Community Health Assessment Scoring Guide CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED Describe the data necessary to make an informed community health assessment. Does not describe the data necessary to make an informed community health assessment. Lists the data necessary to make an informed community health assessment. Describes the data necessary to make an informed community health assessment. Describes the data necessary to make an informed community health assessment and identifies where the data can be found. Explain how data helps determine the health care needs of a community. Does not explain how data helps determine the health care needs of a community. Explains how data helps determine the health care needs of a community, but the explanation is incomplete or missing important elements. Explains how data helps determine the health care needs of a community. Explains how data helps determine the health care needs of a community, as well as gaps in the health care services available. Describe a strategy for obtaining data needed for a community health assessment. Does not describe a strategy for obtaining data needed for a community health assessment. Identifies a strategy for obtaining data needed for a community health assessment. Describes a strategy for obtaining data needed for a community health assessment. Describes a strategy for obtaining data needed for a community health assessment, identifies potential obstacles to obtaining the data, and considers secondary options for obtaining the data. Explain the factors that affect the health and wellness of a community. Does not explain the factors that affect the health and wellness of a community. Identifies the factors that affect the health and wellness of a community. Explains the factors that affect the health and wellness of a community. Explains a broad range of factors that affect the health and wellness of a community, showing a clear relationship between the factors and the health of the community. Explain how to obtain information on the factors that affect the health and wellness of a community. Does not explain how to obtain information on the factors that affect the health and wellness of a community. Explains how to obtain information on the health and wellness of a community but not on the factors that affect health and wellness, or the Explains how to obtain information on the factors that affect the health and wellness of a community. Explains how to obtain information on the factors that affect the health and wellness of a community and considers how the information can be CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT DISTINGUISHED explanation is incomplete or missing important elements. used to improve the health and wellness of the community. Explain how to establish th ...

1. Community Health Assessment Scoring Guide
CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT
DISTINGUISHED
Describe the
data necessary
to make an
informed
community
health
assessment.
Does not
describe the
data necessary
to make an
informed
community
health
assessment.
Lists the data
necessary to make
an informed
community health
assessment.
Describes the
data necessary
to make an
informed

2. community
health
assessment.
Describes the data
necessary to make
an informed
community health
assessment and
identifies where the
data can be found.
Explain how data
helps determine
the health care
needs of a
community.
Does not explain
how data helps
determine the
health care
needs of a
community.
Explains how data
helps determine the
health care needs of
a community, but
the explanation is
incomplete or
missing important
elements.
Explains how
data helps

3. determine the
health care
needs of a
community.
Explains how data
helps determine the
health care needs of
a community, as
well as gaps in the
health care services
available.
Describe a
strategy for
obtaining data
needed for a
community
health
assessment.
Does not
describe a
strategy for
obtaining data
needed for a
community
health
assessment.
Identifies a strategy
for obtaining data
needed for a
community health
assessment.

4. Describes a
strategy for
obtaining data
needed for a
community
health
assessment.
Describes a strategy
for obtaining data
needed for a
community health
assessment,
identifies potential
obstacles to
obtaining the data,
and considers
secondary options
for obtaining the
data.
Explain the
factors that
affect the health
and wellness of a
community.
Does not explain
the factors that
affect the health
and wellness of
a community.
Identifies the factors
that affect the health
and wellness of a

5. community.
Explains the
factors that
affect the health
and wellness of
a community.
Explains a broad
range of factors that
affect the health and
wellness of a
community, showing
a clear relationship
between the factors
and the health of the
community.
Explain how to
obtain
information on
the factors that
affect the health
and wellness of a
community.
Does not explain
how to obtain
information on
the factors that
affect the health
and wellness of
a community.
Explains how to
obtain information

6. on the health and
wellness of a
community but not
on the factors that
affect health and
wellness, or the
Explains how to
obtain
information on
the factors that
affect the health
and wellness of
a community.
Explains how to
obtain information
on the factors that
affect the health and
wellness of a
community and
considers how the
information can be
CRITERIA NON-PERFORMANCE BASIC PROFICIENT
DISTINGUISHED
explanation is
incomplete or
missing important
elements.
used to improve the
health and wellness

7. of the community.
Explain how to
establish the
validity and
reliability of data
used in a
community
health
assessment.
Does not explain
how to establish
the validity and
reliability of data
used in a
community
health
assessment.
Explains how to
establish the validity
and reliability of
data used in a
community health
assessment, but the
explanation is
inaccurate or
missing key
elements.
Explains how to
establish the
validity and
reliability of data
used in a

8. community
health
assessment.
Explains how to
establish the validity
and reliability of data
used in a community
health assessment
and identifies
options if the data
are not found to be
valid and reliable.
Write content
clearly and
logically with
correct use of
grammar,
punctuation, and
mechanics.
Does not write
content clearly,
logically, or with
correct use of
grammar,
punctuation, and
mechanics.
Writes with errors in
clarity, logic,
grammar,
punctuation, or
mechanics.

9. Writes content
clearly and
logically, with
correct use of
grammar,
punctuation,
and mechanics.
Writes clearly and
logically, with correct
use of spelling,
grammar,
punctuation, and
mechanics; uses
relevant evidence to
support a central
idea.
Correctly format
citations and
references using
current APA
style.
Does not
correctly format
citations and
references using
current APA
style.
Uses current APA to
format citations and
references but with
numerous errors.

