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First-of-its-kind Community Health Survey For 5-county Area Seeks Volunteers
Several agencies are overseeing what they say is a first-of-its-kind community health survey in an area that spans Lewis and Clark, Jefferson, Powell, Broadwater and Meagher counties.
And volunteers are needed to help.
Scheduled for late June, the Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response – or CASPER – survey will be in neighborhoods around the five-county area, according to Lewis and Clark Public Health Officer Drenda Niemann.
Niemann said it's meant to provide a snapshot of communities on several health conditions, behaviors and social determinants of health, including cancer, heart disease, substance use, mental health, housing, child care, food security and more.
Agencies participating include Lewis and Clark Public Health officials, in collaboration with PureView Health Center, St. Peter's Health, United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area, Rocky Mountain Development Council, and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.
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According to United Way of the Lewis and Clark Area Executive Director Emily McVey, 30 two-member survey teams will visit neighborhoods, going door to door and locating seven respondent households within each census block. McVey said team members will wear bright vests and carry identification cards.
Visit https://form.Jotform.Com/Clark_Lewis/CasperVolunteerSurvey2024 to fill out a volunteer application form. The deadline to apply is June 17.
Survey results will be included in the 2024 Community Health Report, published by the Healthy Together Steering Committee every three years.
County residents interested in community health work are encouraged to apply, McVey said.
Formalized in 2017, the Healthy Together Steering Committee is an ongoing partnership among agencies in Lewis and Clark County that are concerned with improving population health.
That report will then form the basis for the Community Health Improvement Plan, which will be developed and released in 2025 and help determine public health priorities to improve health outcomes for residents of the county.
Niemann, who is overseeing the local work, said among its many benefits, the CASPER survey allows local, state and federal agencies – both government and nonprofit - to connect with residents and hear firsthand their thoughts about the overall health of the community.
The door-to-door survey will be 2:30-7:30 p.M. June 25 in Lewis and Clark County – with team visits in Helena, Lincoln, Augusta and the surrounding areas. Survey team members will include a volunteer pool of college students and athletes, community health workers, civic groups, hospital, clinic and public health employees, state public health personnel and concerned residents.
They will not be collecting any personal information and will only do the work during the daytime, no later than 7:30 p.M.
The survey will take about 15 minutes to complete at the resident's doorstep, after which they will be entered to win a $500 Visa gift card.
The CASPER Survey is a quick and reliable series of questions that provide leaders with household-based information about a community, strengthening the county's public health response and resilience.
Those with questions about the CASPER survey should email publichealth@lccountymt.Gov. If you are interested in volunteering, call Lewis and Clark Public Health Prevention Program Supervisor Julie Bir at 406-457-8979 or email her at jbir@lccountymt.Gov.
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Napa Takes Detailed Look At Community Health Needs
Napa County is taking a deep dive into the community's health needs, not only through data but also the words and experiences of local residents.
Two studies went to the Napa County Board of Supervisors last week. Board chair Joelle Gallagher said they can be "a launching pad" for ensuring an "all-age-friendly community."
The 96-page Community Health Needs Assessment was compiled by the county Health and Human Services Agency and Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center. It mixes data and interviews with 137 people across the county.
County Public Health Officer Christine Wu said the result "is truly the voice of our community, often presented in their own words."
Here is a sampling of those words from local residents and service providers:
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Based on an August meeting that included community groups, the Community Health Needs Assessment prioritized five needs — housing, behavioral health, access to health services, racial and LGBTQ inclusion, and economic stability.
For example, the assessment explained the behavioral health challenge.
"The scale of the mental health crisis appears to have overwhelmed the care system," it said. "Mental health is often an unaddressed, underlying issue."
On the topic of health service access, the assessment said many people have no stable relationship with a primary care provider. The wait times for appointments can be months, leading them to go to the emergency room.
Separate but related is the 52-page Napa County Older Adult Assessment.
