Inventorying Your Health Inventorying Your Health ResourcesResources

Kim Angelon-Gaetz, MSPHOffice of Healthy Carolinians/Health Education

March 25, 2010

Email: kim.angelon@dhhs.nc.govPhone: 919-218-0499

Your Mission: Find Out…

Where do people in your community go for health care or social services?

Where/ from whom do community members learn about health?

What agencies would be good partners for your Community Health Assessment?

What resource(s) is your county lacking?

Who?

• All agencies and organizations that have some effect on community health

• Health Facilities– Includes non-traditional healthcare options such as “Minute Clinics”

• Supportive Services– Includes social services, mental and spiritual

health

More Possible Resources

• Experts in your community• Community leaders or neighborhood supports• Potential resources– Unused buildings or land– New organizations– New community initiatives

• Businesses• Volunteer groups

Examples of Health Resources

Examples of Support Services

Steps to a Thorough Inventory

1. Brainstorm (2 heads are better than 1!)– Well-connected community residents– Student interns

2. Check other lists or directories3. Revise and organize your list4. Identify needs5. Decide how you will present and use this list

Adapted from the Community Tool Box: http://ctb.ku.edu

Health Provider: Population Ratio

• Number of providers per 10,000 population• Includes those who are licensed and active (or

unknown) within the profession• Compare your county to state and peer or

neighboring counties on NC-CATCH• Updated data at Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research

http://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/

Reporting Your Results

• At minimum you need to create:1. Brief summary of health resources in your

community and how adequate they are to meet the needs of your community.

2.Brief statement of areas of need in your community.

Other Ways to Organize Your Results

• In your CHA report, highlight relevant resources or needs by health outcome or population served.

• Create a separate directory of community health resources.– For community members (information booklet)– For healthcare providers (referral booklet)

Potential Uses for Your Inventory

• Help with your community projects• Publish to target groups• Encourage collaboration• Build community pride• Track usage of resources• Attract new businesses, resources, or people• Create process of regular updates/ review

Adapted from the Community Tool Box: http://ctb.ku.edu

Examples of Past Health Resource Inventories

• Gaston County Health Department• Wake County Health Department• Healthy Carolinians of the Outer Banks• Miami-Dade County, Florida

Statewide and Local Resources • NC CARE-LINE- Health and human services by

county, city or zip code. Phone:1-800-662-7030 http://www.nccarelink.gov/

• NC Center for Non-Profits http://www.ncnonprofits.org/member.asp

• Health Department• Department of Social Services (DSS)• United Way• Chamber of Commerce• County Planning Department