Phase 4: Establishing Health and/or Program Priorities

In the fourth phase of the process, program participants reconvene to present findings from the community survey and focus groups and to establish consensus among key community stakeholders on priorities for intervention.

Setting health priorities for action is a central task in the community health assessment process. This is not an easy task. Developing goals and objectives requires the synthesis of complex data and a careful balancing of viewpoints, values and realities regarding what issues should command priority attention. The lead organization may also have predetermined the areas they want to work on and may simply organize the community to gain buy-in for their priorities rather than the issues of importance to the community.

1. Community members reconvene to present findings from the initial community meeting
2. Community members and key stakeholders form consensus regarding health/program priorities
3. Community leaders plan intervention strategies

1. Community members review findings and discuss how they want to proceed
2. Consensus is formed
3. Potential intervention strategies (projects) are discussed

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