Kane County receives health survey results

Submitted by Kane County Health Department

The Kane County Health Department is in the process of completing a community health assessment and creating a community health improvement plan.

The five county hospitals, INC Board, and the United Ways of Elgin and the Fox Valley have partnered with the department to develop the community assessment and collaborate on identifying and prioritizing the needs of county residents.

The first phase, a phone survey conducted by the Northern Illinois Public Opinion Laboratory, was finished in late July.

More than 2,000 adult surveys and 400 child surveys were completed. The survey included questions on health care access, health behaviors, mental health, preventative screening, and childhood development.

The department will receive the data in late August and will begin an analysis of it as well as recently released 2010 census data and other sources of information.

The department has the ability to create reports by hospital service area and county planning area, and to compare the results with other counties and the state and national averages.

The next phase, beginning this fall, will consist of focus groups, surveys, and community meetings.

The information gathered in this phase will enhance the survey data by allowing more input from residents and providing a means for people to participate in the process. The top issues will be prioritized with input from community stakeholders and the public.

The final product will be a five-year community health improvement plan that was created as a result of the partnership with local hospitals and service agencies, key stakeholders, and the residents of Kane County.

This plan will guide the health department in improving the health of Kane County residents for the next five years and help the department reach its goal of having the healthiest residents in Illinois by 2030.