Step 2: Establishing Relationships and Building a Task Force
Step 3: Writing Policies and Procedures
Step 4: Implementing and Evaluating
"As a practical matter, a needs assessment provides objective information about both the nature and the level of drug use among the students." (Guidelines Concerning SDT in Virginia Public Schools, 2004)
For this resource, a needs assessment refers to a process that collects and examines information about school-wide issues related to illegal drug use and then utilizes that data to prioritize future goals, to develop a plan, and to allocate funds and resources. There are a variety of resources that yield information regarding drug and alcohol use among adolescents.
Some examples of how information may be obtained include:
Findings: Once survey results and other data are collected, they will need to be analyzed. Their findings will help to determine whether the school has a significant illegal drug problem and if a student drug testing program should be implemented. Drug testing is a welcome enhancement to most schools' current drug prevention programs.
Presenting Data: If it is decided to implement a student drug testing program, a report will need to be presented to the decision-makers within the school community. This may include but is not limited to: the school board, the superintendent, principal, and/or school director.
When presenting data to community members and decision-makers, the presentation should include the following sections: