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Demographic Information about Respondents
Total Responses: 75
Gender
Male 16 21%
Female 57 76%
No ans 1
AgeRange 15-74
Average 37, median 35
Marital Status
Married 34
46%
Single 8
11%
Widowed 25 34%
Partnered 7
10%
Number with children under 18
No children under 18= 25
Children under 18= 49
Children under 18 who live with them
Part time 2
Full time 45
Race/ethnicity
Black/African-American 1 Asian/Native Hawaiian
Pacific Islander 0
American Indian/Alaskan 1 Multi-racial 0
White 71
Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban,or of another Hispanic or Latino group 2
Middle Eastern 0
Primary Language Spoken in the home
Spanish 2
Arabic 0
English 68
German 3
Japanese 0
High School Graduate
Yes 51 70%
No 22 30%
How many years lived in Branch County
Range 0-69 years
Average 20 years
How long plan to stay in Branch County
Less than one year 3 4%
1-5 years 13
18%
No plans to move
in next 5 yrs 57
77%
No answer 1
1%
Own or rent or live with others
Own 27
37%
Rent 32
43%
Live with others 12
16%
No answer 1
1%
Current employment status
Satisfied with occupation 31
41%
Satisfied with employer 26
35%
Dissatisfied/looking for new job 9 12%
Unemployed/looking for new job 14 19%
In school or job training 5
7%
Not in workplace 16
21%
Household income in relation to median $42,300
Below 57
77%
About the same 5 7%
Above 5
7%
No answer 7
10%
Responses to questions
What do you like about living in Branch County?
Near relatives 8
10.8%
Rural community 12 16.2%
Safe community 10 13.5%
No answer 12
16.2%
Other:
I’ve always lived here or have lived here a long time and have
grown attached (5)
Close community/small town atmosphere/friendly people (10)
Conveniences: (mental health/shopping/FIA/new stores) (3)
Scenery: lakes and seasons (4)
Recreation and activities for children (4)
Schools (4) and the Bronson Schools (3)
Employment is great; the way it is growing, chances for success are
good.
More business is bringing in a variety of people and this will make
it easier to be someone who’s part of a racial minority in Branch
Co.
Everything
Not much/nothing (2)
Do you have anyone you can call in time of need? If so, who?
Relative 34
48.7%
Friend 24
34.3%
Neighbor 4
5.7%
Other 4
5.7%
Professional 3
4.3%
Clergy 1
1.4%
No answer 4 5.7%
How safe do you feel in this community?
Very safe 22
29.7%
Safe 40
54.1%
Not safe 11
14.9%
No
answer 1
1.4%
4. What things about this community would you like to see changed?
Environment
make bike trails for kids since they can’t ride on the sidewalks
More activities for youth and teens (5)
More things for teens to do and a place for teens to gather
A park where you can snowboard during the winter with bigger hills
Landlords charge too much rent; we need more low-income housing
A shelter or low-rent apts for people getting started in a job so
they can save for regular housing
Build a "Bronson backyard" type playground in Union City
Economy
More employment opportunities for non-English speaking people
Take a look at the fast growth; there is too much traffic
Less growth/slowed growth/building (4)
Glad family Dollar Store came to Bronson; need another grocery in
Bronson for competition; the car wash in Bronson needs better
maintenance and up-keep.
More growth in Quincy, Coldwater is growing fine
Need new employers; businesses are moving away
Health and human services
Financial counseling services
Need more places for abused men (2)
quit blaming all abuse on men
More contact with Pines; this is my main source of help
Flexibility in FIA rules to cover short-term health needs
There are too many hoops for services; for example, working people
who wish to apply for FIA cash assistance and food stamps must take a
day off from work to attend WORK FIRST, only to be excused from WORK
FIRST because they are employed
Wish we had more and better trained doctors at Coldwater Hospital
and in Bronson; the area is under-staffed and some doctors will not
take Medicaid
There are few medical specialists here who’ll accept Medicaid;
has to return to Indiana for her son’s on-going medical care.
