This handbook is intended for communities that wish to undertake their own community impact assessment (CIA). The goal is to enable communities to plan for changes before they occur, so they can cope with changes when they do occur. CIA involves forecasting and evaluating the full range of unintended consequences for the community of development undertaken by outside interests. The first task is to see if there is general interest. Scoping consists of three steps: brainstorming, discussion, and formulation of objectives and workplans; its biggest advantage is that it uses local knowledge in a positive way. Brainstorming brings out ideas, and discussion subjects them to close scrutiny, resulting in the formulation of a set of written objectives that lays a foundation for choosing realistic and measurable courses of action. A flow chart of major steps is given, as are checklists addressing who will be affected, possible types of impacts, and the refinement of objectives. The pros and cons of hiring consultants, and three ways to use them effectively are discussed, but the importance of community control is emphasized. Consultants should only be used when communities lack the manpower or expertise to do it themselves. Once a final report is compiled, it requires implementation. The key to successful CIA is achieving consensus. Appendix outlines instructions for brainstorming. (TD)