NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH EMOTIONAL OR BEHAVIORAL-DISORDERS AND THEIR FAMILIES .1. A CONCEPTUAL-MODEL

Communities throughout the nation are attempting to develop comprehens ive systems of community-based interagency care for children and youth with emotional or behavioral disorders and their families. Needs asse ssment has been identified as a key component of these initiatives. A needs assessment provides system planners with the data needed to make informed decisions with regard to improving the current system of car e, In this first of a two-article series, an overview is presented of a model needs assessment designed for implementation by an interagency coalition interested in developing a comprehensive system of communit y-based services for children and youth with emotional or behavioral d isorders and their families. Major components of the model include fou ndations for needs assessment, data collection, and data utilization.