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Demonstration

Needs Assessment

Applying rapid community assessments in public health strategies: a demonstration of evaluation techniques, local examples, and implementation tips to increase vaccine confidence and uptake

Stream: Program Development and Design

Thursday, October 24, 2024
3:45 PM - 4:45 PM PST
Location: C120-122
Abstract Information: The Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center is leading novel evaluation technical assistance for more than one-dozen local health departments across the State of Connecticut to conduct vaccine-focused rapid community assessments. This rapid community assessment (RCA) approach is adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Rapid Community Assessment on Vaccine Confidence and follows a four week process, with Week 1 for planning, Week 2 for implementation (data collection) and rapid analysis, Week 3 for data synthesis, and Week 4 for report writing and planning for action. RCAs amplify community partner and community resident voices at each stage. These rapid community assessments aim to identify the facilitators and barriers to vaccination and the trusted messengers and communication channels that are valued within the community. The RCA findings are used to inform strategies and media campaigns and increase equity, allowing for community-responsive and community-driven public health interventions. Local health departments have applied findings to design interventions and messaging campaigns to increase access to and confidence in childhood and adult vaccines, strengthened relationships with community residents and partners, and have built capacity to conduct future RCA related to vaccines and other public health priorities. This type of needs assessment takes a pragmatic approach, allowing teams to quickly gain community insights on focused topics and respond with community-driven solutions. The presenters will provide a complete demonstration of this rapid community assessment approach, including case studies of the process, tips to implementation, and ways that it can be applied to other public health issues beyond vaccines.