PACE-EH (Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in Environmental Health)
For more information on this project, contact Aimee Pragle, PACE EH Coordinator or Terry Graham, Environmental Health Director at the Baker County Health Department.
Baker County PACE-EH
Helping build a healthier Baker
County one community at a time!
Community Forum Summary Report
Prepared by:
Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida, Inc.
September 12, 2005
The National Association of County and City Health
Officials (NACCHO) developed the Protocol for Assessing Community
Excellence in Environmental Health (PACE-EH) process as a means to
standardize efforts to identify and address environmental health
concerns. The process acts as tool to assist local health officials work
with the public to assess and improve the environmental health of their
communities. The tool guides the user through a community-based process
for:
-
Characterizing and evaluation local environmental
health conditions and concerns;
-
Identifying populations at risk of exposure to
environmental hazards;
-
Identifying and collecting meaningful environmental
health data; and
-
Setting priorities for local action to address
environmental health problems.
The Baker County Health Department received a grant from
the Florida Department of Health to conduct PACE-EH within the county.
Baker County identified priority health issues during the 2004 Community
Health Needs Assessment and elected to use the funds to implement a
health project in the Sanderson community focusing an expanded version
of the previously identified priority health issues. The expanded
version of the priority health issues are as follows:
-
Environmental Health
-
Health
-
Education/Training
-
Safety
During August 2005, the Baker County Health Department
undertook a PACE-EH (Protocol for Assessing Community Excellence in
Environmental Health) project for the community of Sanderson, Florida.
This project was funded by the Florida Department of Health thru a
PACE-EH grant. The Health Department convened three community forums and
a fair in Jonesville Park to promote the project. The community forums
were held to help the community identify and solve environmental health
concerns. This project supplements the 2004 Community Health Needs
Assessment by examining environmental factors that may affect the health
and wellbeing of a community.
The three community forums took place at the old Council
on Aging building and the Sanderson Civic Center. Over 60 people
participated the forums; however, some of the participants attending
multiple forums. Forum participants provided project ideas in groups for
each one of the expanded priority health issues. Each group developed a
list of ideas to share with the full group and allowed participants from
other groups to add their input respectively. This document summarizes
the information collected by each topic area. Some issues fell into more
than one category and have been consolidated into one of the focus
areas. Those issues that were brought forward at more than one forum
include the number of times mentioned in parenthesis.
Environmental Health
1) Concerned about the quality of drinking water and
believe there is a need for a water test center/drop-off site. (2)
2) Concerned about illegal dumping in back roads (2)
3) Concerned about junk cars which harbor rodents and mosquitoes.
4) Concerned about mosquito control, especially since this year has
had above average rainfall.
5) Concerned about the drainage problems/flooding
6) Concerned about improper washing machine drainage detergent
getting into the water supply.
7) Need bathroom facilities/drinking water at parks (Jonesville and
next to Council on Aging).
Health
1) Need youth activities/facilities to enhance
fitness (YMCA, bike trails, swimming pool, athletic fields). (2)
2) Need health education programs to provide information on healthy
lifestyles especially concerned about diabetes, hypertension,
cancer and heart disease. Schedule health education classes on a
regular basis at regular locations advertise at the churches and
post office. (2)
3) Need health resource center/hotline to find out what health
services are available when needed, especially for the elderly. (2)
4) Need to reach the at-risk population more with prevention
programs (abstinence, drugs, alcohol).(2)
5) Need local health care services or transportation to doctor and
medical services (i.e. prescriptions, dialysis, cancer treatment).
6) Concerned about senior citizens since the Council on Aging Center
in Sanderson has closed need social activities, programs that
address health issues, and prescription drug assistance program for
seniors.
Education/Training
1) Need employment services available locally and
advertise jobs locally (churches, post office, stores).
2) Need job training services for young adults and seniors.
3) Need access to scholarships/financial aid for higher education.
4) Need transportation services.
5) Need access to trade schools/apprenticeships for skilled labor.
6) Need tutoring programs for school aged children (currently
offered through People Reaching Out but more funding/support needed)
(3)
7) Need organized youth activities and summer programs (currently
offered through People Reaching Out but more funding/support needed)
(3)
Safety
1) Need more sidewalks especially at 127/Jonesville
area, Gaston Circle and intersection of US 90/229 (2)
2) Need street lighting at these locations as well. (2)
3) Need better road signs in Sanderson and repair street signs/stop
signs which have been knocked down or vandalized.
4) Need traffic light at Highway 127/229 South and US 90
intersection (2)
5) Need more paved roads, better maintenance of roads and shoulders.
(2)
6) Concerned about illegal drug use and availability of drugs on the
streets, especially near playgrounds. (2)
7) Concerned about the train stopping on the tracks in the middle of
town blocking access may need alternate route/emergency access at
train crossing at Beach St. (2)
8) Concerned about speeding drivers on two lane roads in the
community- need speed bumps near churches, parks, etc
9) Need more police patrols possibly a substation. (2)
10) Need a safety program for latch key kids as well as structured
youth activities after
school (2)
11) Need school bus shelter need protection for children waiting
for the bus during bad weather)
12) Need fire hydrants.
