This is a 5-booklet instructional kit focusing on practical ways to assess the health and social needs of children and youth in local communities. The needs assessment model described in the kit was developed and pretested in Boston, Massachusetts. The first booklet, "Learning About Your Community's Needs," provides a framework for the other four, which describe four survey approaches. They are: (1) "Census Data Analysis," (2) "Needs Perceived by Agency Directors and Community Leaders," (3) "Survey of Treatment Patterns," and (4) "Household Survey." These four booklets contain instructions for using each approach, a discussion of problems in methodology and/or interpretation, and detailed examples. Rationales, sources, questionnaire design, personnel training, data gathering and processing, and data presentation are among the topics discussed briefly. (MS)