More help for people/elders who can not afford medication (2)
Reduce the length of wait in Coldwater Hospital Emergency Room
(this person now goes to Battle Creek or Sturgis)
Programs to help with medical for children
Education
Better educational skills in the schools
better and understanding teachers
Less public schools, more charter schools
People, culture, and society
Overall attitude with younger teens and adolescents
A club for seniors in Bronson where one could have pot-lucks,
dance, and play bingo. (This person does not have a car and so does
not go to the Senior Center in Coldwater.)
Not so political
Spend more time with neighbors
Public safety
better child support system
More 4-way stop signs and lights for example at State and Grand and
near Middle and High School
Fix roads/pot holes and re-do lane lines
No construction on Chicago St.
Less harassment from the police (4)
Men and women should be treated equally in the courthouse. I
believe that if a man is arrested for non-child support, then a woman
should be too; after all, we wanted equal rights.
Make it safer for kids to walk down the street; there are too many
drugs
How would you be willing to change this community?
No answer 45
61.8%
Suggestion 28
38.4%
Get more involved (3)
Help at my child’s school (3)
Volunteer (4)
Help to keep community looking nice
Get kids in earlier at night
Make my appointments on time
Help people with fibromyalgia like me
I would help if asked (2)
Any way God sees fits
Not sure, new in community
Talk to my State Representative about getting something done
about affordable medications
Try to encourage people to be self-sufficient
I will speak to my FIA worker to ask that worker tell me what
calls will be made to my employer This may help change FIA’s
policies and relieve my anxiety
In Quincy, I don’t think changes can be made cause of the town
fathers
Get rid of politicians. Set term limits
Make Chief of Police a set term. Do not keep it an appointed
position. He has no one to answer to.
Which of the following services do you use in Branch County? Where
do you receive these services (Name of agency and town location)?
Yes No # Gave Name
Information and referral [ 18 ] [ 34 ] 16
Public assistance (welfare, food stamps) [ 24 ] [ 35 ] 18
Case management/service coordination [ 9 ] [ 45 ] 7
Help to find and maintain affordable housing [ 5 ] [ 48 ] 4
Transportation [ 13 ] [ 42 ] 11
Adult education [ 6 ] [ 47 ] 5
Employment assistance (help finding a job) [ 12 ] [ 42 ] 10
Childcare [ 4 ] [ 48 ] 4
Preschool education (Head Start, Michigan
School Readiness, Preschool, Nursery School) [ 14 ] [ 42 ] 7
Literacy programs [ 2 ] [ 50 ] 2
Services for the mentally ill [ 5 ] [ 47 ] 5
Services for the developmentally disabled [ 4 ] [ 47 ] 3
Family counseling and support services [ 11 ] [ 44 ] 3
Child support/child custody assistance [ 20 ] [ 36 ] 10
(Friend of the Court)
Alcohol/drug abuse prevention and treatment [ 6 ] [ 45 ] 3
Success by Six [ 4 ] [ 49 ] 2
Help for pregnancy, new babies [ 9 ] [ 44 ] 8
Crisis intervention [ 5 ] [ 47 ] 2
Civil rights and/or legal services [ 8 ] [ 43 ] 4
Recreation/parks [ 25 ] [ 28 ] 9
Senior services [ 5 ] [ 46 ] 4
Adult day care [ 0 ] [ 51 ] 0
Mentoring [ 1 ] [ 49 ] 1
Primary Health Care (doctors) [ 36 ] [ 24 ] 17
Dental [ 33 ] [ 22 ] 14
Vision care [ 33 ] [ 22 ] 17
Hearing care [ 4 ] [ 44 ] 1
Other ______________________________ [ 15 ] [ 23 ] 15
7. How do you pay for health care services
(doctor/hospital/dental/hearing/vision)?
(If different, write in which services are paid by method)
Blue Cross/Blue Shield = 13 = 17.6%
Other Private insurance = 10 = 13.5%
Medicare= 3= 4.1%
Medicaid =28 =37.8%
Uninsured= 16= 21.6%
No answer= 4 =5.4%
Do you have insurance coverage for your prescription medications?
