SNOWFLAKE – Navajo County residents, including children, face a number of serious problems that affect the county’s health and well-being. The problems facing children in particular were the focus of a community forum held May 20 in Snowflake, and attended by 135 community leaders.
The problems were identified in the Navajo County Public Health District published the results of their 2018 Community Health Assessment (CHA) which described the physical and social conditions that affect the health of Navajo County. The assessment compiled the 2017 survey results of over 108,000 residents.
The survey and other epidemiological data revealed problems with poverty, mental and emotional health, substance abuse, chronic diseases and community resources. An action plan, Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), has been formulated to address these problems.
“Poverty and poor health are linked,” says the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). There are 30,548 people living in poverty in Navajo County.
Poverty is one example of an adverse childhood experience that can have devastating effects on individuals that tend to be reflected in the future health and prosperity of a community.
The community conversation event
The “community conversation” held at the May 20 forum focused on identifying how and when children in Navajo County could be at risk for trauma and adverse childhood experiences also referred to as “ACEs.”
The event, held at Our Lady of the Snow Community Hall in Snowflake, included community leaders, elected officials, coalition leaders, business owners, health care providers, early education specialists, first responders, faith leaders and non-profit organizations that work with families and children. The all-day event was co-sponsored by ResilienceLeaders.org, Summit Healthcare, Nexus Coalition for Drug Prevention, First Things First Navajo/Apache Region and other community partners.
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