> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://support.pears.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://support.pears.io/plan/action-plans/situation-assessment.md).

# Add Situation Assessment

The Situation Assessment section captures background context for your action plan, including whether a needs assessment was performed, the situation your programming addresses, and the public value your plan provides.

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#### Navigate to the Situation Assessment Page

After completing the Collaborators step, PEARS directs you to the Situation Assessment page. You can also access it from the action plan detail page by clicking **Situation Assessment** in the progress panel.
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#### Indicate Whether a Needs Assessment Was Performed

In the **Was a needs assessment performed for this action plan?** field, select **Yes** or **No**.

If you select **Yes**, the **Brief description of assessment results** field appears. Enter a summary of the needs assessment findings.

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**NOTE:** If you select **Yes**, the description field is required. You must provide a summary of the assessment results before continuing.
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#### Enter a Situation Statement

In the **Situation statement** field, describe the problematic condition or issue that demands a programmatic response. This sets the context for your action plan's goals and outcomes.
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#### Enter the Public Value (if applicable)

In the **Public Value** field, describe the public benefit that your programming provides. This field is required for state-level plans.

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**TIP:** If your organization has the [Public Value Editor AI tool](/administration/administration/ai-tools.md#public-value-editor) enabled, the Public Value field includes an AI-powered editor that can draft a statement based on your needs assessment results, situation statement, and any additional context you provide. Click the AI button in the editor toolbar to open the generation modal.
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#### Save and Continue

Click **Save and Continue** to save the situation assessment and proceed to the [Outputs](/plan/action-plans/outputs.md) page.

![Screenshot: The Situation Assessment form showing the needs assessment Yes/No toggle, the assessment results text field, the Situation Statement text area, and the Public Value text area with the Save and Continue button at the bottom](/files/mGcaffRMqWXh4VAr0TZQ)
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