CARE in the Community

The pulse of New Haven’s health is being taken one resident at a time.

Health surveyors clad in bright orange jackets and shirts from CARE: Community Alliance for Research and Engagement at the Yale School of Public Health are going door to door in six city neighborhoods to talk with people about their current health and health-related concerns.

The survey’s goal is to gather information from 1,200 residents. The findings will be compared to a similar survey in 2009 and used for initiatives that promote healthier lifestyles and reduce high rates of chronic disease.

“Knowledge is power,” said Jeannette Ickovics, a professor at the School of Public Health and CARE’s director. “Community surveys are critical to identify local health needs, assets and priorities, to help us establish benchmarks and monitor trends, to provide a platform for collaboration and to inform health policy. Most important, results will guide the development of an action plan to improve community health.”

The survey covers a number of topics, including current health practices (e.g., smoking, diet and exercise); neighborhood factors that affect health (e.g., safety and availability of food nearby); and current health problems (e.g., diabetes, heart disease and asthma). CARE is working with Yale-New Haven Hospital, DataHaven, the New Haven Health Department and other community partners to insure the work will meet community needs.

In the 2009 survey of the city’s Dixwell, West River/Dwight, Fair Haven, Hill North, Newhallville and West Rock neighborhoods, CARE found that many residents were suffering from chronic health problems and/or engaging in practices that harmed their health.

That survey found:

• 1 in 5 residents were food insecure
• 1 in 4 reported high levels of stress or depression
• 1 in 3 smoke daily
• 2 in 3 residents feel unsafe in neighborhood

Since that survey, CARE has introduced a number of community and school-based programs that, among other things, promote exercise and healthier eating and encourage people to quit smoking. Data from the 2012 survey will be analyzed quickly and preliminary results will be available before the end of the year.

“We approach the data collection like a campaign and canvass neighborhoods with 20 staff in order to collect surveys quickly. Our goal is to have preliminary results ready so that we can rapidly report back to each neighborhood about health assets and challenges,” said Alycia Santilli, CARE’s assistant director.

Paul Cleary, dean of the School of Public Health, has identified the health of New Haven’s communities as a priority.

“When I leave [this position], if New Haven is not a healthier place then I have failed. We need to make a commitment to the community,” he said.