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Community Needs Assessment
Pierce County Human Services and the Metropolitan Development Council (MDC) Community Action Programs are conducting a comprehensive assessment to identify strengths, barriers, and resources in the community to meet the needs of children, youth and families.
We are looking for residents in Tacoma and Pierce County to take the survey for the 2023-2024 Community Needs Assessment (CNA), which focuses on the capabilities of the community. The purpose of the CNA is to identify the needs of our community, how well we are meeting those needs, and what gaps currently exist. By taking this anonymous survey, you will help us determine the future of services and programs for the Tacoma-Pierce County area. Survey participants will have the chance to enter to win a $25 Visa gift card!
For us to better serve the residents of Tacoma and Pierce County, we need to critically evaluate ourselves, while understanding the assets of the community and their needs. For this year's CNA, we're approaching this work with strategies to engage community voices, especially those who are often left out of the process. Your voice makes an impact on the services and programs offered in Pierce County.
The survey is available below in multiple languages through December 7, 2023. To request a paper copy, or a survey in a language not listed below, please email [email protected] or call 253-798-4445.
TAKE THE SURVEY
- English
- Español - Spanish
- 한국인 - Korean
- русский - Russian
- Tiếng Việt - Vietnamese
- ខ្មែរ - Khmer
- Samoa - Samoan
- українська - Ukrainian
SUpport the CNA
- Download and share our digital flyer.
- Follow Pierce County on these social media platforms to share posts about the CNA:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pierceco
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/piercecounty/
- Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/pierceco
- Use and share our social media toolkit.
Join a focus group
Join us for exciting in-person events, the Tacoma-Pierce County Community Focus Groups! We're gathering in person and online to discuss important topics that impact our community. This is your chance to have your voice heard and make a difference. Come prepared to share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences. Register for focus groups using the following links:
Community Action Programs around the country are required by federal funders to conduct community needs assessments (CNA) every 3 years.
The CNA gathers information from residents on topics ranging from social and economic issues to health and transportation, and everything in between. The information gathered and analyzed will assist us in making programmatic changes and improvements.
There are two Community Action Agencies in Pierce County - one is the Metropolitan Development Council (MDC), which serves Tacoma, and the other is Pierce County Human Services (PCHS), which serves all of Pierce County, outside the city limits of Tacoma. To get the most comprehensive data from all residents in Pierce County, and to improve overall service performance, MDC and PCHS have decided to collaborate and conduct one assessment for both agencies for 2023-2024.
MDC has been serving residents since 1964 and Pierce County Community Action Programs have been serving residents since 1970.
What are Community Action Programs and what services do they provide?
Community Action Programs are local private and public non-profit organizations that carry out programs founded by the 1964 Economic Opportunity Act to fight poverty by empowering the poor. There are over 1,000 in the nation, 29 in Washington State, and 2 in Pierce County. These programs are intended to promote self-sufficiency and change lives for the better.
Pierce County Community Action Programs are for residents living outside the city limits of Tacoma and include:
- Energy Assistance
- Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP)
- Minor Home Repair (for residents living outside the city limits of Tacoma and Lakewood)
- Home Weatherization
MDC Community Action Programs include:
- Energy Assistance (Tacoma residents only)
- Home Weatherization (Tacoma residents only)
- Housing
- Behavioral Health
- Childcare/Food
- Youth Education
- Adult Education
Other services and programs available from Pierce County include:
- Aging and Disability Resources
- Developmental Disabilities
- Eviction Prevention
- Housing Assistance
- Transportation
- Veterans Assistance
Other services and programs available from MDC include:
- Drive to Achieve Mobile Success Hub
- Upward Bound
- Educational Opportunity Center
Click below to see Community Needs Assessments from previous years.
Pierce County Community Action Programs