Montgomery County Seeks Resident Input on Prioritizing Key Health Needs at Meetings Scheduled Throughout April

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, April 3, 2024

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will hold in-person public meetings throughout April to seek resident input to prioritize the important health needs identified in the 2023 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). During these events, attendees will receive a brief presentation on the identified needs and then participate in a paper voting process to prioritize them.

“It is important for our residents to be actively involved in prioritizing the important health needs identified in the 2023 Community Health Needs Assessment, so that they can contribute their insights and shape the direction of our health initiatives,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Through this collaborative process, we can ensure that our resources are allocated effectively to address the most pressing health concerns facing our community.”

Registration is required to attend the meetings and can be completed online via Sign Up Genius or by calling 240-777-4385, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Call to register if language interpretation or other assistance is needed.

The meetings will take place at five library locations throughout the County:

• White Oak Community Library, Medium Room 1. 11701 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring. Wednesday, April 17. 6-7 p.m.
• Maggie Nightingale Library, Small Room. 19633 Fisher Ave., Poolesville. Thursday, April 18. 6-7 p.m.
• Aspen Hill Community Library, Medium Room. 4407 Aspen Hill Rd., Rockville. Monday, April 22. 6-7 p.m.
• Chevy Chase Community Library, Medium Room. 8005 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase. Wednesday, April 24, 2024. 6-7 p.m.
• Gaithersburg Regional Library, Medium Room 2. 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg. Monday, April 29. 6-7 p.m.

Significant health needs identified in the CHNA are listed below in alphabetical order:

• Access to Behavioral Health and Substance Use Services
• Access to Human Services Needs, such as Education, Income, Housing, Employment, Food and Personal Social Services
• Access to Parks, Public Spaces, Wellness and Recreation
• Access to Quality Dental Health Services
• Access to Quality Primary Care Health Services
• Access to Specialty and Extended Care
• Access to Technology
• Access to Transportation
• Active Living and Healthy and Nutritious Eating
• Cultural and Language Competence
• Environmental Health
• Health and Human Services System Navigation
• Injury and Disease Prevention and Management
• Maternal and Early Childhood Health
• Pedestrian Safety
• Safe and Violence-Free Environment
• Social Associations and Community Connectedness
• Waste Management

Language and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available at each meeting upon request and must be requested when people register. Requests for interpretation must be made five business days before the scheduled event.

A staffed children’s corner and light refreshments will be available at each meeting. Meetings have a registration limit of 50 participants, except for the event at the Maggie Nightingale Library, where the limit is 20 participants due to room capacity.

If people cannot attend in person, but want to vote on the significant health needs, they are encouraged to do so online via Survey Monkey through April 30. Surveys, which are available in six languages in addition to English, are available at the following links:

1. Amharic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Amharic
2. Chinese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Chinese
3. English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HR35X8D
4. French: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/frnch4
5. Korean: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Krean
6. Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Spnish1
7. Vietnamese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Vietmese

For questions or comments, email Elizabeth Beck at Elizabeth.Beck@montgomerycountymd.gov.

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Release ID: 24-157
Media Contact: Jennifer Garfinkel 240-962-1506
Categories: Health