COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2005, Cecil Partnerships of Children, Youth and Families, (CPCYF), in collaboration with the United Way of Cecil County, (UWCC), conducted a comprehensive, systematic needs assessment in order to guide the Partnerships and United Way in setting priorities and making informed decisions regarding the allocation of resources and the development of programmatic and organizational improvements and initiatives. In order to assure that this assessment accurately reflected the current issues and unmet needs facing children, youth, families, seniors and individuals with disabilities in the county, a multi-faceted approach was used. This included:

A comprehensive collection and analysis of secondary quantitative data;
Results and recommendations from a recently completed needs assessment for the Cecil County Mental Health Agency, specifically in regard to the mental health needs of children and adolescents in the County;
Results and recommendations from a teen forum conducted by the CPCYF on November 7, 2002;
Results from a community forum with 65 key community stakeholders conducted in early fall of 2004,
Results from a community-wide survey in which 377 community members responded;
Interviews with key informants; and
A series of four focus groups with representatives of key segments of the community.

The work has been further informed by the periodic review and guidance provided by a planning committee representing key stakeholders and public agency representatives convened for this process. An expanded planning advisory committee was also convened to allow for the inclusion of family members, consumers, and private provider representatives to provide input in the review and refinement of key priority areas. The Board of the Partnership and United Way were provided with periodic updates and both have reviewed and approved the final report.

In 1998, CPCYF conducted a comprehensive community needs assessment, employing many of the same approaches used in the current study. At that time, four key concerns were identified. They were:

The need to develop strategies to reduce the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs among youth in the county;
The lack of adequate youth activities;
The lack of parental involvement in child and youth development; and
The high rates of teen pregnancy in the county.

CPCYF developed a number of innovative programs to address these issues, funded primarily through the State Community Partnership Fund. Alternatives to suspension and programs to address the needs of teens already either suspended, expelled or dropped out of the school system were developed and continue. After-school programs were funded and, although the fiscal support from the State has decreased, three sites are still in operation. School-based wellness centers operate widely, and include mental health services as well.

The key priority areas identified as a result of this current assessment mirror those from the previous study. The top priorities that have emerged from the 2005 community needs assessment are:

The lack of services for youth and adults to reduce substance use and abuse;
The need for positive activities for youth;
The need for transportation or access to existing services and resources;
The lack of family involvement and activities for families; and
The need for affordable medications, and more available health care resources for seniors.

As noted above, the three top areas in 1998 were substance abuse, youth activities and the lack of parental involvement. They continue to remain a concern in the county. The demographic and socio-economic data and trends supported these findings. In 1998, issues of teen pregnancy were identified as critical, and the data at that time fully supported these perceptions as well. While the teen pregnancy rate in the county remains higher than the state average, (37.3% as compared to 35.4% for the state), the numbers do continue to trend downward for the county.

The 1998 survey focus was primarily on children, youth and families. Thus, the key needs of seniors were not assessed in the earlier study. In this current review, it is apparent that senior issues, specifically around the need for more health care services and affordable medications are of growing concern.

Access to services, given the lack of public transportation in most areas of the county, was identified as critical in the current study, and it is clear that it impacts a wide segment of the community with no private, personal transportation, such as children, persons of low income, persons with disabilities and seniors.