COMMUNITY PLANNING WORKSHOPS

In May, June and July of 2002, the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky  held eleven Community Planning Workshops. The goal of the workshops was to further focus the Foundation’s broad mission of addressing the unmet health care needs of Kentuckians.

Members of the Foundation Board and the Community Advisory Committee developed a list of possible workshop attendees that ensured a cross-section of the community leaders and organizational stakeholders would participate. Almost three hundred and fifty concerned Kentuckians, representing fifty-two counties, attended the meetings. 

A modified Delphi process was used at the meetings as a formal method to collect participants' recommendations. By employing this strategy, the Foundation was assured of receiving consistent and thoughtful input from across the state.

The analysis of the Workshop Findings has lead to two focus areas for the Foundation's future initiatives.

FOCUS AREAS

Focus Area #1: Health education and prevention programs focused on children and families with special emphasis on nutrition and fitness, and on youth smoking and substance abuse prevention.

Focus Area #2: Initiatives to enhance access to health services and care for all ages, with emphasis on low-income, uninsured and rural populations and with special focus on access to integrated mental health services.