The Community Themes and Strengths Assessment provides a deep understanding of the issues that residents feel are important by answering the following questions.
- What is important to our community?
- How is quality of life perceived in our community?
- What assets do we have that can be used to improve community health?
- What conditions inhibit some groups’ abilities to experience good health?
- Why is it easier for some to make healthy choices than others?
- What public and corporate policies support or inhibit healthy living?
- Who makes and implements these policies and what motivates them to favor some over others?
Following the MAPP model, forum participants were asked to identify the elements found in their county that are strong and could be utilized to build a stronger community. Participants were also asked to identify elements that, if not addressed, could have a long-term increased risk to health. The following details participant responses.
Strengths
- Work together when someone is in need
- Small-town pride
- Strong support across community
- Resources are available
- Clean, friendly, safe
- Religious values
- Good schools
Risks
- Lack of economic opportunity
- Transportation
- No childcare
- Affordable housing
- Always in survival mode
- Tobacco use
- Homelessness