Adults 60 years and older are 28% of Napa County's population and the fastest-growing segment. The assessment included 1,530 surveys, 21 interviews and 76 focus group participants.
It's really a tale of two communities, according to consultant B.J. Bischoff.
"A wealthier community that is predominately white is well positioned to enjoy all the beauty and opportunity Napa has to offer," the study said. "However, within the same county is a lower-income, often Latino/a/e community that faces disproportionate physical and economic challenges."
Those older adults surveyed on average rated their quality of life at 8.1 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being best. But that fell to 7.6 for Latinos and 7.1 for low-income residents.
Celine Regalia gave examples of older adults that made it clear that, while some have more concerns than others, virtually all face challenges. Regalia is executive director of Providence Adult Day Health.
One example is Ruby, who makes $50,000 annually. She's 80, owns her own home and car and has no food worries. But she is a widow who lives alone and uses a walker following a fall.
Ruby worries about the day she can no longer drive. Driving keeps her connected to family and friends and allows her independence, according to Regalia.
"She worries about the day when she will need more care, as her family does not live local and she does not want to be a burden," Regalia said.
When she does need more care, she will become part of the "forgotten middle." These are middle-income people who don't have additional resources and don't qualify for such programs as In-Home Supportive Services, which would provide caregiving, Regalia said.
She talked about Juan and Mary, each of whom makes less than $25,000 annually.
They both rent and live alone. Juan has his own car that he struggles to maintain. Mary relies on public transportation and Molly's Angels to go shopping and get to medical appointments.
"They sometimes struggle meeting their basic needs and expenses," Regalia said. "They struggle to afford the food that they want that meets their cultural and — we hear this a lot — their medical dietary needs."
But there are threads tying all three together. All are concerned about affordable housing and the freedom to age in place. They are concerned about falls and the cost of dental care.
"And we know transportation, transportation, transportation is the key to access and quality of life in Napa County," Regalia said.
People in the survey worry about the cost of affordable care and lack of affordable long-term care options, she said.
Napa County has the data and priorities in the two studies. Those will inform the search for solutions and funding.
"Hopefully it's clear throughout this that there is no one strategy, there is no one particular service we need or program," said Jennifer Yasumoto, director of county Health and Human Services.
"We need it all. We need to be addressing it all strategically. And when we do, we will have better community health for every single person who resides in our community."
Video: Here's a look at American Canyon's new skateboard park in Napa County.
Barry Eberling PHOTOS: Vintage and Napa duel at Kiwanis Park in softball Big Game Softball 2Napa's Olivia Horn (4) and Riley Brodie (15) along with Vintage's Mia Griffith (16) and Brianna Allen (8) pay tribute to Sasha Mufich, a former Napa Valley Fastpitch Softball Association player who was shot to death on April 13, and Gracey Marek, a 2023 Napa High grad who passed away April 11 from cancer before the start of a softball game at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 3Vintage's Taylor Lauritsen watches the ball fly during her at-bat in a softball game against Napa at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 4Napa's Riley Brodie makes a catch in the outfield during a softball game against Vintage at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 1Vintage's Malina Viruet throws a pitch during a softball game against Napa at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 5Napa's Brooklyn Miller throws a pitch during a softball game against Vintage at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 6The Vintage and Napa softball teams line up for the sining of the national anthem before the start of their game at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 7Vintage's Malina Viruet gets a hit during a softball game against Napa at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 8Napa's Molly Travis attempts to tag Vintage's Malina Viruet as she slides into second base during a softball game at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 9Napa softball players gather before the start of their game against Vintage at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 10Vintage softball players watch from the dugout during their game against Napa at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 11A scene from the Vintage vs. Napa softball game at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 12A scene from the Vintage vs. Napa softball game at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 13A scene from the Vintage vs. Napa softball game at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 14A scene from the Vintage vs. Napa softball game at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 15A scene from the Vintage vs. Napa softball game at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, Register Big Game Softball 16A scene from the Vintage vs. Napa softball game at Kiwanis Park on Wednesday, April 24.
