Identify Assets/Resources Available
Planning effective health interventions requires mapping community assets. Asset mapping is a systematic process of cataloging key services, benefits, and resources within the community, such as individuals’ skill sets, organizational resources, physical space, institutions, associations, and elements of the local economy. These assets can be used by your program to overcome barriers to health. Asset mapping can help to:
- Identify community assets and strengths
- Ensure the intervention’s relevance to community needs
- Obtain buy-in from the community
There are multiple approaches to preparing a community asset map. One approach is for the convening organization to prepare and present a draft asset map to the members of a community network for discussion and revision.
Figure 1: A Sample Community Asset Map

Other examples of community assets may include: emergency medical services, nursing or adult care homes, mental health facilities, community health centers, health clinics, home health and hospice care, school health services, medical and health transportation, dental care providers, homeless health projects, free clinics and pharmacies, recreational facilities and fitness centers, pharmacy services, ancillary services (X-ray, laboratory), voluntary/private medical facilities, substance and alcohol abuse services, medical and health equipment suppliers, dialysis centers, chiropractic services, and child care.
Resources to Learn More
Brainstorm: Community
Assets
Document
A list to help guide brainstorming of community strengths.
Organization(s): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention
and Health Promotion
Discovering Community Power: A
Guide to Mobilizing Local Assets and Your Organization’s Capacity
Document
Helps organizations connect with and invest community assets, and strengthen current and future community based
projects, activities, and proposals.
Author(s): Kretzmann, J. & McKnight, J.
Organization(s): Asset-Based Community Development Institute, School of Education and Social Policy,
Northwestern University
Date: 2005
Identify
Community Assets and Resources
Website
Tools to help identify and assess a community's strengths and assets.
Organization(s): County Health Rankings and Roadmaps
Mapping
Community Assets Workbook
Document
This toolkit guides communities through the process of identifying resources and assets in their community.
Author(s): Dorfman, D.
Date: 9/1998