Last week, about 30 people representing health and social service agencies like the public health nurses and The Center of South Peninsula Behavioral Health Services came together to start work on a community health assessment. Joining health agencies were other partners not always thought of as "public health," like Refuge Chapel and Bunnell Street Arts Center.
An exercise in defining the lower peninsula public health system showed how widespread that idea could be. Jayne Andreen, health promotion program manager for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, asked people to name groups that contributed to public health, groups like the faith community, private arts, farmers markets, civic clubs, the Homer Foundation -- even the media.
"I had to stop asking for ideas," Andreen said.
Andreen came from the Juneau office of DHHS to get Homer started on the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships, or MAPP, process. MAPP is a national model used to develop strategies for improving community health. Andreen has been guiding other Alaska cities in the MAPP process, including Fairbanks, Dillingham, Bethel and Ketchikan.
"It looks at how well all the pieces are fitting together," Andreen said. "Where the strengths are and where there might be some holes."
South Peninsula Hospital started the community assessment, and hired Sharon Whytal, a public health nurse, to coordinate the project. The need for an assessment came about when the hospital started updating its 5-year strategic plan and looked at an old community survey on hospital services.
"And boy, we need a better snapshot of what our community needs are," said Derotha Ferraro, SPH marketing director, when the board looked at that survey.
Earlier this month at the Health Fair, the hospital started the MAPP process with a survey handed out. Of 900 persons attended, 610 replies came back.
"Just that exercise in itself was very informational -- just the feedback you get from somebody," Whytal said. "That right there is a telling piece."
Last week's meeting trained participants in the MAPP process and formed committees to continue the health assessment.
"This meeting was a gathering to have people come together and see if the process is worthwhile, and if so, what will be our next step?" Whytal said.
Unique to Homer was the inclusion of arts groups, Andreen said.
"This is the first time we had the arts community represented," she said. "That in itself is a very indicative statement about Homer."
The MAPP process takes a wide perspective on public health, including groups like churches, businesses, restaurants and libraries -- "Anyone you can think of," Whytal said.
"It defines health about as broadly as you can define it," she added. "It's more like quality of life."
Along with that perspective the MAPP process tries to be inclusive.
"We haven't historically gone to the people and said, 'What are the needs?'" Whytal said of other kinds of health assessments. "The new model is to ask people who are living the health care reality and say 'What do you think needs to happen?'"
As part of that goal, next month SPH invites the community to take another health survey. Surveys will be handed out at community events, at booths at grocery stores, at the Homer Public Library and at Kachemak Bay Campus. An online survey also will be available through the hospital Web site at www.sphosp.com.
"We're encouraging anyone who wants us to give us their opinion," Whytal said.
The MAPP process develops four assessments, Andreen said: community themes and strengths, the local public health system, the community health status and the forces of change. The forces of change assessment looks at how larger events can affect local health, such as changes in the economy, environmental changes, technological changes or even a new president, Andreen said.
The end result of the process is to identify issues, formulate goals and strategies and come up with a plan for action. A community health assessment can lead to more or better collaboration between agencies. It also builds on information already collected.
"It builds on what has already happened," Andreen said. "It takes what is in place and moves to the next level."
"Really, the purpose is to stand back and ask the community to see what they need and what are some of the barriers," Whytal said.
"There will be things that aren't just about traditional health topics," Ferraro said. "There could be all kinds of revelations or findings as a result of these questions."
Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.
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Homer Alaska - News -
Story last updated at
4:09 PM on
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
'MAPPing' the future
South Peninsula Hospital, other health agencies begin process of assessing community's health
BY MICHAEL ARMSTRONG
STAFF WRITER
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