MOUNT VERNON — Keeping the public’s perception in mind was of utmost importance in the recent survey conducted by the Knox County Community Health Assessment Partnership. The multi-agency project took place to gather data and information from numerous community sources and put this information to use to improve heath and community services in Knox County.
As the assessment was divided into three separate surveys, today’s focus is on the results gathered in the household survey.
Key players on the household survey committee were Wendy Williams, executive director of the Community Mental Health Board of Knox and Licking Counties; and Jen Odenweller, executive director of The United Way of Knox County.
“We looked at the original survey and what questions were asked. We also looked at some state and national health surveys to see if there were some particular questions we might want to replicate as well,” said Williams.
According to the 2010 U.S. census report, Knox County has a population of 60,921 residents with approximately 46,299 of them being over the age of 18. There are also 22,801 households in the county. The household survey was completed by a total of 955 adult residents.
“We wanted to make sure various populations were represented,” said Odenweller. Surveys were mailed to county residents, were offered to be completed online, were passed out to emergency assistance providers and distributed at various community events. Of those surveys mailed, 1,000 went to Mount Vernon residents, 300 to Howard, 300 to Fredericktown, 200 to Centerburg, 100 to Danville and 100 to Gambier. Of the 2,000 surveys mailed, 229 were returned.
The surveys received by mail constituted 24 percent of the completed surveys. Those gathered at community events totaled 15.2 percent; the emergency assistance providers equaled 20.1 percent; and the online samples amounted to 40.7 percent of the surveys.