Yes – full (i.e. deductible of $5 or $10 only) 35= 47.3%
Yes – partial 13 =17.6%
No- 20= 27.0%
No answer- 6= 8.1%
Please respond to the following statements about the health and
social services system in Branch County?
| |
Always |
Usually |
Some times |
Rarely |
Never |
Don’t Know |
No Answer |
|
Programs reach all the people who need them. |
1 = 1.4% |
17=23.0% |
30=40.5% |
8=10.8% |
0 |
5=6.8% |
13=17.6% |
|
Services are easily accessible to the people who need them. |
7 = 9.5% |
13=17.6% |
30=40.5% |
7=9.5% |
0 |
5=6.8% |
12=16.2% |
|
Social and health services are well coordinated. |
11=14.9% |
21=28.4% |
18=24.3% |
4=5.4% |
1=1.4% |
7=9.5% |
12=16.2% |
|
Agency staff will help people find other services available. |
12=16.2% |
33=44.6% |
12=16.2% |
2=2.7% |
0 |
2=2.7% |
13=17.6% |
|
Health and social service agencies give my family priority. |
6 = 8.1% |
19=25.7% |
10=13.5% |
10=13.5% |
3=4.1% |
12=16.2% |
14=18.9% |
|
Agency staff work together to provide the services people need. |
10=13.5% |
26=35.1% |
17=23.0% |
3=4.0% |
0 |
4=5.4% |
14=18.9% |
|
Agency staff don’t always agree with what is best for me and
my family. |
1=1.4% |
17=23.0% |
19=25.7% |
11=14.9% |
0 |
12=16.2% |
14=18.9% |
|
Agencies have conflicting rules and eligibility requirements. |
6=8.1% |
17=23.0% |
20=27.0% |
5=6.8% |
3=4.1% |
11=14.9% |
12=16.2% |
|
Too many agencies are trying to do the same thing for me. |
2=2.7% |
7=9.5% |
6=8.1% |
13=17.6% |
11=14.9% |
20=27.0% |
15=20.3% |
Frequency of responses of always or usually:
Agency staff will help people find other services available 45
Agency staff work together to provide the services people need 36
Social and health services are well coordinated 32
Health and social service agencies give my family priority 25
Agencies have conflicting rules and eligibility requirements 23
Services are easily accessible to the people who need them 20
Programs reach all the people who need them. 18
Agency staff don’t always agree with what is best for me and my
family18
Too many agencies are trying to do the same thing for me 9
Frequency of responses of rarely or never:
Too many agencies are trying to do the same thing for me 24
Health and social service agencies give my family priority 13
Agency staff don’t always agree with what is best for me and my
family11
Programs reach all the people who need them. 8
Agencies have conflicting rules and eligibility requirements 8
Services are easily accessible to the people who need them 7
Social and health services are well coordinated 5
Agency staff work together to provide the services people need 3
Agency staff will help people find other services available 2
What do you think would help improve our health and human service
agencies in Branch County?
No answer = 39
Suggestions = 35
Compliments
I think it works pretty well for the most part
I’m satisfied
Provision of Services
Better timing at appointments, especially when you have kids
Think about the family. Think about each circumstance. Each one is
different.
Treat everyone equally under current policies.
Give the men a chance to be heard instead of siding with the women
Everyone working together to help instead of trying to "get
the most people."
Honesty and compassion on the part of the person’s FIA worker
More manpower
Need to be more caring; at FIA people are "put down’ for
asking questions
People who know what’s going on
Staff could be friendlier
New Services or changes in services
Have an emergency number to call in case of emergency at night
Dentists that would treat children; my child has to go to Ann Arbor
for treatment
Expand eligibility for health care to include more people of low
income
If doctors (hospitals) weren’t so wishy-washy
Some doctors over-prescribe medications
Check all drinking water
Clean the streets in Bronson. There is too much glass in the streets
and this is a special danger to bike riders
Communication
Let people know what’s available.
Make it easier to learn about services; have a flyer that is
distributed and have workers review info that is available
Other
"We try to be independent and so rely on friends and our church
for assistance."
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