Summary of Results for the 2008 United Way Community Needs Assessment

Alcohol and drug abuse, lack of affordable medical care, and teen pregnancy topped the list of the most critical issues facing Sumner County in the United Way of Sumner County’s 2008 community needs assessment.  UWSC conducted the survey to help determine how campaign funds would be distributed among non-profit health and human services agencies applying for United Way grants.   The online version of the survey was coordinated by isurfSumner.com and Volunteer State Community College collected and tabulated the paper copies.   Forward Sumner provided a $500 grant to cover the cost of actual survey and former UWSC Board member, Judy Jones, coordinated the entire year-long process. Nearly 1,000 people from all across Sumner County answered the survey, which was a much greater response than in the past.   Demographic information was collected, along with the surveys, and the respondents reflected a good cross-section of Sumner County.

Unlike prior needs assessments, the 2008 survey did not ask respondents how youth issues compared with senior citizens issues or how emergency services compared to family issues.  Rather, it asked about root causes of problems for people in our county.  Eighty-three (83%) percent of the people who answered the survey said alcohol and/or drug abuse was a moderate or major issue.   Comments indicated alcohol and drugs to be a problem among youth, but also a problem that has serious family, financial and health impacts.

The lack of affordable medical care was rated as a major issue by 49% and a moderate issue by 29%.  Teen pregnancy ranked a close third in issues facing Sumner Countians.

The next most critical issues were family violence/abuse of children or adults and lack of affordable day care for children. Ranking closely behind were crime, mental illness or emotional issues, poverty and inadequate public transportation.

According to United Way's President and CEO, Dana M. Given, “It is very important United Way and it's volunteers who allocate donors’ money understand the most critical issues in our county, so we can direct the most money where there is the greatest need."

When the survey responses were analyzed, it became clear that all of United Way's partner agencies are addressing real and important needs in the community.   However, some issues are more prevalent and had more impact on Sumner County than others.  

United Way of Sumner County's goal is to help community partners create lasting changes in conditions that improve people’s lives.  It is not just about raising funds for partner agencies; United Way wants to make a true impact on the community.  This means having a true community vision and not just a United Way vision.  It means a lot more measurement around what needs to be done and measuring the actual outcome of programs funded by United Way of Sumner County. 

For a complete copy of the 2008 United Way of Sumner County Community Survey Results, please click here.