AGENDA PACKET - Laserfiche WebLink

PAGE 4 Needs Assessment North Star Power Sharing Quantitative Data Qualitative Data Recommendations: Approach and Actionable Social and Structural Determinants of Health Steering Committee Strengths-Based approach Tri-Valley Triangulation Upstream and Downstream Factors A process and resulting resource used to understand the qualities of a given community including its strengths and opportunities for growth. Needs Assessments often use both quantitative and qualitative data to gain a representative depiction of a community. A constant reference point for decision-making, helping to steer the direction of the work and maintain cohesion across programs and initiatives. Distribution of power in which different representative groups share decision making and other responsibilities. Can be counted, measured, or given a numerical value. In this needs assessment, the quantitative data include demographic information such as race, ethnicity, age, income, employment, marriage status, etc. Quantitative data can be collected through surveys, census, local organizations and county agencies, and other sources. Typically collected through focus groups, interviews, and conversations. These data are not numerical. Qualitative data collection methods allow community members to share their experiences and deep insights that are more difficult to capture quantitatively/numerically. Recommendations in this report are categorized into ‘Approach’ and 'Actionable.’ Approach recommendations encompass broad or overarching factors that should be integrated into any approach to meet a human service need, regardless of the specific strategy employed. Actionable recommendations are more precise, focused on a singular or multiple social determinant of health simultaneously. The non-medical factors that influence health outcomes, including the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. They include economic policies and systems, development agendas, social norms, social policies and political systems.6 An advisory group formed for the Eastern Alameda County Human Services Needs Assessment with representatives from the three cities, Alameda County, local nonprofits, and JSI Project Team members. This committee provided oversight and support to the project and assisted with the distribution of findings. Focuses on identifying and building upon a community or individual’s strengths. It is a shift from focusing on the issues in a community only. Another term for the three cities in Eastern Alameda County: Dublin, Livermore, and Pleasanton. The cities are geographically adjacent to each other, totaling 65.95 square miles and a collective population of 234,282. The use of multiple methods (e.g., interviews and focus groups) or data sources in qualitative research to develop a deep understanding of a theme or event. Triangulation is important in ensuring information is accurate. Upstream factors: Structural or contributing conditions that affect a person’s health or wellbeing. For example, when individuals speak of the need for affordable housing, they often acknowledge other forces such as inflation and the need for a living wage. Downstream factors: The result of upstream factors affecting health. These are often measured as individual-level factors that shape a person’s health outcomes, or the health outcomes themselves. For example, an individual’s ability to access fresh fruits and vegetables affects their risk of developing diabetes. EASTERN ALAMEDA COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES NEEDS ASSESSMENTSS Page 62 of 554