The process involves the collection and analysis of a large range of data, including demographic, socioeconomic and health statistics, and public and professional opinion. The document is a summary of all the available evidence and serves as a resource until the next assessment. Together they serve as the basis for prioritizing the community’s health needs and culminate in planning to meet those needs.

In communities where there is an active Healthy Carolinians partnership, the coalition of partners may coordinate the community assessment process with support from the local health department. Healthy Carolinians is “a network of public-private partnerships across North Carolina that shares the common goal of helping all North Carolinians to be healthy.” The members of local coalitions are interested members of the public and representatives of the agencies and organizations that serve the health and human service needs of the local community, as well as businesses, churches, schools and civic groups.