The HSPPS state that the information gathered in the community assessment must guide a number of decisions in order to design a program that meets community needs and builds upon its strengths and resources (45 CFR §1302.11). Specifically, data analysis must inform decisions regarding:

• Identifying children from diverse economic backgrounds that would be supported by other funding, including private pay in addition to the program's eligible funded enrollment (45 CFR §1302.11(b)(3))
• Establishing ongoing collaborative relationships and partnerships with community organizations to facilitate access to community services that are responsive to children's and families' needs, family partnership goals, and community needs and resources  (45 CFR §1302.53(a)(1))
• Establishing goals and measurable objectives, including strategic long-term goals (45 CFR §1302.102(a)(1))
• Choosing a program option and developing a program calendar (45 CFR §1302.20(a)(1-2))
• Establishing, modifying, and revising selection criteria (45 CFR §1302.14(a)(1))
• Designing and implementing program-wide coordinated approaches that ensure the full and effective participation of children who are dual language learners, children with disabilities, and their families (45 CFR §1302.101(b)(2-3))
• Identifying community nutrition issues that may impact child health status (45 CFR §1302.42(b)(4))
• Determining whether to reserve enrollment slots for children experiencing homelessness or children in foster care (45 CFR §1302.15(c))
• Petitioning for a waiver to allow eligibility to be determined using a different method or alternative criteria based upon community assessment and other data sources (45 CFR §1302.12(a)(3))

Your community assessment data, when examined with internal data from ongoing monitoring and self-assessment, can guide other decisions such as facility and transportation needs.