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

Resource Analysis Data Collection

Data collection is the first phase of conducting a resource assessment. At this point, resources (e.g., services, programs) in your community need to be identified. It is strongly recommended that you attempt to identify only those resources which may be impacting the risk and protective factors which you prioritized through your community assessment. This will limit the scope of your task to a manageable size. Once you have your priority risk and protective factors identified, the following six steps can be completed to collect data for your resource assessment:

1. Determine what type of resources will be reviewed in the assessment:
   • Will you include only substance abuse prevention programs or generic prevention programs?
   • Will you include both direct and indirect services?
   • Will you include both formal and informal programs?
   • Will you include only publicly-funded programs?
   • Will you include state, county, and local programs or only local programs?
     
     
2. Determine how you will assess the potential resources.
   To assist you with data collection, the following form can be used:
   • Program Data Collection worksheet
     
3. Determine how resources will be identified.
   The following are information sources which could be used:
   • Listings of 501(c)3 agencies (non-profit agencies) in your community
   • Key informants (people who work in and around the prevention field in your community)
   • Telephone directories
   • Helpline directories
   • State agency records
   • Religious institutions and ministry associations
   • Jail administrators (they know where people can connect with services)
   • Community action councils
   • Community foundations
   • City halls (especially in small towns)
   • Food banks
     
     
4. Determine how the survey and worksheet will be used:
   • Telephone survey
   • Mail survey
   • Personal interview (conducting an in-person interview with the resource providers)
   • Record interview (using existing information such as grant applications and contracts)
     
     
5. Determine who the potential respondents to the survey and/or worksheet will be:
   • State-level staff (e.g., the Single State Agency responsible for substance abuse prevention)
   • Agency directors
   • Program directors
   • Program staff (need these folks if want program-level details!)
   • Records (e.g., grant applications, contracts, memorandum of agreement) 
     
     
6. Collect the data.
   In summary, the steps for collecting resource assessment data are:
   • Determine what type of resources will be reviewed in the assessment.
   • Determine how you will assess the potential resources.
   • Determine how resources will be identified.
   • Determine how the survey and worksheet will be used.
   • Determine who the potential respondents  to the survey and/or worksheet will be.
   • Collect the data.

Next Step: Analyze the Data