For more information on this project, contact Larry Williams, Environmental Health Director, or Mary Jordan Taylor, PACE-EH Coordinator at the Lafayette and Suwannee County Health Departments.
SUWANNEE/LAFAYETTE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS
November PACE-EH Updates
Date:
November 30, 2004
To:
Daniel Parker
Assistant Division Director, Division of Environmental Health
From:
Mary Jordan Taylor
PACE EH Project Coordinator
Quality Improvement Manager
Subject: Suwannee and Lafayette
County PACE EH Projects, November Report
Lafayette County
A community environmental health survey was conducted among residents
of Mayo city limits. The survey instrument was distributed at various
churches and worksites within the community. A total of 252 surveys were
completed. The following gives a summary of the results:
Category 1: Environmental Health:
| Accidental Injuries children |
61% |
| Accidental Injuries elderly |
42% |
| Accidental injuries other |
2% |
| Animal Control |
45% |
| Air Quality problems caused by Second-hand Smoke
|
33% |
| Air Quality problems caused by Carbon Monoxide
|
8% |
| Air Quality problems - other |
27% |
| Food-borne illness from foods cooked at home
|
22% |
| Food-borne illness from foods eaten in a
restaurant |
16% |
| Food-borne illness from ready-to-eat foods from
a store |
6% |
| Water Pollution due to Failing Septic Systems
|
11% |
| Water Pollution due to Agricultural Runoff
Pesticides/Fertilizers |
30% |
| Water Pollution due to Illegal Dumping of
Garbage |
20% |
Category 2: Lifestyle Issues:
| Obesity |
42% |
| Alcohol and Substance Abuse |
74% |
| Teen Pregnancy |
80% |
| Domestic Violence |
55% |
| Violence in the Schools |
34% |
| Personal Safety |
10% |
Category 3: Chronic and Communicable Diseases:
| Heart Attack |
77% |
| Stroke |
59% |
| Diabetes |
25% |
| Asthma |
9% |
| High Cholesterol |
27% |
| Cancer |
57% |
| Premature births |
3% |
| Alzheimers disease |
11% |
| Alcoholism |
10% |
| West Nile |
6% |
| Sexually Transmitted Diseases |
5% |
| Pneumonia |
3% |
Category 4: Quality of Life Issues:
| Commercial Composting |
5% |
| Illegal Dumping of Garbage |
36% |
| Lack of Quality Housing |
72% |
| Lack of Community Planning |
67% |
| Land-use zoning |
47% |
| Quality of drinking water |
65% |
November Meeting:
Committee members present reviewed survey results and participated in
an exercise to prioritize the issues. The committee decided to write
action plans for each issue receiving a 50% response rate (or higher).
At the December meeting, the committee will decide which action plan
should be written first. One issue receiving a high rate of responses
was Animal Control. Since the administration of the survey began, the
county has secured grant funding to build an animal shelter. The
committee plans to take steps to insure this information is communicated
to residents for the purpose of assuring them that steps are being taken
to address this concern. At the next meeting, the committee will decide
the frequency with which meetings should be held in the upcoming year.
One committee member has suggested meeting twice per year.
Suwannee County
During a six month period, a community environmental health survey
was conducted among residents of the Wellborn community. Surveys were
made available at various community events, health fairs, and churches.