13) Need medical or fire substation (or EMS) on the opposite side of
the train tracks.
14) Need more park equipment and better maintenance of the current
equipment, as well as specified hours of operation for safety and
management (2)
For each community forum, a meeting evaluation/survey
form was given to all participants. This evaluation had specific
questions on the residents opinions of issues and services in Sanderson
as well as demographical information of the participants. Results of the
evaluation form are presented on the next page. Eighty percent of the
participants filled out an evaluation. Some participants have attended
more than one community forum and may have only filled out one
evaluation form.
By examining the residents responses to questions about
their community, the majority of them felt that Sanderson was a good
place to raise children and safe place to live. However, the biggest
concern raised by the residents was drug activity in the neighborhood
and needing more street lights and sidewalks (both were at 94% for
strongly agree or agree). They also had concerns about the quality of
drinking water and lack of recreational activities.
The majority of the respondents also believed that are
not enough resources and support services in Sanderson and government
officials and community leaders are not responsive to the needs of the
community. Many felt that these forums were a good first step in
identifying problems and moving forward towards solutions.
The best way to disseminate information regarding the
forums was from the local churches. Many individuals also received the
flyer that was distributed by the Baker County Health Department. The
newspaper or mailings were not effective in bringing people to the
forums.
The demographics of the participants differed from those
of the whole community based on the statistics from the U.S. Census
Bureau for zip code 32087. Key characteristics include race, age,
education level and income. The racial composition of the zip code
include 74% white, 24% African American and 2% other race while those
who participated in the forums included 8% white, 74% African American
and 2% Asian/Pacific Islander. The age distribution of the participants
was well represented and similar to the census including10% over 65
years of age. Approximately 88% of the participants were high school
graduates or greater, while 70% of the residents in the zip code 32087
had completed high school or greater. The median household income as
reported by the U. S. Census was $34,000 and was similar to the
household income reported by the participants of the forums.
NUMBER OF RESPONSES = 50
| Percent % |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
No Opinion |
Disagree |
Strongly Disagree |
No Response |
| 1. Sanderson is a good place to raise children. |
18% |
50% |
18% |
4% |
6% |
4% |
| 2. There are resources & support services in Sanderson
to help with special needs and in times of crisis. |
10% |
20% |
12% |
16% |
24% |
2% |
| 3. I voice my opinion regarding issues affecting
Sanderson when given the opportunity. |
38% |
38% |
8% |
4% |
4% |
8% |
| 4. Government officials and community leaders are
responsive to the overall needs of the community. |
4% |
22% |
8% |
30% |
24% |
12% |
| 5. Sanderson needs more recreational facilities to
promote healthy lifestyles. |
60% |
30% |
2% |
0 |
0 |
8% |
| 6. I am concerned with the drinking water in Sanderson. |
58% |
26% |
2% |
4% |
0 |
10% |
| 7. I am concerned with the drug activity and crime in
Sanderson. |
72% |
22% |
0 |
2% |
0 |
4% |
| 8. Sanderson needs more sidewalks, streetlights, and
walking trails. |
70% |
24% |
2% |
2% |
0 |
2% |
| 9. Overall, Sanderson is a safe place to live. |
20% |
54% |
12% |
8% |
0 |
6% |
| 10. Tonights activity will help improve some of the
problems in Sanderson. |
26% |
42% |
20% |
6% |
0 |
6% |
| 11. I could understand what the speaker was saying. |
50% |
26% |
2% |
6% |
2% |
14% |
| 12. The event was scheduled at a convenient time and
location. |
42% |
46% |
0 |
4% |
0 |
8% |
| 13. The length of the event (time) was not too long.
|
28% |
34% |
10% |
4% |
0 |
24% |
14. How did you hear about this event?
Write-in Comments
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Keep up the good work.
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I would like doctors who would accept Humana Gold
S.S. supplement insurance instead of going to Jax or Callahan.
-
Just wanna see the changes in this community since
you have all of our input.
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Great job! Thank you for your help!
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I hope that this meting will help improve the
environment and nature of Sanderson, Fl
-
The forum was very informative
-
This a good start. I hope that it goes further and
something comes out of this meeting.
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Most of the above environmental health issues can be
improved with better enforcement of current laws and increased access to
water testing and mosquito control. Due to the size of the population in
Sanderson, it is unlikely that healthcare providers would locate there;
however, access to transportation to Macclenny or Jacksonville to
receive needed services can be a viable option. The Baker County Health
Department has a wide array of health education and disease prevention
programs that they can offer to the residents of Sanderson. By offering
these programs at regular intervals and scheduled in advance with
adequate marketing, more residents may be able to access them. Some of
these issues can be addressed by applying for small grants to provide
funding for particular projects and services.
Access to job training and education in a small
community brings many challenges. The local school system may be able to
provide additional programs for children while Worksource programs may
help with job training and placement. Many of the safety issues require
the county to make improvements in the roads and infrastructure of
Sanderson. Residents may need to prioritize them and bring them forward
to their county commissioner.
