Adams County Community Assessment is out; public presentations will be in October

QUINCY – In an effort to advance education, support financial stability, and promote health, United Way of Adams County, Blessing Health System, and the Adams County Health Department have released the 2021 Adams County Community Needs Assessment.

The assessment, which has been released every three years since 2001, guides the United Way’s Community Building Council (CBC), solutions teams, and the funding awarded to the United Way partner agencies programs. CBC members are community leaders representing local businesses, foundations, human service providers, education, healthcare, and government. Reporting to the CBC are Community Solution Teams working on specific issues pinpointed in the assessment. Also addressing issues identified in the assessment are United Way’s 19 partner agencies. Funded partner agency programs have measurable results and data that address the assessment findings. 

“This assessment is intended to inform a plan to address the concerns, needs, and opportunities for the future health and well-being of Adams County residents, said Maggie Strong of Strong Consulting. “With quality data, both primary and secondary, we can clearly communicate our needs to potential funders and build programs that will address our unique concerns and opportunities.”

An effort was launched to get a diverse representation of the community securing feedback from 861 respondents via two survey instruments. Included in the survey results were the results of in-depth interviews with 33 key stakeholders on the front lines of community health and social service. While responses varied, one overwhelming theme throughout all of the interviews was an optimism by practitioners in direct service of our community in areas such as social services, health, education and safety.

“Blessing Health is honored to work with United Way of Adams County and other community partners to complete the community needs assessment,” said Maureen Kahn, RN, MSN, MHA, president and chief executive officer, Blessing Health. “The results of this partnership provide the direction that unifies the compassion and energy of all community-minded organizations on the common goal of improving quality of life in the region.”

“Partnering with other agencies in Adams County has given all of us the opportunity to have a more in-depth assessment and not duplicate efforts, said Ellen Vonderheide, Family Health and Community Education Director for the Adams County Health Department. “Doing a more in-depth assessment will allow all of us to target our programming to specific needs of the community.”

“This assessment is a critical part of our work within the community,” said Jeremy Wingerter, United Way of Adams County Executive Director. “This report guides the distribution of resources to programs and services that are bridging the gaps identified from the research. We encourage our partner agencies and other organizations to use the data presented in the Assessment to strengthen case statements for grants and other funding.” 

In October, the assessment findings and discussion will be made available to the community at three different times via a remote meeting. To join in on this presentation or to learn more about Adams County needs email maureen@unitedwayadamsco.org.

Members of the community can view and download the assessment report online at www.unitedwayadamsco.org/communitydata, or are invited to pick up a physical copy at the United Way of Adams County office located at 936 Broadway, Suite F in Quincy in mid-October.