Every three years, Kent County Health Department conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment. As part of the assessment, residents throughout the county are asked to complete a survey. The survey results are then used to identify health-related challenges facing individuals and families and well as set priorities and create initiatives to meet community needs.
In the past, most survey results have come from Grand Rapids, but Flat River Outreach Ministries is hoping there will be more feedback from the Lowell area this year.
“We are working with the county in hopes to get enough responses for the zip codes that we serve so that we will have access to the data,” says Wendie Preiss, executive director of FROM. “This will enable us to understand the gaps in our area.”
Chance to Win $50 Visa Gift Card
As an incentive for residents to complete the survey, Kent County Health Department is giving away a $50 Visa gift card to one survey respondent. The winner will be selected in a random drawing of all those who choose to include their contact information at the end of the survey. Contact information will be stored separately from survey results and only used for the giveaway.
However, there is no need to enter personally identifying information, and the survey itself is entirely anonymous. Questions this year cover topics such as the impact of COVD-19, mental health, housing, economic and social needs.
“We have to get a minimum number of responses for each zip code in order for the population to be split out,” Preiss says.
To ensure Lowell is represented in the results, take the 2020 Kent County Community Survey online. It can be accessed until October 2nd and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Paper copies of the survey, along with a Spanish version, are available at FROM and the Treasures Thrift Shop.
Survey results will be compiled into a report that should be available in the spring of 2021. For those who want to see how the information will be used, the 2017 report is currently online.
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