South Kent News

The Kent County Health Department is seeking community participation in a survey used to determine local health needs, which will guide the efforts of both governmental and non-governmental agencies in directing their efforts in the county.

The 2020 Community Health Needs Assessment is being conducted by the Kent County Health Department (KCHD) in concert with a group of community partners, according to a release from Kent County.

Participation in the survey is not limited to full-time residents, and the announcement states: "Anyone who works, lives or plays in Kent County is eligible to take the anonymous survey, and participants can register to win one of twenty $50 Visa gift cards as an incentive to complete the survey.”

In addition to straightforward health-related questions, the survey also asks questions regarding things the statement names as “social determinants of health,” which include transportation, housing and access to parks and recreation.

“Kent County is a huge area with many diverse communities, and not everyone has the same needs or faces the same challenges,” Maris Brummel, public health epidemiologist at KCHD, said in the statement. “To get the most accurate data and understand differences between communities, we need to hear from a wide range of people across the county.”