Butler County Health Department

Come Visit Us!

1619 North Main
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

(Phone) 573-785-8478
(Fax) 573-785-2825

Hours: 8am - 5pm Mon - Fri

Email Us! info@butlercountyhealth.org

Community Assessment

Introduction

Fast forward from 2004 to 2008, that is how history creates itself! Just three years ago, we were in the midst of a comprehensive community assessment process. We brought together local leadership for a series of focus groups and informal conversations to discuss our community and how the Butler County Health Department can play a role in value creation and improved health within and across the Butler County boundaries. Now, it is time to revisit those priorities and share our progress.

This report is a brief overview of the strategic objectives that have been put in place, the results that have been achieved and the resources that have been acquired to impact the issues identified by the community as priority health and wellness issues. Community health improvement does not start and end with the assessment and planning process. Rather, people interested in continuing the conversation are encouraged to join our team to contribue to the ongoing planning and implementation of strategic objectives that result in improved health outcomes.

The role of the Butler County Health Department has been and continues to be one of delivering value, connecting people to information and resources, developing and implementing programs, and reaching out to people. The Butler County Health Department works with local partners to identify new revenue streams, improve decision-making and transform how local health problems are solved. As before, the time to take action is no better than the present!

Below is the Executive Summary of our Community Assessment. For the full Community Assessment, please click here.

A lot has happened in the three short years since the lass assessment was completed. Not only has the community grown and changed, but the network of agencies and organizations that provide services to our community members has also grown. From the addition of a Federally Qualified Health Center through Missouri Highlands Health Care, to highway expansion and improvements to businesses, schools and Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, our community is changing. Change requires action, and action is what we have taken.

Many accomplishments were noted during the community partners' focus group. These accomplishments are highlighted throughout the report. High on the list of accomplishments were the following:

Completion of walking trails and highway beautification
Programs focused on increasing physical activity and wellness
Efforts to create smoke-free school and health care settings
Teen pregnancy prevention programs

The Butler County Health Department was awarded Comprehensive Accreditation status from the Missouri Institute for Community Health. Butler County is one of only eleven accredited local public health agencies in Missouri. Agency acreditation demonstrates to customers that the local public health agency leadership has accepted the challenge to improve services and activities so that the community is served by an effective agency and a qualified public health workforce.

As a result of the 2004 report, two health improvement plans were developed. These plans formed the foundation for successful applications for grant funding thorugh the Missouri Foundation for Health. Butler County was fortunate to be awarded funding for both projects.

TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CESSATION GRANT INITIATIVE

In January 2006, the Butler county Health Department received $205,050 to implement the TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use) and EASE (Employer Assisted Smoking Elimination) programs. These programs, created and supported by the American Lung Association of Missouri, were very successful in the community. Preliminary results from this project are highlighted under the 'Smoking and Tobacco' section of this report.

HEALTHY & ACTIVE COMMUNITIES GRANT

Through its Healthy & Active Communities Initiative, Missouri Foundation for Health supports Missourians by funding programs designed to address and prevent obesity and promote healthy and active lifestyles. In November 2006, Butler county was awarded $298,640 through this initiative. this grand supports sports league memberships for children, worksite wellness programs for adults, school wellness education programs and healthy behavior classes for daycares and WIC offices.

PRIORITIES:

In the summer and fall of 2007, health department and community leaders discussed progress and accomplishments since the 2004 assessment and identified priority issues for the next three years. Using the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Priorities MICA tool, local leaders completed individual rankings that were then analyzed and combined to determine the leading health issues.

The Butler County Health Department is An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer
Services provided on a non-discriminatory basis