The St. Clair County Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS) began July 12 and we are asking people contacted to please take 20-30 minutes to provide valuable feedback. St. Clair County residents (18 years of age and older) will have the opportunity to give input on local health-related needs and concerns. The BRFS periodically monitors health among various geographic areas within St. Clair County. At least 1,200 residents will be randomly selected and contacted by Wilkins Research. Your caller ID may show a 423 area code number coming from Tennessee, please be sure to answer. Survey calls will be made through September (or longer) to landline and mobile phones. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. All comments are confidential and will only be included in a report that provides an overview of community responses.
The feedback provided will help:
•assess community members’ health risks
•monitor health trends
•respond to emerging public health issues
•provide data for planning and development
•enable community organizations to secure grant funding
•determine where funds can best be allocated
•work to improve treatment
The survey includes health-related questions about exercise, tobacco use, doctor visits, health insurance and other topics. Additional questions were added to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic may have affected people’s behaviors and in what ways it may have impacted their health. The BRFS results are expected to be available by the end of the year.
Information from this survey reveals how healthy St. Clair County is in many specific areas compared to Michigan and the United States. The results will help hospitals and other organizations target their efforts to where the need is greatest. We’re asking residents who receive a call to please contribute their time to this valuable project.
The St. Clair County BRFS is one of the primary data sources that contributes to the St. Clair County Community Needs Assessment (CHNA). Previous assessments also guided strategies developed in the St. Clair County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).
To find more information about St. Clair County community assessments and planning visit http://www.stclaircounty.org/Offices/health/CHAP.aspx
For more information call (810) 987-5300. To learn more about Health Department services visit www.scchealth.co and follow us on social media @scchdmi.
—Dr. Annette Mercatante, Medical Health Officer, St. Clair County Health Department
