SNAPSHOT OF BRANCH COUNTY 2000

Organizational Surveys

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ORGANIZATIONAL SURVEY

Number of organizations completing the survey: 47

Types of organizations responding to the survey:

  6 Childcare and child development 

9 Health—Physical

1 Child welfare/foster care 

4 Health—Mental

6 Community organization/advocacy 

8 Information and referral

3 Crisis intervention/counseling

  1 Legal aid counseling/service

1 Culture and arts 

4 Multi-purpose community center

10 Education/literacy/mentoring 

7 Recreation

10 Emergency food/clothing/shelter

  2 Substance abuse prevention and treatment

2 Employment and training 

14 Youth development

4 Family service/counseling 

8 Faith community

0 Law enforcement

  2 Senior services

8 Other

0 For profit 

39 Not for profit 

11 Government

Wheel chair accessibility:

Yes 38 

No 3

 

Languages spoken by staff:

English 41

Spanish 9

German 1

Arabic 1

Other 4

Does public transportation serve your agency?

Yes 24 

No 18

Do you provide transportation for families?

Yes 10 

No 34

Do you provide childcare for families?

Yes 8

 No 35

Do you charge a fee for your services?

Yes 12

 No 30

If you charge a fee, what forms of insurance payment plan(s) do you accept for services?


Blue Cross/Blue Shield Yes 4         No 41

Other private insurance Yes 4         No 41

Medicare Yes 5         No 40

Medicaid Yes 5         No 40

Other: 2: Pell Grants, Veterans Benefits

Do you provide services on a sliding fee scale?

Yes 5         No 6

Indicate whether your agency or organization provides the following services and whether you think the need is adequately addressed in the community:
  Do You Provide? Needs Met in Community
  Yes No Yes No

Outreach and referral

34

3

15

7

Linkage to public assistance

28

9

15

7

Case management/service coordination

16

18

9

8

Housing assistance (improvements, subsidies, utilities)

10

25

6

12

Homeless assistance (relocation, rent arrearage)

11

24

4

16

Transportation

10

26

7

12

Adult education

8

26

11

6

Employment assistance

5

30

12

2

Childcare

5

29

7

10

Child and youth development

18

18

12

10

Foster care

1

32

5

10

Health care

6

29

6

11

Vision care

4

30

7

8

Hearing care

3

30

5

8

Dental care

1

32

2

13

Health promotion programs

12

21

8

7

Services for the mentally ill

3

31

10

8

Services for the developmentally disabled

8

26

10

8

Family counseling and support services

15

18

11

9

Services for children and adults with special needs

15

21

8

12

Alcohol and other drug abuse prevention and treatment

6

28

8

6

Literacy

5

28

10

6

Parenting education

9

25

6

10

Crisis intervention

15

21

10

7

Civil rights and legal services

3

31

6

11

Immigration assistance

2

32

2

13

Recreation

9

27

10

9

Senior services

9

26

13

4

Adult day care

1

33

7

9

Domestic violence services

5

29

9

6

Environmental protection (air/water quality)

1

33

8

5

Safe food quality (restaurants/supermarkets)

3

31

10

3

Other:

10

2

4

1

Listed below are several barriers that may prevent people from receiving needed services. In your view, how often do these barriers arise for those accessing the services your agency provides?
 

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Don’t Know

No Answer

Length of waiting lists

    

5=11.1%

13=28.9%

18=40.0%

1=2.2%

8=17.8%

Agency location

  

1=2.2%

5=11.1%

16=35.6%

12=26.7%

1=2.2%

10=22.2%

Hours of operation

  

2=4.4%

8=17.8%

15=33.3%

11=24.4%

  

9=20.0%

Childcare availability

  

1=2.2%

7=15.6%

1=2.2%

14=31.1%

6=13.3%

16=35.6%

Service fee

  

1=2.2%

2=4.4%

9=20.0%

20=44.4%

2=4.4%

11=24.4%

Qualifying rules- eligibility criterion

    

18=40.0%

6=13.3%

8=17.8%

  

13=28.9%

Lack of knowledge

  

4=8.9%

21=46.7%

4=8.9%

3=6.7%

4=8.9%

9=20.0%

Lack of awareness of services offered

1= 2.2%

3=6.7%

23=51.1%

5=11.1%

2=4.4%

2=4.4%

9=20.0%

Staff sensitivity

    

4=8.9%

15=33.3%

14=31.1%

4=8.9%

8=17.8%

Language

    

11=24.8%

13=28.9%

7=15.6%

6=13.3%

8=17.8%

Transportation

  

2=4.4%

14=31.1%

12=26.7%

5=11.1%

4=8.9%

8=17.8%

Need for follow-up

    

4=8.9%

14=31.1%

8=17.8%

9=20.0%

10=22.2%

Literacy issues

  

1=2.2%

9=20%

7=15.6%

11=24.4%

8=17.8%

9=20.0%

Immigration status and related issues

    

3=6.7%

8=17.8%

11=24.4%

12=26.7%

11=24.4%

 

 

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

Individuals receive adequate services as needed.

