Community Risk Assessment

CRA (Community Risk Assessment) is a participative method by which the local community assesses hazards, vulnerabilities, risks, ability to deal, coping techniques, and finally a risk reduction choices implementation plan. CRA uses scientific knowledge and projections, as well as participatory discourses, to identify, analyze, and assess the risk environment of a specific community, and to establish community consensus on the measures required to manage the risk environment. The technique understands that vulnerability, loss, reduction or mitigation plan, and coping mechanism differ from community to community and group to group (women, people with disabilities, landless, farmers, fishermen, and so on) within the same community. As a result, it guarantees that professionals, community, and other groups are represented and that their points of view are reflected.
Risks that impact society regularly might be either manmade or natural.
Preventable injuries, fires, and common types of harsh weather are examples of the risks to the community.

The Advantages of CRA 

• A community needs assessment evaluates the community’s strengths and resources for meeting the needs of children, youth, and families.
• It establishes a framework for developing and identifying services and solutions, as well as for establishing communities that support and nurture children and families.
• The Community Risk Assessment Guide was created to assist fire departments and other organizations in conducting a basic or more extensive risk assessment in their community.
• Finally, the risk assessment data may be utilized to create a CRR (Community risk reduction) strategy.

Why is Community risk management necessary?

A risk assessment of the community is required to help in the planning and operation of emergency services. Once the community risk has been assessed, the data may be utilized to assess reaction and future operational requirements for emergency management planning, strategy formulation, and budget justification/preparation.
At First Light Psychological Services, in Kew Gardens, NY & Farmingdale, NY, our Community Risk Assessment programs use a six-step approach that helps in the development of community risk reduction programs, given below:

Step 1: Identification of Risks
Step 2: Prioritizing the Risks
Step 3: Developing Strategies & Tactics for Mitigating Risks
Step 4: Preparing the Community Risk Reduction (CRR) plan
Step 5: Implementation of the CRR Plan
Step 6: Monitoring, Evaluating and Modifying the CRR Plan