As a nonprofit well being system, each three years, Basis Well being Companions assesses our service area right here in Inside Alaska for our collective well being wants. We comply with up on this evaluation and create a Neighborhood Well being Enchancment Plan based mostly on what we be taught from our neighborhood. This fall, we’re within the midst of a brand new evaluation cycle and we wish to share a bit of bit about this course of and why it’s beneficial for our neighborhood to interact.
On account of our 2019 evaluation, we discovered that psychological well being care companies have been a priority in our neighborhood. Among the development in native psychological well being sources in recent times got here from the work of neighborhood companions. Fairbanks is thought for collaborating to construct responsive companies and one instance of that’s the Disaster Now program. This program ensures a staff comes collectively to offer speedy and applicable sources for emergency calls from folks experiencing a psychological well being disaster.
One other space of concern recognized in our final evaluation was the quantity of people that have skilled trauma. Analysis reveals that trauma can contribute to well being situations even a long time later. We have now partnered with The Fairbanks Wellness Coalition to develop an annual Resiliency Convention that helps our neighborhood organizations and professionals come collectively and enhance our abilities and data round growing applications that forestall, intervene, and deal with the numerous types of trauma we face domestically.
A 3rd space of concern in our final evaluation was a recognition of the scarcity of senior care companies and the pressing want to arrange for the fast development in our senior demographic. A staff of native leaders has been assembly month-to-month to concentrate on advocacy, housing, workforce, and transitional companies. Our aim is to make sure individuals are capable of stay independently and safely as we age and to have companies that assist these needing help. This spring, this staff will host a neighborhood instructional summit on points in getting old: “Fairbanks @50+“”
The aim of endeavor a brand new evaluation is to find out whether or not there are new rising wants that we must always start to sort out. This yr, we’re excited to collaborate with the Inside Neighborhood Well being Heart (ICHC) in addition to the Fairbanks Regional Public Well being Heart (FRPHC) to develop a joint evaluation. We consider that working collectively will enhance our effectiveness in responding to neighborhood wants. Whereas our companies are based mostly within the Fairbanks North Star Borough, we additionally need to think about the wants in neighboring areas, as many residents dwelling exterior the borough obtain a few of their well being care in Fairbanks.
We all know that there are lots of elements that have an effect on our well being, such because the traits of the neighborhood we stay in, the power to entry or enhance our schooling, how the surroundings impacts us, whether or not we will afford the issues we have to stay a full and wholesome life, in addition to entry to the well being care that all of us want. So our well being evaluation goes past simply the companies our well being care system supplies.
This yr, we developed a neighborhood extensive survey for individuals who stay in and round Fairbanks as we need to hear what you suppose. Our survey will probably be open till 5 p.m. Oct. 14. The hyperlink to take our survey is bit.ly/fairbanks22. The survey will ask you about your experiences and opinions on these matters and can take about 10-Quarter-hour of your time. The worth of getting your voice heard and serving to to information the planning of companies and well being care within the space is excessive. Along with figuring out you might be contributing to an vital piece of decision-making domestically, we’re additionally providing incentives for individuals who full a survey. Each week, we’re drawing a winner from people who participated over the earlier week and winners will be capable to choose a $100 reward card for both Fred Meyers, Amazon, Lowe’s or Sourdough Gasoline. On the shut of the survey, we may also draw a winner for a $500 reward card. If you happen to haven’t taken the survey, please think about doing so; we need to hear from you.
When our survey closes and we analyze the outcomes, we’ll share each the outcomes and our neighborhood well being enchancment plan. Outcomes will probably be viewable from our web site at foundationhealth.org and shared with native media retailers. We sit up for forming a plan to assist our neighborhood develop enhancements whereas utilizing our pure strengths domestically. Thanks to your assist on this endeavor. Survey hyperlink bit.ly/fairbanks22.