Perry County Health Improvement Zone 南部 Perry County Assessment Report

The Perry County Health Department (PCHD) received a grant from the Ohio Department of Health to fund a project to address social determinants of health and improve healthy behaviors of residents through meaningful 社区 engagement and cross sector 合作. PCHD identified 佩里县南部的村庄 of Shawnee, New Straitsville, and Hemlock for the Ohio Health Improvement Zone project. newbb电子平台的 沃伊诺维奇学校 of Leadership and Public Service was enlisted to provide technical assistance 对于这个项目.

To assess health needs in the 社区, five focus groups were held in fall 2022 at locations in 佩里县南部的村庄. The following themes emerged from the discussions:

• Individuals’ relationships and interactions with family, friends, and 社区 members have a major impact on their health and well-being. 增加编程和 activities—across all age groups—are 需要 to build social connections and support 社区网络. Facilities are 需要 to host such activities.
• Having access to affordable health care is a major determinant of health. 高成本 of health care often prevents people from getting the care that they need. 更大的 access to health care is desired, such as through a mobile clinic or day clinics.
• 健康意味着健康饮食. Food insecurity is an issue for many children and 南佩里县的家庭. 更大的 access to foods that support healthy dietary patterns is 需要 to improve individuals’ health and the health of others in the 社区. 教育 about eating healthy is also 需要.
• The ongoing substance abuse disorder epidemic and the associated crime affects the wellbeing of the 社区 as it causes mental distress and social isolation. 反馈 from residents suggest that both treatment and increased law enforcement efforts are 南佩里县急需.
• 南佩里县居民 are concerned that their tap water is contaminated and that they will experience negative health issues if they drink the water. 居民 from all three communities indicated they buy bottled water, which is a major expense for such an essential physiological need. Improvements in the quality of the water are 需要.
• Many residents in 南部 Perry County live in poverty. 质量差 inadequate conditions of some of the housing in 南部 Perry County not only negatively impacts the mental and physical health of the children and families living in those conditions, but also impacts the overall safety and well-being of the 社区.
• Having a healthy mindset and positive mental health is essential to overall health. Additional resources for mental health are 需要 including support for addiction and 复苏.
• 健康意味着保持活跃. More opportunities are 需要 for physical activity such as an indoor exercise facility, sidewalks, and bicycle/walking paths.
• Lack of transportation affects many other determinants of health in the 社区 because it hinders access to services and opportunities. 增加交通 options in 南部 Perry County may be warranted.
• A part of being healthy is being aware of resources and social opportunities that are 您可以使用. 更大的 promotion of information and resources is 需要 in the 社区.
• 资源 are 需要 to maintain and improve the recreational resources/facilities that 存在于社区中.
• Generational poverty and lack of education impact health. 更多的教育，尤其是 与卫生知识普及有关.

In addition, the residents of New Straitsville, Shawnee, and Hemlock described a number of factors in their communities that they see as positively impacting the health and well-being of 南佩里县居民. Above all, the resource most frequently cited (especially in the Shawnee and Hemlock groups) was the people that live in the communities.

Finally, residents were enthusiastic about the potential impact of the Ohio Health Improvement 他们社区的区域项目. A majority of participants signed up to participate in Phase 二、项目内容.

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