November 1, 2013
Cameron Foundation releases 2013 community health needs assessment
Petersburg, VA — Working in partnership with dozens of community leaders, The Cameron Foundation has concluded a new regional health needs assessment and published the findings. The new report, which is available for viewing and downloading at http://camfound.org/about-us/publications, represents an update to the Foundation’s 2008 needs assessment. This work is enhanced with special sections about youth as well as behavioral health needs, both new additions to what was included in the earlier report.
“As a health legacy foundation, this needs assessment is a central source of information to guide our thinking here at The Cameron Foundation, in our grantmaking as well as our many other strategic endeavors,” noted Foundation President J. Todd Graham. “And, it also represents a valuable resource for many of our community partners, such as government officials, nonprofit leaders, and health practitioners, to better understand some of the community’s most pressing needs. By working with these partners, evaluating the impact of our work, and finding opportunities to proactively serve this region, we hope to further enhance the Foundation’s impact on the Southside community,” he added.
In order to gain a better understanding of the health-related needs in the service area, the year-long research included reviewing and analyzing quantitative data as well as conducting an online community survey; interviewing more than 50 key community informants; and holding a focus group of representatives of youth-serving community organizations. An advisory group of 28 representatives from the area’s health care and human services community also shepherded the process, including providing suggestions for data sources, reviewing the draft findings, and making recommendations about the priority areas for intervention.
A range of data was utilized in the assessment, including demographic, socio-economic, education-related, and other health-related indicators. The information was collected and analyzed by city/county and/or at the ZIP code area level. The geographic area of the study encompassed the Foundation’s service area of Petersburg, Colonial Heights, and Hopewell; the counties of Dinwiddie, Prince George, and Sussex; and the portion of Chesterfield County lying south of Route 10.
Graham concluded, “The Cameron Foundation’s mission is to provide resources that will improve both the health and quality of life for people living in this region. With what we’ve learned from this newest needs assessment, we are better equipped to pursue our mission. We also hope that it serves a similar purpose for our community partners as we work together for the betterment of people in this region.”
ABOUT THE CAMERON FOUNDATION
The Cameron Foundation is a private foundation that supports the work of nonprofits and partner agencies to improve the quality of life of residents in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas. Founded in 2003, The Cameron Foundation was formed from the proceeds of the sale of Southside Regional Medical Center by the Hospital Authority of the City of Petersburg. Since it began grantmaking in 2004, the Foundation has awarded approximately $63 million to organizations serving the residents of the region.
More information about the Foundation, its grant opportunities, and its other resources is available on its website, camfound.org, or by telephone at 804 732 8900.