Homer Alaska - News

Alcohol use and abuse, drug abuse and being overweight are at the top of a list of health problems plaguing the southern Kenai Peninsula, according to a compilation of assessment results completed in the Southern Kenai Peninsula Communities Project.

When survey and interview responders were asked for the leading problems within their families, the answer is slightly different with lack of exercise, being overweight and having high cholesterol the leading concerns.

Having a good place to raise children is identified as the most important factor for a healthy community, followed closely by a clean environment and healthy behaviors and lifestyles.

Those are part of the project findings gathered in the last year by Sharon Whytal, coordinator for the SKPCP, and a 13-member core group. The findings are a first step in determining how healthy the area is. With the assessments completed, the community is invited to take part in developing a vision of a healthy community and steps to make that vision a reality.

"What kind of community do we want to live in?" asked Whytal during a rollout of the assessment results at Kachemak Bay Campus, Kenai Peninsula College-University of Alaska, Friday.

A planning session to determine the future of the project will be held Feb. 25-26, with residents and agencies from Ninilchik to the south side of Kachemak Bay invited to create a vision of "community health" and prioritize actions for the next five-10 years.

Documentation of the project to date is available on the Web. Additional opportunities to learn about the project also are available, such as one offered at Curves on Saturday.

"We cannot let this information sit on the shelf," said Barbara Howard, owner of Curves in Homer and a member of the Homer City Council. "Now that we have this information, we can't ignore it. We're too responsible of a community for that. We need to take action."

The project got its start after South Peninsula Hospital began an update of the hospital's five-year strategic plan. Looking at an old community survey on hospital services, it became apparent an update was needed, according to Derotha Ferraro, SPH marketing director.

For purposes of the project, "health" was given an all-encompassing definition: physical, mental, emotional, cultural and environmental. That wide brush stroke drew participation by 31 agencies and organizations. Surveys were distributed, interviews were recorded, with completion of the four assessments the goal for 2009.

Using an approach developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of City and County Health Organizations known as MAPP, Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership, the project's four-part assessments were defined as:

* Forces of change assessment

Exploring changes that may be influencing health, quality of life and the work of public health systems, this assessment identified more than 25 trends, challenges and opportunities. Among them were natural forces, the economy, a changing population, development of renewable resources, the health care system, technological advances, law enforcement, government and illness.

Positive indicators of healthy lifestyles and a high qualify of life included a robust arts community with a large impact o the economic health of the community. Challenges included an increasing population 65 years old and older that will mean increased chronic disease, while also meaning more wisdom and expertise, as well as increased financial resources in the community.

* Community themes and strengths assessment

Surveys and interviews examined how quality of life is perceived and what assets are available to improve community health. Questions evaluated satisfaction with economic opportunities in the community, whether the community is a safe place to life, how many individuals have health insurance, how individuals prioritize the three most important factors for a healthy environment, the five most important health problems in the community and in the family of the responder. The survey gathered information on health-related services.

* Community health status assessment

A yardstick for opportunities and challenges took shape from hard data collected from the Kenai Peninsula Borough; the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District; Kachemak Bay Campus, Kenai Peninsula College-University of Alaska Anchorage; the state of Alaska; the Veterans Administration; Homer Chamber of Commerce; South Peninsula Hospital; local nonprofit arts organizations; the Homer Boys & Girls Club; and from food and electricity cost surveys.

* Local public health system assessment

After putting 10 essential services under the microscope, the committee charged with the local public health assessment recommended formation of a Homer Local Public Health System Coalition to continue the work the assessment committee began.

"A simple action plan" is how Ferraro characterized the hoped-for outcome of the Feb. 25-26 planning meeting. The public is needed to make that happen.

"It is critical that the community get involved," Carol Swartz, director of Kachemak Bay Campus and a member of the project's core leadership group, said of the important role the public plays in the project.

"The beauty of this (project) is that it's participatory," said Kyra Wagner of Sustainable Homer, also a member of the project's core leadership group.

For more on the Southern Kenai Peninsula Communities Project, see the Web at skpcommunitiesproject.net For information on the planning session and the project, call Whytal at 235-0833 or 399-4027.

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.