The Needs Assessment will help United Way to pinpoint local needs and assess existing services. It is available online and in printed copies, and contains questions relating to education, income, health, veterans’ services and services for the elderly. Participants are asked to rate services in these areas in one of five ways: very important unmet need, somewhat important unmet need, important unmet need, need is adequately met, or no opinion/don’t know.
The deadline to complete the assessment is June 15.
The Needs Assessment originates from United Way’s administering a portion of the proceeds from the 2005 sale of Bradley Memorial Hospital. As part of the Bradley Memorial Health Endowment Fund agreement, United Way agreed to review or coordinate and participate in a bi-annual community needs assessment.
Drs. Rodney Fitzgerald and David Watts agreed to help develop the Needs Assessment.
“We are pleased to see so many have already participated in the Needs Assessment, and hope that more will do so before our June 15th deadline,” Dr. Fitzgerald said. “If you have completed the Needs Assessment, we ask that you pass the word along to others to participate as well.”
“The more responses we receive, the more we will have an idea of how the community feels about existing services and those needs that they feel are not being adequately addressed,” Dr. Watts added.
The assessment does ask some demographic questions such as occupation area, level of education, age and gender, but Fitzgerald and Watts want to stress that it is a completely anonymous form. They do ask that individuals only complete the assessment one time.
To access the Needs Assessment online, go to the United Way of Bradley County Web site at www.unitedwaybc.com and click on the large red link that says NEEDS ASSESSMENT.
Paper copies of the needs assessment are available as well. If you would prefer a paper copy, you may stop by the United Way office at 85 Ocoee St. S.E. (across from Johnston Park). Instructions on returning the assessment are listed on the form.
If you have any questions, contact Matt Ryerson or Michael Cole at United Way of Bradley County at 423-489-2020. You may also reach Ryerson at mryerson@unitedwaybc.com or Cole at uw.mdcole@gmail.com
