On May 15, 2000, 120 people attended a community forum to identify areas where new, broad collaboration could bring additional advantage in health care. As part of the Community Action Network's Community Health Assessment, this was a first step in defining some of the root causes and solutions for the health care situation currently facing the community. Initially, the groups were divided into eight issue-specific breakout groups:
- Disability
- Communicable Disease
- Maternal/Child Health
- Substance Abuse
- Adult Mental Health
- Children's Mental Health
- Chronic Disease
- Injury and Abuse
Each group identified the "root causes" for their issue area that they believe the community has an opportunity to change. When a comparison was made across the issue areas, five areas of commonality were identified as significant:
- Public Policy - Policy makers set the direction for the community, prioritize health issues, and control funding.
- Cultural Barriers, Isolation, Intolerance - The current health care system may exclude certain groups and is not deemed relevant by certain populations.
- Family Structure, Support, and Values - Strong community, cultural, and family values serve to decrease risk factors for an unhealthy lifestyle.
- Access to Care - Language, transportation, childcare, service hours, and lack of insurance prevent people from accessing health care and healthy lifestyle choices.
- Education and Media - Effective community education to individuals and organizations about health care issues can deter poor health choices and help eliminate stigma and stereotypes.
By taking action in these areas, our community can have a positive impact across multiple issues and conditions. Some preliminary steps in this direction were suggested in closing breakout groups including:
- Developing messages and a marketing campaign for health related issues
- Educating the public about how to use health insurance
- Educating the public about preventive health measures
- Ensuring a model of coordinated care
- Ensuring that data analysis is unbiased and assessments are culturally sensitive
- Educating organizations to be effective advocates
- Broadening collaborative involvement.
The work of the forum has been incorporated into this report and the work of the planning groups as they build a community health plan.
