When the people tasked with keeping us healthy ask how they can help, the answer can make a lot of difference. That’s the hope of the 2015 Community Needs Assessment, undertaken by the Sangamon County Department of Public Health, St. John’s Hospital and Memorial Health System in Springfield. More than 780 people – mostly women – responded to the survey, identifying mental health, child abuse, excess weight and access to care as their biggest concerns. Now, Memorial and St. John’s are working with the Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association and the UIS Survey Research Office to address those issues and others. The organizations plan to hold three focus groups in the Enos Park neighborhood later this month to flesh out the results of the survey and find meaningful solutions. The first meeting will focus on general “stakeholders,” while the second will address issues specific to senior citizens and the third will deal with issues common to young parents. The meetings are scheduled for 1 p.m. on Jan. 20 at Suzy Q’s Restaurant, 716 E. Enos St., 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 22 at Kumler United Methodist Church, 600 N. Fifth St., and 2 p.m. on Jan. 24 at Third Presbyterian Church, 1030 N. Seventh St. Anyone interested in participating can contact the Survey Research Office at UIS at 217-206-6591.
This article appears in Jan 8-14, 2015.
