Earlier this year, the MAPP vision was developed to guide the community health improvement project that the Clark County Health Department, the Clark Regional Foundation for the Promotion of Health and other community partners are currently completing. MAPP, a community health assessment process, stands for Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships.
MAPP Vision: The Clark County community will work together to improve our health and wellness through education, communication and accessibility.
To keep moving forward toward this vision, the MAPP project teams have been working to find out what community members think about health and quality of life. In June, three MAPP team members attended the Juneteenth Celebration and gathered input from celebration goers on health questions. Their answers are highlighted below.
Being healthy and staying healthy involves both personal health choices and utilizing community health services. We should celebrate that community members in Winchester and Clark County are embracing their personal health by doing so many activities to stay healthy.
What does health mean to you? “A life full of success and happiness, staying strong and living long, eating right, mental health, eating green foods, not eating candy, brush your teeth, every part of my body functioning at its fullest potential, enjoying living your life, and being mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually balanced.”
What do you do to stay healthy? “Dance, walk, eat healthy food, sleep, eat vegetables, drink plenty of water, go outside, walk my dog, golf, run, stay away from sugar, pray daily, take care of my mind and body, Zumba and play sports.”
Two weeks ago, the MAPP teams released a community health survey that is designed to find out what you think are the most important health concerns in Clark County. Whether you live, work or play here, everyone is encouraged to take the short anonymous survey. The paper survey is scattered around the community at community-based services, at the Health Department and it has been circulated on the Mayor’s E-line. You can also go to the Health Department’s Facebook page and click a link to take the survey online.
Last week, focus groups were hosted by Rapha Ministries and Rose Mary C. Brooks Place to have an open discussion on the health concerns facing our uninsured population and senior citizens. A focus group is basically a safe environment to share thoughts, ideas and opinions. The Cairn Teen Center and ASAP will be hosting a focus group later this fall for youth in the community. Plans are being made to have focus groups with faith communities and our disabled population.
Hosting a focus group is relatively inexpensive, and the MAPP Coordinator will provide the technical assistance and host the group at your location. If you or your organization is interested in hosting a group or taking the health survey please contact Beth Willett at 859-744-4482 for more information.
By early winter, the MAPP teams will be done with gathering community input on health and quality of life. Information such as what was gathered at the Juneteenth Celebration, through the survey and focus groups will be used by community partners to create a health improvement plan. This health improvement plan for Winchester and Clark County will help to guide our community’s health actions and decisions for the next 3-5 years. Get involved in MAPP, everyone’s voice matters!
