The Community Status Assessment is a survey used that will be used to gauge the pulse of the physical and economic health of those living in Hillsborough County and more specifically, Plant City.
The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County is asking all Hillsborough residents to complete the 2024-2025 Community Status Assessment (CSA) Survey, open until April 30 at www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSAHillsborough
According to the department, the survey – done every five years — is one of the components of the Community Health Assessment (CHA) process. It is a way for community members to share their thoughts, opinions, beliefs and views on “current social, economic, cultural and environmental conditions that impact the health of our community.”
Jennifer Waskovich, community health division director, stated: “Our community health assessment process provides individuals who work, live, and play in Hillsborough County the opportunity to give input into how and where resources should be allocated to best meet the needs of the community. Our goal is to use the feedback we receive from Hillsborough County residents and partners to help develop an action plan with efforts that promote health and well-being for all.”
Completing the survey is a way to show how healthy Hillsborough County is and will identify current health- and economy-related needs in the county. It’s also a way to find keys to making programs and services more efficient.
Counties across Florida had been administering similar community status surveys since the early 1990s. With them, community members and partners can work to develop initiatives to address and improve noted needs and completing the survey is one way that’s accomplished.
A private agency is contracted to administer the survey and analyze the data, which is given to the Department of Health, used to guide services needed in Plant City or any other community. The study collaboration is between The Department of Health Hillsborough County and community partners.
Wynton Geary, public information officer for the Florida Department of Health Hillsborough County, said it’s important for both county and Plant City residents to take time to complete the survey because it will help allocate resources. He said the result will help highlight the service and program needs of Plant City as it continues to have a high population and job-growth rate.
Geary said by participating in the survey, it helps identify quality-of-life priorities that need to be addressed and appropriate resources to accomplish those priorities can be achieved.
“This will boost the local economy and improve the economic conditions for the residents,” said Geary, who’s been with the department since Nov. 2023. “As far as our goals with the survey, it’s to ensure we have programs and services that are tailored to meet their (Plant City residents) health needs and assist them in achieving prosperity and growth.”
The 2024-2025 Community Status Assessment (CSA) Survey is voluntary and anonymous. For more information, see hillsborough.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2024/03/health-survey-2024.html or call (813) 559-4180.