Two distribution/collection sites were established, one at the Wellborn
Post Office and the other at a local retail store. A total of 264
surveys were completed. The following is a summary of the survey
response results:
Environmental Issues
| |
Raw Score |
Percent |
| Trash & litter in public areas |
126 |
47.72% |
| Growth plan for development |
112 |
42.42% |
| Drinking water |
111 |
42.04% |
| Need for better animal control |
101 |
38.25% |
| Lack of environmental education |
98 |
37.12% |
| Food Safety |
93 |
35.22% |
| Loss of farmlands |
92 |
34.84% |
| Health effects of chemicals |
72 |
27.27% |
| Need for more recycling |
70 |
26.51% |
| Underground water pollution |
60 |
22.72% |
| Transport of hazardous chemicals |
56 |
21.21% |
| Unsafe/abandoned properties |
55 |
20.83% |
| Household waste disposal |
52 |
19.69% |
| Lack of environmental enforcement |
45 |
17.04% |
| Indoor air pollution |
43 |
16.28% |
| Water quality household related |
38 |
14.39% |
| Water quality agriculture related |
33 |
12.50% |
| Septic systems not working |
30 |
11.36% |
| Outdoor air pollution |
23 |
8.71% |
| Noise pollution |
22 |
8.33% |
Mental Health Issues
| |
Raw Score |
Percent |
| Alcohol and substance abuse |
188 |
71.21% |
| Domestic violence |
184 |
69.69% |
| Lack of family stability |
162 |
61.36% |
| Depression |
93 |
35.22% |
| Increased divorce rate |
68 |
25.75% |
| Lack of support systems |
56 |
21.21% |
| Suicide |
40 |
15.15% |
| Severe and persistent mental illness |
18 |
6.81% |
Lifestyle Choice Issues
| |
Raw Score |
Percent |
| Teen Pregnancy |
200 |
75.76% |
| Drinking and driving |
199 |
75.38% |
| Substance Abuse |
157 |
59.47% |
| Obesity and being overweight |
78 |
29.55% |
| Security, personal safety, law enforcement |
62 |
23.48% |
| Lack of recreational facilities |
41 |
15.53% |
| Lack of motivation |
39 |
14.77% |
| Lack of exercise |
30 |
11.36% |
Chronic Disease Issues
| |
Raw Score |
Percent |
| Cancer |
180 |
68.18% |
| Heart Disease |
157 |
59.47% |
| Diabetes |
112 |
42.42% |
| Alzheimers disease |
86 |
32.58% |
| Stroke |
75 |
28.40% |
| Alcoholism |
66 |
25.00% |
| High cholesterol |
35 |
13.26% |
| Inadequate home care resources |
30 |
11.36% |
| Asthma |
24 |
9.09% |
| Mental retardation/developmental |
16 |
6.06% |
| Physical handicaps |
11 |
4.16% |
| Premature births |
10 |
3.79% |
Life Skills Deficiency Issues
| |
Raw Score |
Percent |
| Lack of future community leaders |
187 |
70.83% |
| Lack of parenting skills |
147 |
55.68% |
| Need for life skills training in schools |
132 |
50.00% |
| Inadequate job opportunities |
131 |
49.62% |
| Lack of life-long education |
103 |
39.01% |
| Vocational training needs |
95 |
35.98% |
Highest Ranked Issues on Survey:
1. Teen Pregnancy (200 76%)
2. Drinking and driving (199 75%)
3. Alcohol and substance abuse (188 71%)
4. Lack of future community leaders (187 71%)
5. Domestic Violence (184 70%)
6. Cancer (180 68%)
7. Lack of family stability (162 61%)
8. Substance Abuse (157 60%)
9. Heart disease (157 60%)
10. Lack of parenting skills (147 56%)
Lowest Ranked Issues on Survey:
1. Premature births (10 4%)
2. Physical handicaps (11 4%)
3. Mental retardation (16 6%)
4. Severe and persistent mental illness (18 7%)
5. Noise pollution (22 8%)
November Meeting:
The committee reviewed the results of the survey and chose one priority
issue and will begin working on an action plan that Wellborn residents
may use. The committee will write the first action plan on the
Environmental Health Issue of Trash and litter in public areas. The
group agreed to release the results of the survey to interested groups
and individuals in the Wellborn Community. We will write a press release
covering the survey results. The committee will review and approve the
press release at the December meeting. The committee has requested that
Johnny Wooley, Suwannee County Planning Coordinator, give a presentation
on Growth plans for development since this issue received a high
percentage of responses. The committee has decided to move to quarterly
meetings after the December 2004 meeting. A schedule of meetings for
2005 will be presented at the December meeting.
October, 2004
September, 2004
June, 2004
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