The United Way of Central Kansas has engaged the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University to gather information from residents of Barton and Pawnee counties to better understand local needs and prioritize the services provided by its 22 community partners, said UWCK Executive Director Charell Owings.
United Way asks that Barton and Pawnee County community members aged 18 or over complete this online survey at docking.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6YiEicANkcEquVM. One can also scan the QR code adjacent to this story.
The survey is made possible through support from The University of Kansas Health System and the Walmart Community Foundation, she said.
“United Way of Central Kansas focuses on the education, health, and financial stability of all in the communities we serve,” Owings said. By engaging residents across our diverse economic, social, and racial backgrounds to complete this survey, they hope to broaden their understanding of what needs are not being met currently.
“We hope that the data garnered from this assessment will point us and our non-profit partners on a path to help more, do more, and find solutions to the problems that our communities are facing,” she said. “Through this assessment we can highlight and isolate areas that need immediate attention or further study. We can also identify and leverage our strengths in the community.”
Owings said UWCK will use the survey data to partner with additional key stakeholders and other non-profits to inform priorities and utilize the results as a resource for program development, funding, and partnership engagement. This work is currently underway in collaboration with The University of Kansas Health System, which will use this data, along with their own research and focus groups, to determine how the community can collaborate to improve health and social care.
Those who complete the survey can enter a drawing to win one of six gift cards ranging from $50 to $100, Owings said. The gift cards were donated by Dillons and Casey’s General Store.
Those with questions about this study can contact Mike Walker at the Docking Institute (mswalker@fhsu.edu or 785-628-5563).
For information about the Docking Institute or the UWCK, visit the websites www.fhsu.edu/docking and www.uwck.org.
