Surveys Seek Community’s Needs

A new coalition of community-minded organizations is sending out 1,200 surveys to county residents designed to help find the biggest needs and problems in the community.

The Kootenai Quality of Life Coalition is undertaking a comprehensive needs assessment for the county, involving surveys, focus groups, interviews and statistical information.

The charter members of the coalition are the United Way of Kootenai County, Panhandle Area Council, Kootenai Medical Center and the University of Idaho.

About 80 specialists in the fields of health, social services and criminal justice met in a series of focus group meetings to identify major problems in the community.

Middle and high school students have taken a youth survey, and a survey also is planned of people who already receive community services.

The results will be compiled in a report available to all residents. It will help organizations apply for grants, and the United Way decide how to allocate funds, said Lucinda Ade, United Way director.

The coalition will try to find the best solutions to the worst problems identified by the assessment.

Anyone interested in taking the survey can call 667-8112.