What information must be included in the statewide strategic report? Does a State have to conduct a statewide needs assessment prior to completing this report?
The statewide strategic report must describe how the State Advisory Council will conduct the required activities including conducting periodic statewide needs assessments, identifying opportunities for and barriers to collaboration and coordination and developing recommendations. The Council does not need to have conducted all of these activities, including conducting a full statewide needs assessment, prior to submitting an application. However, a State would have to have begun the process of assessing the needs of the State to the degree it was necessary to submit an application with a strategic report. If a state with an established State Advisory Council already has conducted a comprehensive statewide needs assessment and begun other planning activities, they should include this information in their report and use it to inform their proposal for use of the grant funds.
