Assessment is a significant phase of the MAPP process
MAPP brings four assessments together to drive the development of a community strategic plan — Four unique and comprehensive assessments gather information to drive the identification of strategic issues. The essential services most associated with the core function of assessment are:
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Monitor health status to identify community health problems.
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Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community.
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Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues.
The four MAPP Assessments are:
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The Community Themes and Strengths Assessment identifies themes that interest and engage the community, perceptions about quality of life, and community assets.
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The Local Health System Assessment measures the capacity of the local health system to conduct essential public health services.
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The Community Health Status Assessment analyzes data about health status, quality of life and risk factors in the community.
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The Forces of Change Assessment identifies forces that are occurring or will occur that will affect the community or the local health system.
The graphic of the MAPP model illustrates the phases of MAPP process, shown in the center. The four MAPP assessments -the key content areas that drive the process - are shown in the outer circle.
To initiate the MAPP process, lead organizations in the community begin by organizing themselves and preparing to implement MAPP (Organize for Success/Partnership Development). Community-wide strategic planning requires a high level of commitment from partners, stakeholders, and the community residents who are recruited to participate.
The second phase of the MAPP process is Visioning. A shared vision and common values provide a framework for pursuing long-range community goals. During this phase, the community answers questions such as “What would we like our community to look like in 10 years?”
Next, the four MAPP Assessments are conducted, providing critical insights into challenges and opportunities throughout the community:
The Community Themes and Strengths Assessment provides a deep understanding of the issues residents feel are important by answering the questions “What is important to our community?” “How is quality of life perceived in our community?” and “What assets do we have that can be used to improve community health? ”
The Local Health System Assessment is a comprehensive assessment of all of the organizations and entities that contribute to the public’s health. The Local Public Health System answers the questions “What are the activities, competencies, and capacities of our local health system?” and “How are the Essential Services being provided to our community?”
The Community Health Status Assessment identifies priority issues related to community health and quality of life. Questions answered during the phase include “How healthy are our residents?” and “What does the health status of our community look like?”
The Forces of Change Assessment focuses on the identification of forces such as legislation, technology, and other issues that affect the context in which the community and its public health system operates. This answers the questions “What is occurring or might occur that affects the health of our community or the local health system?” and “What specific threats or opportunities are generated by these occurrences
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