Editor’s Note: After receiving the 2017 County Health Rankings & Road Maps tool released by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (click here for previous article) , we received the following information from Kim Geib, Public Health Manager for the Florida Department of Health Nassau with follow up information for our readers.
Of particular note, “Actual statistics on alcohol related driving deaths were higher than the state and the nation. This may be linked to excess alcohol use and impaired mental health.”
Information provided by
Florida Department of Health Nassau
Kim Geib, Public Health Manager
April 5, 2017 8:00 a.m.
Basic Interpretation of the Rankings report findings:
On the positive side: Nassau County scored high on Social and economic factors (such
as low crime, school graduation rates high, low unemployment and poverty). Nassau
County is a great place to live, work, learn and play!
Challenges:
According to the Rankings survey (this part of the report gathered from
self-reporting, qualitative data), the biggest contributor to lower score was most
affected by
- People feeling like they had more days that they would say they
experienced poor or fair health and Poor mental health days. - Lack of access to medical and dental care and
- Transportation, including long commute or lack of mass transportation
(driving to work alone).
Actual statistics on alcohol related driving deaths were higher than the state and the nation This may be linked to excess alcohol use and impaired mental health.
1. Tools used to come to these conclusions.
National surveys where people are contacted by phone and interviewed. (Behavioral
Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, BRFSS) and state and county level statistics (such
as birth, death, insured, poverty level).
Much like the process of polling, the answers given in the survey only reflect the
people who were contacted and willing to be interviewed. The drawback is that the
opinions of some groups of people (such as those without phones, or limited English
proficiency) may be left out if they were not interviewed. Cell phones were used
this time, making more people able to be reached.
2. Why choose these sources?
2017 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps statistics are chosen by the University of
Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This study highlights the many
community factors that influence health and uses established data. This and other
Florida and county level specific data is available to the public from the
Department of Health at www.FLHealthCHARTS.com<http://www.flhealthcharts.com/>
(attached is the pdf. downloaded for Nassau County specific profile obtained from
FLHealthCHARTS).
Communities have many ways to measure health and quality of life. To be able to
compare across the state and nationally, must use same data sources. The sources in
the Rankings report are ones known to be collected by counties nationwide (analogy,
to be able to compare “apples to apples”).
3. What as a county, are we doing about it?
- According the Dr. Ngo-Seidel, County Health Department Director. :”As a
county, we collectively are working together to improve the health of all
residents.” - The call to action (as noted in the press release) community stakeholder
groups have joined the Community Health Improvement Planning process through the CHIP and community priorities align with the health gaps identified in the Rankings report). The Partnership for Healthier Nassau is the partnership that facilitates the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) 2016-2018 for Nassau County. The CHIP is a three-year strategic health plan created by the community, for the community. It includes measurable action steps and engages community partners. - CHIP is a collaboration for collective action in three areas: 3 strategic
areas of concern are Access to Care, Behavioral Health/Substance Abuse, and
Transportation.