THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original Publication: July 30, 2006)
Major issues Major issues identified in the United Way of Rockland County's 2006 Health and Human Services Survey • Basic needs/hunger • Child care • Juvenile crime • Disaster planning • Job skills • Legal help • Mental health/family counseling • Access to health care and help for people with disabilities • Recreation opportunities • Senior transportation • Accessibility to health and human services information |
The 2006 Health and Human Services Survey also found disaster planning for Rockland to be a concern, along with a shortage of transportation options for seniors.
The results provide the United Way of Rockland County a snapshot to assess social needs in the county, and then to fill those gaps.
"We need to know from the public if this is the direction in which we should be continuing," said Naomi Adler, president and chief executive officer of the United Way of Rockland.
Adler said survey respondents were representative of Rockland. Their age, race, ethnicity, geographic location and income levels matched with 2000 census results.
However, she noted, nearly eight out of 10 respondents were women, and there was an abundance of responses from the lower-income community and from people age 65 and older.
More than 1,500 completed surveys were included in the analysis, including 300 that were translated from Spanish.
Adler said 600 completed surveys would have been enough for a statistically acceptable sample.
The survey looked at how county residents were faring economically. Among the findings
• 52 percent of respondents said not having enough money for housing or repairs was a major problem or a problem for them.
• 46 percent said not having enough money for utility bills was a major problem or a problem.
• 37 percent said not having enough money for the basics (clothing, school supplies) was a major problem or a problem.
• 34 percent said not having enough money to buy food was a major problem or a problem.
Deborah Cary Murnion, executive director of Volunteer Counseling Service in New City, said the results were disturbing because of the extent of the hardship. She said they carried more weight since people self-reported.
"We know this, but it's so hard to accept because we live in this wealthy, privileged community," she said. "It really is startling."
Adler said releasing the results was just the start of an ongoing conversation the United Way wanted to have with the community. Next up is a series of public forums to discuss the findings.
"We want to build on this. We want to make sure we don't make any major mistakes," Adler said.
The first forum will be in September. Its date and location have not been announced, but Adler said a meeting would take place in all five of the county's towns, one in the morning and one at night.
Starting next year, the United Way of Rockland will alter the way it distributes money. Traditionally, it has given the bulk of its money raised in the community to member agencies. It funds 28 programs in Rockland.
But, like other United Ways around the country, funding next year will start to go to agencies to address particular problems in the county as identified by residents.
One public safety concern is juvenile crime. Thirty-five percent of respondents said juvenile crime or gangs was a major problem or a problem; 31 percent said neighborhood crime also was a concern; and 23 percent said unsafe schools concerned them.
Jane Brown, executive director of Child Care Resources of Rockland, said the survey's questions about child care confirmed what she already knew: people need sick-child care and can't find it.
More than 60 percent of respondents who needed someone to take care of a sick child and couldn't do it themselves were unable to secure such services.
"That's a huge issue when parents have to go to work or to school or have to fulfill some other responsibilities," Brown said. "Children have to be somewhere."
Kids' Corner of Rockland in Orangeburg has a program called "Under the Weather" that features a registered nurse on site.
It, however, is the exception.
The survey also explored housing, transportation, mental health and employment issues. Adler said the complete results had not yet been posted to the United Way of Rockland's Web site (www.uwrc.org/) but would be before the start of the forums.
The survey also asked people about their quality of life.
More than six out of 10 respondents said stress was a problem in their lives, and 23 percent considered it to be a major problem.
Another 61 percent of respondents complained about the lack of time in their lives, while 39 percent reported depression or mental health problems as being a problem or major problem for them or some in their household.
Asked what are the best things about living in Rockland, 75 percent cited job opportunities. Only 32 percent felt the best attribute about the county was as a place to raise a family.