- (a) As a condition of funding, each subgrantee is required to submit every three (3) years a comprehensive community needs assessment for the community served.
(b)
- (1) The community needs assessment may be coordinated utilizing assessments conducted for other programs.
- (2) However, a single-funding-source needs assessment may not be substituted for the required three-year Community Services Block Grant community needs assessment.
(c)
- (1) Each entity is responsible for conducting or securing its own needs assessment.
- (2) The needs assessment of each entity shall describe how the assessment was conducted and provide aggregate results.
- (3) The state lead agency realizes that eligible entities require flexibility in conducting a local needs assessment, as each area varies in the resources available and the services provided.
- (d) 42 U.S.C. § 9908 § 676(b)(11) of the Community Services Block Grant Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9901 et seq., requires “an assurance that the State will secure from each eligible entity in the State, as a condition to receipt of funding by the entity through a [CSBG] made under this subtitle [42 USCS § 9901 et seq.] for a program, a community action plan (which shall be submitted to the Secretary, at the request of the Secretary, with the State plan) that includes a community-needs assessment for the community served, which may be coordinated with community-needs assessments conducted for other programs[.]”.
- (e) The community needs assessment must be updated at least annually or when major changes occur within that agency's geographic service area, for example: loss of major employer, natural disaster, etc.
- (f) The state lead agency will provide training and technical assistance, either directly by state staff or outsource, in conducting and creating a written agency-wide community needs assessment.