United Way of Westchester and Putnam

Executive Summary - Putnam

Purpose

The United Way of Westchester and Putnam issues this report to serve four major purposes:

To encourage the public/private/voluntary sectors to come together to create innovative, results-oriented approaches to the complex and inter-connected issues facing individuals and families in today’s uncertain and challenging environment.
To help community leaders make important decisions about the allocation of scarce resources
To provide planners with a comprehensive and reliable base of information that will enable them to more effectively understand and respond to the needs of Putnam residents.
To give those who are providing services a better sense of the existing and emerging challenges in Putnam.

Methods

Two goals drove the selection of methods used in the assessment:

To be as inclusive as possible in the data collection.
To gather data in which the reader can have confidence and use in effective decision-making.

The following population groups provided data in Putnam:

Key community and business leaders, workplace donors, community donors and service providers who responded to mailed surveys;
Households that were surveyed by a random telephone procedure;
Drop-site (including community centers, libraries and human service agencies) respondents, who tended to be users of service and who had the opportunity to respond in Spanish or English.
In addition, area citizens from all walks of life, as well as those involved with special interest groups, provided information through participation in focus groups.

The methodology, and the way the data were combined, resulted in the identification of nine key issues, and one growing challenge as well as ten system-related and six personal barriers to accessing services in Westchester. Several additional issues were defined as important by one or two of the respondent groups but not by the others. These additional issues are included in the issue Tables in the Addendum but are not fully analyzed.

Major Findings

Major findings of the assessment fall into four broad categories:

Issues: Major problems and/or unmet needs identified by the key leader and household survey respondent groups. Each issue section is divided into four components: What We Heard, What We Know, What We Have, What We Can Do.

Growing Challenge: An issue which was not rated highly by the survey respondents but was given significant attention by those attending community forums and focus group meetings.

System-Related Barriers to Service: Broader factors, identified by the key leader and service provider respondent groups, which underlie the service system and present challenges to people seeking needed services.

Personal Barriers to Service: Individual views and/or characteristics and/or circumstances, identified by the key leader, household and service provider respondent groups that make it more difficult to seek out or receive services.

Identified Issues

Lack of Sufficient Public Transportation - Putnam County 's public transportation system does not adequately address the overall commuting and travel patterns of its growing population.

Shortage of Affordable Housing - The surge in Putnam County 's population has been accompanied by the emergence of a number of issues related to the provision of suitable and affordable housing.

Lack of Accessible Affordable Assistance for the Frail/Isolated Elderly, Adults with Disabilities and Their Families – Although significant funding goes into nursing home/institutional care, growing numbers of seniors and those with disabilities receive informal, community based care from their families.

Limited Recreational and Cultural Resources - More recreational programs will further enhance the lives of individuals of all ages - physically, socially and emotionally.

Behavioral Problems Among Children and Teens - Young people who are susceptible to a wide range of behavioral and emotional problems endanger themselves, those around them and the future well-being of the county.

Lack of a Full Range of Available Child Care Options for Those with Special Requirements/Needs – While the child care situation has improved in Putnam County's over the last few years, those that are seeking to meet specific child care needs (early morning/weekends hours, parents of children with special needs) face some challenges.

Social Isolation – There has been an increase in the number of Putnam residents experiencing isolation and more efforts are being made to seek out people who need help and are alone.

Growing Challenge – Challenges facing Residents of a Rapidly Growing and Changing County This emerging issue of growth-related challenges is not clearly defined due to its amorphous nature and that it encompasses a range of real problems confronting Putnam, because of the dramatic growth and increasing diversity of the County. This growth presents challenges and dislocations that can be both unsettling, while also providing opportunities for positive change.

Identified Barriers

System-Related Barriers to Service

The ten system-related barriers identified by the two respondent groups in Putnam in order of importance to the groups are:

Lack of Transportation: Very little transportation exists for many in Putnam County attempting to access needed services.

Lack of Information: Information is one of our greatest resources. Without information, people do not know that a particular service exists and, no matter how good it is, they cannot benefit from it.

Lack of Child Care: For many, having access to child care, like public transportation, is a pre-condition for being able to access other necessary services or employment.

Eligibility Criteria: Eligibility criteria can be a confusing or limiting factor which often prevents people from accessing services.

Actual Costs: When fees are high, some people needing services are unable to afford them.

Inconvenient Location: If a location is not easily accessed, this can affect an individual’s or family’s ability to obtain services.

Language Barriers: One’s inability to speak English can have a significant negative impact on none’s ability to gain the variety of service needed and to be treated fairly.

Long Wait: Excessive waiting time related to scheduling and keeping appointments reduces the effectiveness and accessibility of needed services

Inaccessible to People with Disabilities: Physical accessibility issues at a service location can prevent those with physical disabilities from obtaining needed services.

Inconvenient Hours : Hours of operation can be a pivotal factor in how well services can be accessed.

Personal Barriers to Service

The six personal barriers identified by the four respondent groups in Putnam in order of importance to the groups are:

Perception of Cost: Whether service fees are perceived as excessive or not can be a key factor in how well services are utilized.

Concern with Quality of Service: Perception of poor quality of service often prevents people from accessing that service.

Resistance to Going Outside Family and Friends: The reluctance to seek and accept outside help creates a significant barrier to service delivery.

Concerns about Confidentiality: Confidentiality is a major issue for many seeking help, especially those affected by family violence, substance abuse, mental illness or HIV/AIDS. People also are concerned that others will discover they are receiving services.

Negative View of Services: When a service is viewed negatively, people’s willingness to access that service is reduced.

Prior Bad Experience: Not overcoming a previous bad experience in accessing a service may prevent an individual from seeking out that service in the future.

Identified Resources

The survey data and other documentation provided by organizations with expertise in various areas show that, while hundreds of services are being provided to thousands of individuals and families, services are still inadequate and/or inaccessible for many.