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Now that you have gathered a lot of interesting information, what do you do with it? It is time to analyze your data, and develop some conclusions as to how to proceed next.
Listed below are several questions that will help you to analyze the information you have collected, and arrive at some decisions. If you plan to apply for membership to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada or Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, you will be required to answer these, and possibly other, questions in writing. Putting your answers in writing is also useful when applying for funding. Funders want to be sure that your proposed program is based on a well-researched, substantiated need. As you respond to each of these questions, you must back up all of your answers by drawing on the data you have collected.
 Describe the process you used to gather the data for your needs assessment. Whom did you consult? How did you obtain information from them?
- Describe the group of children and youth whose needs you examined (for example: total numbers, family composition, particular issues they are facing, or other important characteristics). If you are targeting a specific group of children and youth in your community, describe this target group and why you are focusing your assessment on them.
- What do you believe are the most pressing needs and interests of children and youth in your community, or of your specific target group?
- Is there agreement with others in your community that these are the most important needs and interests of children and youth, or of your specific target group?
- What services for children and youth, or your specific target group, currently exist to meet these and other related needs and interests? What gaps or overlaps in services exist?
- What type of program or service do you believe is required to respond to the needs and interests of children and youth in your community, or of your specific target group?
- What is the desired outcome or result of this program or service for children and youth? That is, what difference will it make for these young people’s lives?
- How will this program or service address the need and achieve the desired outcome?
- Do others in your community agree that such a program or service is required?
- What are others in your community prepared to do to support this program or service?
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