FAQs

What is CDC’s Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER)?
The CDC’s Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects (EHHE), Health Studies Branch (HSB) has developed the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) toolkit to assist personnel from any local, state/territorial, regional, or federal public health departments in conducting a community needs assessment. CASPER is an epidemiologic technique designed to provide quickly and at low cost, household-based information about an affected community’s needs after a disaster in a simple format to decision-makers. To learn more information about CASPER, please visit the Health Studies Branch CASPER website.

Is the CASPER a rapid needs assessment?
In short, yes. The CDC Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER) is a type of rapid needs assessment. CASPER is designed to provide accurate and timely data through precise analysis and interpretation for decision-makers. Gathering health and basic needs information using valid statistical methods allows public health and emergency managers to prioritize their responses and to make informed decisions regarding the distribution of resources.

What are the objectives of CASPER?
The primary goals of the CASPER are to rapidly obtain information about the needs of an affected community and to assess changes in needs during the response or recovery period. The main objectives of CASPER are to

• produce household-based population estimates of needs for decision-makers,
• determine the critical health needs and assess the impact of the disaster on the community,
• characterize the population residing in the disaster area including any ongoing health effects, and
• evaluate the effectiveness of relief efforts using follow-up CASPER.

CASPER is not intended to deliver food, medicine, medical services or other resources to the affected area or to provide direct services to residents such as cleanup or home repair.

When should you conduct a CASPER?
During a disaster, the local, state, or regional emergency managers or health department officers may decide to initiate a CASPER when at least one of the following conditions occurs

• the effect of the disaster on the population is unknown,
• the health status and basics needs of the affected population are unknown, or
• when response and recovery efforts need to be evaluated.

Although the CDC’s Health Studies Branch typically provides technical assistance during a disaster response, CASPER methodology can be used in both a disaster and non-disaster setting. CASPER methodology has been used to assess public health perceptions, and estimate needs of a community during a non-disaster setting. Regardless of the setting and objectives, once the decision to conduct the CASPER has been made, it should be initiated as soon as possible.

How do I learn more information about using CASPER?
The CDC’s Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects (EHHE), Health Studies Branch (HSB) has developed the CASPER toolkit to assist personnel from any local, state/territorial, regional, or federal public health departments in conducting a CASPER during a disaster. The toolkit was developed to standardize the assessment procedures. While it is focused on United States disaster response, it may also be adapted for use in a non-disaster. The CASPER toolkit provides guidelines on questionnaire development, methodology, sample selection, training, data collection, analysis, and report writing and is available at the Health Studies Branch CASPER website.

How do I request a CASPER in my jurisdiction?
If you would like CDC technical assistance in conducting a CASPER in your jurisdiction, please visit the CDC Health Studies Branch Disaster Training and Response webpage.