The Oneida County Health Department is starting its mandated public health assessment, and officials want to know what you think are some of the major health issues in the county.

Over the next year, health officials will be working side-by-side with area agencies to write a public health assessment, highlighting the health system's strengths and weaknesses.

"It serves as a report card, and hopefully you do well on the report card," said Patrice Bogan, director of clinic services. "But it does point out where you need a little help if you're missing services."

Officials say they identified many strengths in last year's assessment but where they fell short was implementing the changes that needed to be made. They say this time that won't happen.

"Hopefully this will turn out to be a working document…and put on a shelf," said Nick DeRosa, director of the Oneida County Health Department.

Health officials say the assessment will serve as a guide for how to go about creating services that are needed, as well as enhancing those that already exist.

"Especially for any grant work that agencies do...it will really help paint a picture of what is needed," said Krista Drake, public health educator. "It's always useful to have that support when you're asking for funding in a certain area."

To paint that picture, health officials are looking to the public for input as to what needs to change to improve the quality of life in Oneida County.

"We need as many people involved as possible, because it's a comprehensive issue," said Lisa Worden with the Oneida County Health Department.

In the next month, the health department will be holding several public visioning sessions throughout the county. The entire assessment is due to the state by July 2009.

If people can't make Thursdays meeting for the public health assessment visioning session...these are other meeting times/places.

Public Health Assessment Visioning Sessions:

May 19th
MVCC- Utica Campus
6-8p

May 27th
Cosmopolitan Center
6-8p

May 29th
MVCC- Rome Campus
6-8p