Following the MAPP model, a community forum, held on January 12, 2023, began with a discussion of the vision for health in Lawrence County to provide focus, purpose, and common direction. The process was framed around health equity and identifying, preventing, and reversing the effects of patterned decisions, policies, investments, rules, and laws that have caused social and economic inequities that affect people’s abilities to live healthy lives.

Questions asked were:

  • What does a healthy Lawrence County mean to you?
  • What are important characteristics of a healthy community for all who live, work, and play here?
  • What would be different in our community if all people had circumstances in which they could live healthy and flourishing lives?
  • What would our community look like if all people and groups were equally represented in positions of power and decision-making?
  • Five years from now, what would we want the local newspaper to say about the health of our community?

Participants shared ideas with those at their table and then posted those ideas on the wall. Common ideas were then grouped together. Participant responses were captured via the following table:

Participants then did the same small group discussion regarding common values. What needs to be in place for us to work effectively to achieve our vision? What must be in place to ensure our process is equitable, transparent, accessible, and inclusive, particularly of those affected by inequity? How do we ensure we do not inadvertently create, contribute, or support decisions, policies, rules, and laws that contribute to health inequities? How do we ensure the community drives and owns the process? Ideas were posted and grouped. Responses were captured via the following table:

Local Public Health System Assessment

As part of the community needs assessment process, Lawrence County Health Department conducted a Local Public Health Needs Assessment using an asset mapping approach. Public Health System Asset Mapping refers to a community-based approach of assessing the resources and programs of the public health system within a specific community as they relate to the 10 Essential Public Health Services.

Once gathered, this asset map of public health system programs and services is distributed to community partners for use in referring citizens in the community to appropriate services.

In addition, the Public Health System Asset Map is utilized during the community health improvement planning process to provide a list of assets that can be used toward strategic initiatives or gaps in the system that must be filled before strategic initiatives can be addressed. Participants shared information about their organizations and how they contribute to the essential public health services.