Beginning in 2009, Metropolitan Social Services completed a series of Community Needs Evaluations. The community evaluation effort is a data-based process of monitoring and reporting that is replicated on a regular basis. It involves the public and private sectors in ongoing community-wide efforts to identify and address the needs of families in Davidson County that are struggling financially.
The 2009 Community Needs Evaluation focused on the policy areas of Workforce & Economic Opportunity, Food & Nutrition, Housing, Home & Community Based Services and Transportation. In 2010, 2011 and 2012, the policy areas expanded to Child Care, Food, Health, Housing, Neighborhood Development, Workforce Development, and Home and Community Based Services-Adults/Seniors. The 2011 and 2012 editions also describe the importance of using evidence-based practices and include examples for each policy area. Recent years include Aging and Disability, Food and Nutrition, Health and Human Development, Housing and Neighborhoods, Workforce and Economic Opportunity, and special topics such as Adverse Childhood Experiences.
Community Needs Evaluations provide an overview of social service needs and identify current and anticipated needs based on trends in the community. They show changes in the magnitude and patterning of poverty and well-being in recent years and among diverse social and demographic groups. This information can be used to anticipate service needs and maximize the availability of social services among Nashvillians and is designed to guide policy makers, professional practitioners, advocates and philanthropists in their efforts to alleviate poverty.
- 2009 Community Needs Evaluation
- 2010 Community Needs Evaluation
- 2011 Community Needs Evaluation
- 2012 Community Needs Evaluation
- 2013 Community Needs Evaluation
- 2014 Community Needs Evaluation
- 2015 Community Needs Evaluation
- 2016 Community Needs Evaluation
- Presentation Slides from Social and Economic Disparity in Nashville - April 7, 2017
- 2017 Community Needs Evaluation
- Presentation Slides from Profile of Financially Struggling People in Nashville - February 21, 2018
- 2018 Community Needs Evaluation
- Presentation Slides from March 20, 2019 CNE Release Event
- 2019 Community Needs Evaluation
- 2020 Community Needs Evaluation
- 2021 Community Needs Evaluation
- 2022 Community Needs Evaluation
- 2023 Community Needs Evaluation