Previous List of Community Needs
2006

• Strong communities where families can live and strive
• Quality child care
• Strong families
• Health Care
• Safe environments for children and families
• Children need to be prepared for school

New List of Community Needs
2009

• Quality and affordable child care
• Safe environments (i.e. homes, child care, early care)
• Basic needs (i.e. food, shelter, clothing, heat)
• Awareness/outreach (i.e. community resources, collaboration among agencies, relationship building)
• Education/supporting families (i.e. nutrition, parenting, abuse, life style habits/choices, child development, substance abuse)

Decategorization
Adams, Adair and Union County
(Fall 2008)

Community Partnerships
Adams, Adair, and Union County
(Fall 2007)

Adair County
CHNA & HIP
(Spring 2005)

Horizons
(August 2007)

CCRR
Early Care Providers
(Spring 2009)

Identified Needs:
-Strong communities where families can live and strive
-Quality child care
-Strong families
-Strong communities
-Health care
-Safe environments for children and families
-Children need to be prepared for school

Background of assessment
-Complete report can be accessed by contacting Deb Schrader Empowerment Director debschrader@mddc.com.

-Assessment was conducted with early care, health and education providers and community members who attended two focus group meetings spring 2006.

4 Categories of Identified Needs:

Childcare
-Extended hours
-Respite care
-Crisis care
-5 Star licensed programs

Child Abuse Prevention/Awareness
-Sexual abuse prevention
-Sexual abuse – implement Care for Kids and Nurturing Healthy Sexual Development in all 3 counties
-Collaborate with GRMC child birth classes
-Pool educated presenters
-Reporting abuse
-Media, Presentations

Prevention Programs for Youth
-SADD/SAFE – prevention programs for alcohol & drug awareness in each county
-SAFE/SADD
-Skill building
-Domestic violence

Basic Needs
-All families will be able to meet their basic need
-Take care of basic needs (emergency fund) non DHS involved for food clothing, medical, childcare

Background of Assessment
-Complete report can be accessed by contacting  Lisa Cook, DCAT Coordinator
LCook@dhs.state.ia.us.

-Assessment was conducted with multiple diverse providers and community members who attended a strategic planning meeting fall 2008.

Areas of Challenge:
-Increased promotion, awareness, knowledge about programs
-Increased promotion, awareness, knowledge about resources available
-Increased engagement of parents/clients as partners in decision-making
-Adequate funding for programs
-Insure/promote quality of care
-Higher levels of community collaboration needed – agency and citizenry
-Difficult to engage parents
-School-community partnership for early-outs, late starts
-Disincentives to work with in regards to child care assistance
-Limited agency partnerships/working relationships
-Align public policy with community goals at local level
-Development/increase of jobs with adequate pay
-Disconnect between what agencies offer and what public has knowledge of

Findings
-General awareness about child abuse within the county
-Connecting families with appropriate resources
-Family team meetings
-Parent education and ongoing support systems that value and engage all parents
-Quality and affordable child care
-Adequate supervision for upper elementary and middle school students outside of the school day in including opportunities for non-competitive activities
-Tapping into underutilized resources
-Multiple risk factors (basic needs, substance abuse, relationships)
-Reluctance in reporting child abuse

Background of assessment
-Complete report can be accessed by contacting Deb hall, ISU Extension debhall@iastate.edu.

-Assessment was conducted utilizing study circles with attendees with backgrounds that represent areas of prevention, intervention, and sanction as well as the community.

Health Improvement Plan Goal:
To reduce obesity in Adair County

Adair County's overweight and obesity levels have continued to rise steadily.

In 1999, 35% of our population reported being overweight. In 2002, 38.3% of our population is overweight and 23% meet the criteria for obesity.

Background of assessment
-Complete report located at
www.idph.state.ia.us/chnahip.

-CHNA & HIP was completed in 2005 with multiple community partners.

Needs Identified
-Meeting everyone’s basic needs including food
-Financial management skills across all ages
-Quality and affordable early childhood care and education
-Employment

Purpose
The Horizons Community Leadership Program is to reduce poverty and help communities build stronger leaders to address economic issues and find ways to implement change.

Background of assessment
-Complete report can be accessed by contacting Deb hall, ISU Extension debhall@iastate.edu.

-Assessment was with completed with input from the more than 650 community members.

Top needs identified
Child development - selection and utilization of assessment tools

School readiness – tools and ideas to prepare children for school

Family -assistance with working with children of divorce and family stress, parent involvement

Business practices – guidance on budgeting and state regulations

Daily activities – art, out door play, nutrition and physical fitness 

Secondary needs identified
Special needs – tools an d support to care for special needs children with an emphasis on mental health

Data collection – assistance to collect health information from parents and health care professionals

Assistance with teaching children and parents healthy lifestyle choices (nutrition)

Curriculum – how  and what to choose 

Background of assessment
-Complete report can accessed by contacting CCRR, Sherry Stuva 
sstuva@maturaaction.org

-Assessment was completed with input from Adair County child care providers (i.e. centers, homes, preschools)