  

18=40.0%

11=24.4%

    

3=6.7%

13=28.9

Programs reach all who need them.

  

11=24.4%

14=31.1%

5=11.1%

  

4=8.9%

11=24.4

Services are easily accessible.

  

19=42.2%

9=20.0%

1=2.2%

  

4=8.9%

12=26.7

Services are well coordinated.

1=2.2%

13=28.9%

15=33.3%

    

5=11.1%

11=24.4

Agencies share information and resources.

4=8.9%

11=24.4%

15=33.3%

1=2.2%

  

3=6.7%

11=24.4

Referrals are shared between agencies.

2=4.4%

13=28.9%

12=26.7%

1=2.2%

  

6=13.3%

11=24.4

Interagency meetings occur.

4=8.9%

12=26.7%

5=11.1%

4=8.9%

  

9=20.0%

11=24.4

There is joint planning among agencies.

3=6.7%

9=20.0%

10=22.2%

2=4.4%

  

9=20.0%

12=26.7

There is problem solving among agencies to fill gaps in services.

  

13=28.9%

9=20.0%

1=2.2%

  

10=22.2%

12=26.7

Agencies are in conflict with one another.

  

1=2.2%

10=22.2%

11=24.4%

  

12=26.7%

11=24.4

Agencies have conflicting rules and eligibility requirements.

  

2=4.4%

13=28.9%

6=13.3%

  

12=26.7%

12=26.7

Duplication of services is a problem.

  

1=2.2%

13=28.9%

9=20.0%

  

10=22.2%

12=26.7

Individuals face eligibility barriers to obtaining services.

1=2.2

1=2.2%

22=48.9%

3=6.7%

  

7=15.6%

11=24.4

Providers have adequate information about policy and program changes.

  

11=24.4%

10=22.2%

2=4.4%

  

11=24.4%

11=24.4

 

 

 

What three actions would best improve our service system in Branch County?

(Answers are organized into categories for the ease of discussion. Surveys did not include categories.

COMMUNICATION (INTER-AGENCY)

Increased awareness of opportunities for inter-agency communication

Better communication between agencies.

Data base available for networking among agencies

Better communication and info sharing between agencies

Roundtable/brown bag lunches/ discussions for network and building awareness and trust between service providers – that is - those workers who are on the frontline with clients

Closer connection between agencies so referrals can take place

 

COMMUNICATION (WITH THE PUBLIC)

Health/social services phone/address booklet for professionals and community

Electronic access to information

Open communication lines.

Increased knowledge of services available

Better communication of services (internet)

Community awareness (media, schools, chamber)

Hold a "Services Fair" and invite providers, public, media and Human Resource staff.

More marketing of services

Perhaps a "Resource Guide" listing all agencies and services they provide for referrals

Information

Referral services

Internet site with info on all health/social service agencies in Branch County

 

TRANSPORTATION

More transportation- flex time without wait-time (taxi)

Transportation improvements

Improve BATA service to Bronson and outlying areas.

Transportation for outlying areas

 

EDUCATION

Better education to families and seniors.

Visits to local Ministerial Associations would make ministers more aware of what is available. (For example, a woman from the Community Action Agency of Calhoun visited and it was highly informational and educational.)

Educate the public on patient choice issues.

Education

Mainstream involvement/knowledge of social services to middle class

STAFFING

Hire more social workers, more competent ones; foster families need to be more thoroughly checked and prepared before taking in children, and then more closely monitored—Fr. Stanley

Once needs are assessed, maximum teamwork to solve.

Return to interagency service providers

 

PROVISION OF SERVICES

A standard intake form

Dissemination of eligibility criteria

Development of service system outcomes

Development of service system evaluation

Increase in family centered practices.

Centrally located services.

Remove language barriers

Create satellite offices

Lengthen hours of service

Eliminate conflicting rules

Problem-solve to fill-in gaps in services

Continued collaboration of agencies with concrete goals and objectives

 

OTHER

Give Kathie Bappert a raise

Encourage more church communities to get involved on a one-to-one level of service to the community.

Here at St. Charles, we frequently get people who have contacted their own denominational community, who have been told, "Go to St. Charles, they’ll take care of you." While we rarely turn anyone away, one wonders the level of commitment to service to the needy when most of the other churches (and frequently other agencies) respond to those in need, "Go to St. Charles." We’re here to serve, but is any one else in the religious community here?

Schools could access services more.

 

NEW SERVICES or CHANGES IN SERVICES NEEDED

Childcare: Increased childcare available

Childcare at a reasonable coat in outlying areas

Increased childcare opportunities for special needs kids

Housing: Available and affordable housing for low and moderate income families

More low-medium income housing with three bedrooms

Initiate service by Branch Interfaith Hospitality Network

Funding: Funding changes that allow for creative programs

Counseling: More money for counseling

Counseling services available in all areas

Seniors: More space in New Horizon’s Seniors’ building

Health care: Increased availability of primary care – MD’s and Dentists

Increased selection for families needing doctors who accept Medicaid

Ability to offer more services for assistance with medical care and prescription costs

Food: Food pantries in outlying areas need to be open more