Background: Community-based needs assessments are instrumental to address gaps in data collection and reporting, as well as to guide research, policy, and practice decisions to address health disparities in under-resourced communities.
Objectives: The New York University Center for the Study of Asian American Health collaboratively developed and administered a large-scale health needs assessment in diverse, low-income Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in New York City and three U.S. regional areas using an in-person or web-based, community-engaged approach.
Methods: Community-engaged processes were modified over the course of three survey rounds, and findings were shared back to communities of interest using community preferred channels and modalities.
Lessons learned: Sustaining multiyear, on-the-ground engagement to drive community research efforts requires active bidirectional communication and delivery of tangible support to maintain trust between partners.
Conclusions: Findings to facilitate community health programming and initiatives were built from lessons learned and informed by new and existing community-based partners.