Janine Ewen – a specialist in trauma, public health, policing and harm reduction – has provided a template and brief guidance on how to negotiate a health needs assessment (HNA) involving police, without it becoming an enforcement-led endeavour.
The framework focuses on building police and partnership work projects with local agencies, including development of both police and non-police events to help people feel comfortable. This gives communities a choice whether to discuss experiences of criminal harm/exploitation, unmet health and wellbeing needs, and poor practices.
As Janine explains: “It’s more than just having an idea on how to reduce harm and bringing common sense. It’s about how to navigate and pull in the direction towards needs, and remove the data-gathering for a criminalisation actions mindset.”
Download the template from here:
health-needs-assessment