At the beginning of our session, we agreed that an issue would be classified as a need if it met either of the following criteria:
- A measurable lack of or decrease in something compared to the required or desired amount of that thing.
- A measurable increase in something generally characterized as undesirable.
Our work teams identified 33 distinct issues that met our criteria for classification as needs. They then prioritized these 33 needs using a group voting process wherein each person could choose up to 4 needs that he/she considered the highest priorities. The Score column represents the number votes any need received. Therefore, the list below represents a prioritization of those 33 needs based on the will of the group. |
|
 |
|
|
3 |
Stronger promotion of physical activity during and after school. |
Growing |
20 |
1 |
Better education and use of prenatal care. |
Growing |
14 |
6 |
Improved access to early identification of mental illness. |
Growing |
13 |
3 |
Improved access to nutritious foods. |
Growing |
11 |
4 |
More information about the impact of CSA; early sexual activity or perpetration. |
Growing |
11 |
6 |
Increased access to intervention and treatment of substance abuse and mental illness. |
Growing/
Maintaining |
9 |
1 |
Education on brain development & typical development of children for caregivers. |
Emerging |
7 |
4 |
Improved access to programs that reduce the incidence of teenage pregnancy and encourage sexual health. |
Growing |
7 |
4 |
Improved access to information about sexual responsibility
for teens. |
Growing |
6 |
5 |
Better access to care for children and youth in less affluent neighborhoods. |
Growing |
6 |
6 |
Earlier identification of families' behavior that places children and adolescents at risk for future health problems. |
Growing/
Maintaining |
6 |
5 |
More effective language translation services and English language classes for ELLs. |
Growing |
4 |
1 |
Access & advocacy for services & information. |
Growing |
4 |
3 |
More teacher and parent (i.e., adult) role models and champions. |
Growing |
3 |
5 |
Healthcare professionals willing to serve the underserved. |
Growing |
3 |
6 |
Better understanding that mental health & physical health are equally integral to children’s overall well-being. |
Growing/
Maintaining |
3 |
6 |
A more culturally competent system of mental health care. |
Emerging |
3 |
1 |
Postpartum and inter-pregnancy care. |
Growing |
3 |
2 |
Better means of identifying risks of vaccine-preventable disease in older children. |
Emerging |
2 |
4 |
Pertinent factual sex education for children at younger ages. |
Emerging |
2 |
4 |
Increased resiliency for youth. |
Emerging |
2 |
6 |
School and community based education on prevention of substance abuse and mental illness among children. |
Growing |
2 |
5 |
Flexible hours and days for neighborhood health & service clinics. |
Growing |
2 |
2 |
Education on the importance of immunization & related risks. |
Growing |
1 |
2 |
Better access for all populations to immunizations. |
Growing |
1 |
1 |
Education on breastfeeding, especially for African Americans. |
Maintaining |
0 |
3 |
Education about the effects of high calorie, high fat diets. |
Growing |
0 |
3 |
Convenient local access (community center, balanced calendar). |
Growing |
0 |
4 |
Guidance for parents about how to talk to their children about sex. |
Growing |
0 |
4 |
Parenting education for teen parents. |
Growing |
0 |
5 |
Better insurance to cover care for children and youth. |
Growing |
0 |
5 |
Earlier identification of physical health risks for children
and youth. |
Growing |
0 |
6 |
Better education to families about effectively coping with mental illness. |
Growing |
0 |
