Asset-Based Community Maps: A Tool for Expanding Resources in Community Health Programs

Abstract

Community asset mapping is an essential tool for emerging public health professionals who seek to engage communities in working collaboratively to identify existing resources already available in the community. Using community asset mapping, communities and public health professionals can stretch the reach of limited resources that communities often face while implementing new or expanded health promotion programs. This community asset maps activity is intended to introduce the process and skill to undergraduate health education students as a method for use in their future careers. This skill will help future professionals maximize what is already present in the community before dedicating valuable resources to new or improved health education programs and strategies.