Time To Take Putnam County's Community Health Survey

BREWSTER, NY — The 2022 community health survey is now open for residents to provide input about the state of health in Putnam County.

The anonymous survey is available online, can be taken by adults in Spanish or English, and is open through the end of May. Completing it takes only about 10 minutes.

The survey is administered by the Siena College Research Institute for the Putnam County Department of Health and developed in collaboration with six other regional health departments.

The first phase, which consisted of a random telephone survey and directed emails, has been completed. Now the survey is open to the public, to gather the broadest and most representative data on the health and well-being of Putnam residents. Those who received a call or email and have responded should not take it a second time.

“Residents’ input will help shape the work that our health department, area hospitals, and Putnam community organizations do in the coming years,” said County Executive MaryEllen Odell in a statement. “We encourage as many as possible to participate in the survey. Putnam is one of the healthiest counties in the state and we want to keep building on our success.”

Health Commissioner Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD, agreed.

“We want to hear from you. Your responses help us understand how many aspects of life such as access to food, transportation, childcare, employment, and health care are impacting your health," he said. "For example, the 2019 survey identified Putnam County as the county with the lowest food insecurity rate in the Mid-Hudson Region at 4.6%. These numbers are not set in stone. Health-related programs and interventions must be periodically re-evaluated and re-designed to meet the changing needs of our residents, and the data collected from this survey helps us do just that."

The community health survey is conducted every three years to help paint a picture of the health and wellbeing of the county and inform health improvement.

Comparing the results to the Community Survey done three years ago will allow county officials to better understand the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic had on physical, mental, financial, and social well-being, said the health department’s epidemiologist Alison Kaufman, DVM, MPH.

“This primary data collection from our residents is used together with secondary data we obtain and analyze from federal, state and regional sources to complete a Community Health Assessment or ‘CHA,’” Dr. Kaufman said. “The ‘CHA’ informs decision making for our Community Health Improvement Plan or ‘CHIP.’ The more participation we have in the Community Health Survey, the better we are able to paint a true picture of the health of Putnam County and practice evidence-based health planning.”

The “CHA” and the “CHIP” are Putnam’s contribution to the NYS Department of Health’s “Prevention Agenda.” In place for the past decade, the Prevention Agenda is essentially a blueprint for the state and local health departments to guide efforts to improve health and behavioral health outcomes for residents. It helps identify significant health disparities and sets a path for future health for all.

Putnam County’s CHA and CHIP and the NYS Prevention Agenda are all available online at the health department’s revamped webpage. Select “Community Health Assessment, Education & Planning” and click “Assessments & Reports.”