1. Does the program address known risk factors? If so, which ones? How does it reduce or eliminate the risk?
   It must be evident which risk factors are being addressed by the program/activity.
    
2. How does the program increase protective factors?
   Programs need to reduce risks in a way that builds bonds and strengthens clear standards for behavior. Does the program increase opportunities for youth to contribute? Does it teach the skills to contribute? Does it recognize skillful or successful performance? To be effective, the program must do all three.
    
3. Does the program intervene early, at a developmentally appropriate time?
   Prevention programs need to address risk factors as they are becoming salient (e.g., before academic failure occurs), before the behavior stabilizes.
    
4. Is it likely the program reaches those individuals or groups at greatest risk?
   Prevention programs need to be implemented in places where there are a large proportion of youngsters who are facing multiple risk factors. One way to assess programs for this criteria is to look at the target populations being served by the program. How widespread is the program? Does it adequately cover the target population? It may need to be implemented in more areas, or in different ways.
    
5. Does the program work with the diverse racial, cultural and economic groups in your community?
   Is the program delivered in a way that the groups relate to? Do the target groups prioritize it as something important? Is it appropriate to their needs? Is the program accessible to the group for which it is designed? If not, can it be modified to become accessible?
    
6. Does it address multiple risks with multiple strategies?
   For each program ask, "Does this complement other programs seeking to address this priority risk factor -- in other domains, or with other groups or ages?" and "How can this program complement programs focused on other risk factors we have prioritized?"
    
7. Has the program been evaluated? What evidence exists of its effectiveness?
   If a program meets all other criteria and appears to be effective, but has not been evaluated, consider encouraging the program to do a formal evaluation.

Next Step: Determining the gaps in service