Residents are urged to read it, and make comments.
Frederick, Md (KM) The draft Community Health Needs Assessments is available for residents to view on line. The document was developed by the Frederick County Health Care Coalition, with support from the Health Department and the Frederick Regional Health System.
Health Officer Dr. Barbara Brookmyer says residents can read and comment on the Community Health Care Assessment from now through April 30th. “We use that development of it and the process of it to identify health issues in Frederick County, and provide critical information to people who are in a position to take positive steps that will impact the health of our Frederick County residents,:” she says.
The document contains data on the length and quality of life in the county, socio-economic factors, physical environment and health behaviors. “It identifies resources that are available to address health issues, and also resident perception of health and social norms,” says Dr. Brookmyer.
The Community Health Needs Assessment also lists three health priorities: adverse childhood experiences and infant health; behavioral health; and chronic conditions.
After comments are taken from citizens, Dr. Brookmyer says the document will be modified to reflect resident input. “Also, if there are other resources that people know about that we haven’t listed in here, we certainly want to make that information available,” she says.
Meanwhile, work groups that have been formed to focus the top three priorities will a lot of work to do. “Over the next two and a half years, those work groups will be working on carrying out their strategic plans in order to make improvements in those three areas of adverse childhood experiences, behavioral health and chronic conditions,” says Dr. Brookmyer.
Anyone who wants to view the Community Health Needs Assessment can go on line to health.frederickcountymd.gov/CHNA2019. They can also make comments at www.surveymonkey.com/r/FC2019CHNA.
By Kevin McManus