Assessment is a critical first step in prevention planning; without it, communities risk selecting strategies that do not address the true problem or its contributing factors.
In Step 1: Assessment, you will systematically gather and analyze local data related to the priority problem—NMUPD among high school-age youth—which will help you do the following:
- Identify the nature and extent of the NMUPD problem and related behaviors among different groups, including those defined by age, gender, race/ethnicity, or other demographic characteristics
- Identify health disparities (preventable differences in the burden of disease that are experienced by socially disadvantaged populations) related to NMUPD
- Determine whether your community or organization is ready to address the priority problem(s) and what additional resources may be needed
- Identify intervening variables (risk factors and protective factors linked to NMUPD within the community)
These data will also serve as a baseline for program monitoring and evaluation.