Needs Assessment Results and Call to Action

2018 Community Needs Assessment

While drug abuse continues to top the list of concerns identified in the 2018 Community Needs Assessment, new challenges emerging for increased consideration in Logan County include:

Child care
Transportation
Stress and anxiety among school-age children
Child abuse and neglect
Workforce readiness

Issues previously identified in the 2012 and 2015 Needs Assessments that are also being addressed include housing, healthy living, suicide prevention, and access to resources.
 
New challenges emerging in this year's Needs Assessment for increased consideration include child care, transportation, stress and anxiety among school-age children, child abuse and neglect, and workforce readiness.  Issues previously identified in the 2012 and 2015 Needs Assessments that already have comprehensive strategies include drug abuse, housing, healthy living, suicide prevention, and access to resources.  
 
Among the strengths identified in the Needs Assessment is the capacity of local leaders and organizations to work together to address identified issues.  
 
"That's noted by the independent researchers who are came in from outside the community, who say how well Logan County is collaborating compared to other counties in Ohio. They are amazed at how well the different agencies and representatives come together to work on a solutions for areas that need improvement," said Tracy Davis, of the Logan County Health District and Chair of the Access to Resources Coalition.
 
The 333-page report was compiled from empirical data, interviews with community leaders, conversations with focus groups, and a widespread public opinion survey.  The Community Needs Assessment is a collaborative undertaking of Mary Rutan Hospital, the Logan County Health District, Community Health & Wellness Partners, the Mental Health Drug & Alcohol Board of Logan and Champaign Counties, and United Way.  Besides fulfilling mandated requirements of several funded partners, the Needs Assessment provides a status report on existing efforts to address issues, identifies areas of priority for directing resources, and provides evidence of need for local government agencies and nonprofits seeking grants from various funding sources.