Child Needs Assessment Toolkit
This toolkit is designed to assist organizations in assessing the needs of children in communities heavily affected by HIV/AIDS. The assessment provides information about the household, family, the main caregiver of young children, each child under 8 years of age, their basic needs (housing, food, clothes, bedding, daily activities, health, education and childcare), and unmet needs. The information from the assessment is intended to be used to design service programs, targeted to the needs of these young children and their families.
The survey questionnaire, although designed for high AIDS prevalence areas, is quite general, and could be easily modified for use in other settings where children are orphaned and/or vulnerable.
Description:
The needs assessment is carried out through the use of a survey of households in the area served by the organization, sometimes called the "catchment" area. The tool is essentially a detailed guide for conducting cluster surveys of households with young children and producing information on individual as well as community needs. The survey instrument, definitions, script for the interviewer, and training materials are included in the package. The software that accompanies this package includes a program for analysis and generation of reports.
Intended users:
The format is in sufficient detail to permit NGOs, government agencies and multilateral organizations to coordinate an effective study with available resources. Users should be familiar with conducting a survey, interviewing, cluster sampling and methodology, using a computer, and interpreting survey results.
Developed by:
Task Force for Child Survival and Development 2001-2002 in the USA
Application:
Rwanda 2002; Tanzania 2001; South Africa 2002; Namibia and Cameroon
Advantages:
The software programming needed to enter the data and run analysis is already programmed and provided with the kit. Thus, immediately upon entering data, results can be generated for use on planning programs.
The toolkit survey uses common methodology (cluster sampling) and common software (Epi Info). The software is free.
Limitations:
The toolkit is best used in a typical district or provincial setting. It cannot determine the needs of a national programme without consideration of needed sampling frame and adaptation of the statistical framework. It also does not take into account the needs of street children or others not living in a family group.
Recommendations for users:
Restrict use to the district or provincial setting.
Reports and Publications:
None at this time.
Availability:
English, French, Swahili, Kinyarwanda
Contact:
Martha R. Rogers, MD
750 Commerce Dr., Suite 400
Decatur, GA 30030
Fax : 404-371-9098
mrogers@taskforce.org
www.taskforce.org