Crescendo Consulting Group has been a leading provider of Community Needs Assessment services for more than 20 years.
As the importance of the assessment process has grown, so too has the range of potential applications and geographic diversity. Crescendo has provided assessments in some of the nation’s most challenging regions, as well as some of the most affluent in every region of the county from Florida to Alaska and Maine to California, including community-wide assessments, community health assessments and sector-specific needs assessments.
In our select client list by service category, you will see that some examples of work with small and large healthcare systems, Public Health Departments, municipalities, Sovereign Tribal Nations, and others across the country.
Client and Assessment Types
The firm’s community-based, integrated Assessment as Action Health Improvement Cycle© design helps develop highly inclusive, thorough assessments that drive community improvements and support strategic planning, funding applications, and implementation efforts.
Some of the many organizations and types of Community Needs Assessments the firm has conducted include:
- Hospitals and healthcare systems that conduct either Community Health Assessments (CHAs) or Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) to ensure compliance with IRS requirements that organizations that operate one or more hospitals must conduct a CHNA at least once every three years, to retain its tax-exempt status as a section 501(c)(3) organization. Crescendo supports IRS-compliant CHNA processes and related Implementation Strategy development.
- Community Action Agencies and Other Organizations that require a Community Needs Assessment (CNA) as part of their funding or reporting requirements for Community Service Block Grants (CSBG) and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), as well as broader community assessments for municipalities and regional collaboratives.
- Public Sector – City, County, State, Regional, and Native Tribal Entities that are constructing focused analyses of issues related to poverty, and other social determinants of well-being (often referred to as social determinants of health or SDoH) to capitalize on community strengths while efficiently addressing prioritized needs.
- Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Providers, such as Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) and others who need Community Behavioral Health Needs Assessments to achieve or maintain certification and to implement effective strategies to address broad-based and/or urgent issues, including annual update and reporting requirements.
About Assessment as Action Health Improvement Cycle
Crescendo’s Assessment as Action© model establishes a continuous process improvement framework aligned with public health assessment and community improvement best practices. The model works to identify community strengths and prioritize service gaps, needs, and barriers; develop and implement programs; collect process and outcomes data, and revise programs and strategies to better address core issues.
The model simultaneously engages community members and uses data to create a positive cycle of change. It also develops a deeper understanding of community challenges, and, enables partners to coalesce around – and act upon – the opportunities for population health improvement and health equity advancement.
Our Innovative Approaches
Crescendo remains on the leading edge of methodological innovation with tools that enhance the value and utility of your Assessment. The firm’s expertise in community engagement, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Trauma Informed Care enhance each of the specific methodologies noted below.
Crescendo modifies the project methodology for every engagement based on a client’s unique needs and the community’s unique characteristics. However, Crescendo’s core approach includes:
- Primary qualitative research with key stakeholders, service providers, and other community members utilizing One-to-one Interviews, focus group meetings (in person and virtual), and other techniques.
- Geo-demographic secondary data collection and analysis. Where possible, Crescendo will deploy statistical analysis and forecasting tools to help anticipate future needs.
- Prioritization of the community needs and service gaps using a proprietary approach that builds consensus around the results and lays the foundation for action.
- Clear, well-cited, and easily deployable reports and supporting materials.
- Ongoing support and assistance, as needed.