Partners in Care Foundation (Partners) to serve as a collaborative partner in fulfilling a planning grant awarded from California Healthy Cities and Communities, a program of the Center for Civic Partnerships.
Before the community survey was developed, a focus group of individuals and families living in San Fernando was conducted to assist in development of the survey instrument. Purpose of the focus group was to identify what qualities community members and city leaders believe are critical to support the City of San Fernando in becoming a Healthy City.
The focus group’s role was to identify what they believed were critical community needs and to prevent any bias in the development of the survey instrument. Partners staff began the focus group with a brief presentation on the City’s participation in the Healthy Cities and Communities initiative, including purpose and goals of the initiative and examples of Healthy Cities programming in similar communities.
The group was then presented with eight (8) Quality of Life Indicators and each was described. The Quality of Life indicators were selected from a Healthy Cities and Communities Fact Sheet and Guidelines, which describe the indicators as capturing “…..dimensions of physical, spiritual, financial, cultural and emotional existence that are not captured by more commonly used health status indicators.” The Quality of Life Indicators were:
• Education
• Business Development
• Communication/Information
• Public Safety
• Housing
• Recreation
• Health
• Transportation
During Partners’ research into other Southern California cities that are participating in this initiative, it became obvious that Healthy Cities and Communities activities run a gamut from after-school programs, public safety, parenting classes to walking paths, parks and other infrastructure improvements.
Based on the results of the focus group, in addition to input from City staff and community leaders, the survey instrument was created.
A purposive sampling method was utilized. Results were tabulated by Partners’ Research Center using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Version 10.1. Results were further reviewed and analyzed by Partners staff.
Healthy Activities
A Healthy City is a place where healthy activities are easily available and can be pursued safely. Walking, youth sports and bicycling were endorsed frequently by respondents to this survey. The City has already begun building the infrastructure to support the expansion of such activities. Walking and bicycle pathways, combined with programs to enhance their use, are typical of many Healthy Cities. Also typical are programs to improve facilities conducive to youth and adult organized sports, senior fitness and recreational activities, and accessible public spaces for community events and activities.
Community Building
• A Healthy City is actively engaged in enhancing the health, safety and quality-of-life of all residents through a collaborative process that is culturally and linguistically inclusive and built upon mutual understanding and shared decision making.
• Development of a community-wide coalition to coordinate and enhance the great work that is already being done by agencies throughout the City, and to collectively advance San Fernando’s development into a Healthy City. Partners in Care has been very active in the evolution of a similar coalition, Antelope Valley Partners for Health, which has been successful in bringing vitally needed programs and services to underserved communities in north Los Angeles County since 2000. Public, private and corporate funding resources could be sought for development and capacity-building of a community-wide coalition.
• Initiation of this community-wide coalition via a day-long networking and planning conference that brings together civic, business, community and faith-based leaders.
• Development of diverse, culturally competent marketing strategies that address the information needs and preferences of both Spanish and English-speaking residents. For example, event announcements should include fliers, brochures and posters reflecting the cultural and linguistic preferences of the target group, in addition to announcements in English and Spanish-language news media.
Conclusion
The community survey described here is useful as a tool for crafting the beginning stages of a Healthy City in San Fernando. When understood in the context of the City’s history, demographics, cultural and linguistic preferences, future aspirations, political landscape, business development needs and other factors, it contributes valuable information for planning and implementation. Partners in Care is grateful for the opportunity to take part in this exciting and important process.