Nick Otto, RegisterYou can reach Barry Eberling at 707-256-2253 or beberling@napanews.Com
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Rancho Santiago Community College District Facilities Reflect Growing Educational Needs
The recent grand opening of a $58.8 million Health Sciences building and the opening of the new Johnson Student Center in 2021 are impressive additions to the Santa Ana College campus.
Yet they are just two among dozens of projects — all in different stages of development — managed by Carri Matsumoto, assistant vice chancellor, facility planning, construction and district support services at Rancho Santiago Community College District.
Her department oversees all new construction and modernization improvements, as well as state-scheduled maintenance projects such as roof replacements or fire safety upgrades for Santiago Canyon College and Santa Ana College. The projects create jobs for residents in the local community and around Orange County while serving the evolving educational needs of the students and faculty.
"It all stems from the campus," said Matsumoto. She and her team regularly connect with faculty and staff to learn which programs are thriving and growing, which programs are emerging and how well they are aligned with the community and industry needs.
One example is a class called Water and Wastewater Technology, a science-based course offered at Santiago Canyon College that covers the infrastructure of water districts and wastewater treatment and management. Until now, the class has been taught out of a portable classroom that lacks the space and lab equipment needed for the faculty and students. Water professionals are in high demand — the industry needs trained workers — making it a priority for Matsumoto to find ways to accommodate the growing classroom needs, which include complex plumbing equipment and sturdy flooring.
"We're looking to expand space in the science center building and convert some of the science center general classrooms, doing a reconfiguration and building out a new lab," she explained. "This takes resources because this is a very specialized lab set-up with both exterior needs and interior needs."
Infrastructure around the Santiago Canyon College campus is a priority. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, contributing photographer) Another example is the welding program at Santa Ana College. "The current building that they're in is extremely deficient in terms of meeting the needs for their welding program," Matsumoto said. "They just are out of space. We've had to build welding stations on the exterior of the building, and we are now working with them to build a canopy to create an outdoor situation that allows them to continue to operate more expansively in the exterior because we don't have interior space for their program, which has a pretty significant enrollment and waitlist."
For skilled workforce programs, the biggest challenge is finding the appropriate facilities when the current classrooms are very old or the facilities don't exist, Matsumoto said.
"At Santa Ana College for instance, a more than 100-year-old campus, they have 29 main buildings on campus, but seven out of those 29 are over 65 years old," she said.
"Both campuses really have a need for these technical labs to meet the demands of our students," Matsumoto said. Santiago Canyon College doesn't have a full, dedicated student support service building, she noted. "They don't have a student union. They're spread out across the campus."
Matsumoto and her team maintain a master plan, which is updated constantly. "The facilities master plan outlines the thoughts around improvements to facilities, whether it's modernizations, new construction, replacements or renovations," she said, adding that her department continually checks to ensure the plan is addressing the needs of the students and community.
Each big building project, such as the Health Sciences building, takes years to complete. Finding funding, developing the design, planning the project and obtaining approvals takes two years minimum, and construction takes roughly three years.
"Overall, it's a five-year to six-year process," Matsumoto said.
"We always undertake a thoughtful planning process as it relates to capital improvements because, one, it takes so long to do, and, two, you have to have resources to do it, and, three, you have to be able to be flexible to the point where if you have to make changes, that you can to the plan, but you have to prepare and plan."
That's why the completion of major projects such as the Health Sciences building is a significant achievement.
"Because we've spent the last decade or so going through a lot of new building projects and being good stewards of the funding that was available for us through Measure E and Measure Q, local funds, state funds, both campuses have been able to build out and replace, renovate, build new different projects," Matsumoto said.
"Now we've come to this milestone where we've just completed our last major capital project under that last round of Measure Q funding, and we're updating our plan again and looking at all of our needs. We continue that work in planning so that we're prepared to execute projects that meet the needs of our colleges and our students."
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