10. Correctly
formats citations
and references
using current
APA style with
few errors.
Correctly formats
citations and
references with no
errors.
Overview
Write a 2–4-page report on the concepts, processes, and tools
needed to conduct a community health assessment, how to find
the data, and how to validate the data. Explain the factors that
can affect the health of a community, along with how to obtain
that information.
Understanding community and state health care issues and
concerns, the local resources available, and accessibility of
those resources can inform health care practices and improve
quality patient outcomes.
By successfully completing this assessment, you will
demonstrate your proficiency in the following course
competencies and assessment criteria:
Competency 2: Describe the concepts, processes, and tools
required to conduct comprehensive health assessments for
individuals, families, communities, and populations.
Describe the data necessary to make an informed community
health assessment.
Explain how data helps determine the health care needs of a
community.
Describe a strategy for obtaining data needed for a community
health assessment.
Explain how to establish the validity and reliability of data used

11. in a community health assessment.
Competency 3: Explain the internal and external factors that can
affect the health of individuals, families, communities, and
populations.
Explain the factors that affect the health and wellness of a
community.
Explain how to obtain information on the factors that affect the
health and wellness of a community.
Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly,
professional, and consistent with expectations of a nursing
professional.
Write content clearly and logically with correct use of grammar,
punctuation, and mechanics.
Correctly format citations and references using current APA
style
Context
Social and lifestyle behaviors can affect health. In fact, some
would argue that many, if not most, health risks can be
mitigated through lifestyle and behavioral changes. With this in
mind, the health care provider must be aware of the
socioeconomic factors and the lifestyle factors present in a
population.
Both social and cultural factors influence many lifestyle factors.
Living environment, housing conditions, employment factors,
diet, and cultural beliefs all play a role in a person's levels of
risk and resulting health. The nursing assessment must include
these social influences as part of the domain necessary for
evaluation and inclusion in the assessment approach, and
integrate a framework for analysis, which includes all the social
milieus associated with each dimension.
Evidence-based health assessments are done using health data
from private and public organizations. There are many
opportunities for gathering health data in a community, through
public health systems and through private records, where
approval has been obtained from participants.
Collecting primary data must involve informed consent.

12. Secondary sources can also be used by obtaining aggregate data
from health plans and health care providers that do not include
personalized demographic data. Each of these data sources can
be important to forming a picture of a community's health,
which can then be compared to national standard data such as
that provided through Healthy People 2020. Understanding the
current health status and the perceived needs of a community
can help to provide the valuable information needed to set forth
a plan which evaluates the current and future health needs of the
community.
Questions to Consider
To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider
the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a
work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your
professional community.
What types of techniques and activities should be included in a
community health assessment?
How can these techniques and activities help determine both
assets and gaps in health care services in a community?
Suggested Resources
Like, R. C. (2011). Educating clinicians about cultural
competence and disparities in health and health care. Journal of
Continuing Education in the Health Professions, 31(3), 196–
206.
Estrada, D. M. (2011). A community risk assessment of the city
of Santa Ana, California (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from
ProQuest database. (UMI Number: 1499248).
Johnson, C. V., Bartgis, J., Worley, J. A., Hellman, C. M., &
Burkhart, R. (2010). Urban Indian voices: A community-based
participatory research health and needs assessment. American
Indian and Alaska Native Mental Health Research, 17(1), 49–
70.
Nieto, F. J., Peppard, P. E., Engelman, C. D., McElroy, J. A.,
Galvao, L. W., Friedman, E. M., & . . . Malecki, K. C. (2010).
The Survey of the Health of Wisconsin (SHOW), a novel

13. infrastructure for population health research: rationale and
methods. BMC Public Health, 10, 785–796.
Internet Resources
Access the following resources by clicking the links provided.
Please note that URLs change frequently. Permissions for the
following links have either been granted or deemed appropriate
for educational use at the time of course publication.
Healthy People 2020. (2015). Retrieved from
http://www.healthypeople.gov/
Community Health Status Indicators (CHSI 2015). (2015).
Retrieved from http://wwwn.cdc.gov/communityhealth
National Center for Health Statistics. (2015). Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/
Bookstore Resources
Clark, C. C., & Paraska, K. K. (2014). Health promotion for
nurses: A practical guide. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.
Chapters 6, 7, and 8
Maurer, F. A., & Smith, C. M. (2013). Community/public health
nursing practice: Health for families and populations (5th ed.).
St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier.
Chapter 19
Assessment Instructions
Imagine you work for an organization that has decided to open a
satellite facility in an underserved community. Your
organization asks you to move to the new location and assist
with some of the preliminary work. Part of this work is to
determine the health care needs of the community. How will
you do this? What information will you need to know? Where
will you find the information?
Preparation
Search the library and the Internet for peer-reviewed journal
articles on how to conduct a community health assessment. You
will need at least 3 resources to use in this assessment.
Directions
Develop a plan for a community health assessment in which you

14. complete the following:
Describe the type of data needed to make an informed
community health assessment.
Explain how the data will help determine the health care needs
of the community.
Describe your strategy for obtaining the necessary data.
Explain the factors that impact the health and wellness of a
community. (Hint: This is a very broad list. Think outside the
box on this one!)
Explain how you will obtain information on these factors for
your specific community.
Explain how you will determine if the data and information you
obtain is valid and reliable.
Format this assessment as a report that you would submit to a
director or other organizational leader. You are still required to
follow APA guidelines for in-text citations and references.
Additional Requirements
Include a title page and reference page.
Ensure your assessment is 2–4 pages in length.
Use double-spaced, 12-pt., Times New Roman font.
(Recommended)