United Way of Central Kansas has released the results of its recent Community Needs Assessment study conducted to identify the most pressing needs for residents of Barton and Pawnee counties, said UWCK Executive Director Charell Owings. 

The data from this survey is helping to inform the Barton County Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan which is being developed by The University of Kansas Health System in conjunction with several community stakeholders, including UWCK, Owings said. To further dive into the issues facing our community, focus groups and town halls are scheduled for the community to provide input. 

The public is invited to a town hall 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, in the Kansas Room (north entrance) at Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, 2920 10th St., Great Bend, Kansas. Light refreshments and appetizers will be served.

“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,” Owings said. “By partnering with additional key stakeholders and other non-profits we can set a course for real change.”

Key findings include:

• In basic needs and self-sufficiency: About 48% reported some need or level or concern in meeting vehicle costs, mortgage, rent or utilities payments; 46% had some level of need or concern regarding food, clothing, and/or shelter for themselves or family members; for those respondents with a child under the age of 18, 34% indicate some level of need concern in the ability to pay for and access childcare or after school care.

• In community health: Over 50% of respondents indicate some level of need or concern over: access to fitness venues (57%), health insurance (56%), obesity (53%), physical activity program (53%), and access to healthy food (50%); respondents in the lowest income categories expressed a high need or concern for health insurance, basic medical care and transportation, healthy food, and counseling/mental health; and health was the highest level of importance to 42% of respondents and the second most important to 40% of respondents. 

• In the education, which touched on youth education and adult education: About 54% of respondents with children under 18 have some level of need or concern for youth development and character-building programs; about 46% indicate some level of need or concern for mentoring programs for youth; among all respondents, 52% perceive at least some concern or need for preparing young people for the workforce and almost 40% see a need for opportunities to gain knowledge/skills with the aid of tuition reimbursement, conferences, and/or skills training classes.

“United Way of Central Kansas focuses much of our efforts and resources in the fields of health, education, and financial stability, as we believe they are three core building blocks for a successful community,” Owings said. “That is done through the funding of 22 Community Partners and numerous Impact Program which includes Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Box of Love and Reality U.”

This survey was possible thanks to generous support from The University of Kansas Health System and the Walmart Community Foundation. 

The full report can be found www.uwck.org/2022-community-needs-assessment-0.

To learn more about UWCK, you can visit www.uwck.org.