FRANKLIN
The Virginia Department of Health’s Western Tidewater district is looking to hear from residents of the city of Franklin and Southampton County regarding the state of health and access to healthcare in their communities. To that end, Franklin’s and Southampton’s health departments, in collaboration with community partners, have launched a community health assessment, which includes an online survey.

According to Cedric Mubikayi, the VDH’s community health assessment planner, the assessment will be a careful, systematic examination of the health status of the community, which will be used to identify key health problems and assets in each community. Data from the assessment will inform decision-making, prioritization of health problems and development of plans to improve the health of the community.

Everyone in the community, including agencies, organizations, parents, high school students, grandparents, neighbors, entrepreneurs and employees, is invited to participate in the survey. The survey asks participants to rank the health issues they feel are most important, the greatest strengths of healthcare in the community, and their perceptions of quality of life. While the survey also asks for basic demographic information, it is completely anonymous.

The online version of the survey can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/communityhealthsurveyfranklinsouthampton. Paper copies are also available at local health department offices and community partner office locations.

“The community-wide survey is a vital part of the assessment process that ensures we target our health improvement efforts on issues important to all community members,” said Dr. Christopher Wilson, MD, MPH, director of the Western Tidewater Health District.

The results of the survey and overall community health assessment will be used to develop a community health improvement plan, or the community’s own roadmap to improving health.

For more information on the survey and health assessment, contact Cedric Mubikayi at 802-356-8008 or email cedric.mubikayi@vdh.virginia.gov.