BRADENTON — The Manatee HealthCare Alliance is looking for adults ages 18 and up who live, work or play in Manatee County to participate in a 10-minute online community health survey before May 22.
Survey results, which will be published in the summer, will be used to develop a comprehensive community health assessment (CHA) and three-year community health improvement plan (CHIP) for Manatee County.
“This short, anonymous survey will help to prioritize health issues, identify resources for addressing them and take action to improve conditions that support healthy living,” said Melissa Larkin-Skinner, MHA chair and regional chief executive officer of Centerstone. “Your feedback helps us to improve the health of our community.”
The survey can be taken in English, Spanish or Haitian-Creole by visiting: surveymonkey.com/r/manateehealthsurvey; surveymonkey.com/r/encuestadesaluddemanatee; or surveymonkey.com/r/sondajsantemanatee_.
The survey can also be accessed using the social media accounts of MHA partners: Gulfcoast South AHEC (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn); Healthy Teens (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn); Manatee County Chamber of Commerce (Twitter); and Manatee County Government (facebook.com).
Anyone who plans to take the survey is encouraged to give the following questions some thought ahead of filling out the online form:
· What do you think are the 3 most important health problems in Manatee County?
· What are the 3 unhealthy behaviors you are most concerned about?
· What do you think are the most important changes needed to achieve a healthy community in Manatee County?
“Overall results from the survey, coupled with secondary data on key health indicators such as chronic disease, maternal and child health, and social and behavioral health will be shared in the 2024-2026 CHA later this summer,” Larkin-Skinner said.
For copies of the current CHA and CHIP, visit the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County’s website (manatee.floridahealth.gov). Results of the survey in 2021 identified communicable diseases, behavioral health, youth development and healthy living (obesity, nutrition and diabetes) as public health target issues.
Earlier this year, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and University of Wisconsin published its annual county health report ranking Florida’s 67 counties using data on health outcomes. Manatee County ranked 14th. Areas of strength in Manatee County included preventable hospital stays, primary care physicians and high school completion. Areas of weakness included adult smoking, adult obesity and uninsured residents.
Submitted by Florida Department of Health-Manatee County
