Knox County Health Department

June 29, 2009                                              
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                        Contact: Ranee Randby,
                                                                             215-5534 or 388-6186

Knox County Health Department Wraps Up First Round Data Gathering

Deadline to participate in survey, focus groups is June 30

Knox County Health Department is preparing to close its first round of gathering community input for Together! Healthy Knox. Anyone who lives, works, worships or plays in Knox County has until Tuesday, June 30 to give feedback through participation in the Health and Quality of Life Survey or a focus group. Visit www.healthyknox.org for more information. KCHD epidemiologists will analyze the data and begin preparing reports, which should be ready in the fall.

“Response has been great, but we don’t want anyone to miss out on this unique opportunity to share opinions and make them part of a larger, strategic plan to improve the health of our community,” said Knox County Mayor Mike Ragsdale. “Information on how to provide input will be on computers in Knox County libraries and senior centers through the end of June.”

In the coming months, Together! Healthy Knox will begin the second phase, forming a community partnership to look at the health priorities reflected in public feedback and using that information to develop an action plan to make a lasting and positive impact on health. Again, the public is invited to participate.

By the numbers, our health needs improvement. According to the World Health Organization, the United States, the richest, most powerful country in the world, ranks 37th in the world when it come to the health of our citizens — just behind Costa Rica. Tennessee rates 47th in the country, with Louisiana, Alabama and South Carolina rounding out the bottom ranks, according to United Health Foundations 2008 report. Within Tennessee, Knox County is among the top five healthiest counties, according to the Tennessee Institute of Public Health 2007 report. That doesn’t sound too bad until you consider the Tennessee Institute of Public Health also ranked Knox County dead last (95th) for ozone level, 94th on the air quality hazard index and 83rd for sexually transmitted diseases. Improving health at the state and national level takes root in local action.

“We’re very grateful to everyone who has participated in Together! Healthy Knox so far,”said Mark Jones, Knox County Health Department director. “Gathering this data has taken time and hard work, but it will be invaluable as we move forward toward formulating goals and action plans as a community.”

“Just as the name implies, Together! Healthy Knox is about working as a community to address health challenges. We’re looking forward to working with community partners to help improve quality of life for all citizens,” said Stephanie Welch, director of Community Development and Planning for Knox County Health Department.

To sign up for a focus group, call 215-5170 or visit our website, www.healthyknox.org The schedule is below.

 

Please participate. All our voices matter.