FORT RUCKER, Ala. (May 22, 2014) -- It's not often that people get a chance to take their issues directly to senior leadership, but Fort Rucker's Community Health Promotion Council is giving its community a voice to do just that.
The installation's CHPC is conducting the first of its installation-wide community strengths and themes assessment survey to collect population data to assess the needs of the community to improve the health and resiliency of Fort Rucker, said Rebekah George, Fort Rucker health promotion officer.
"This survey focuses exclusively on how the community feels on health, safety, quality of life and overall satisfaction with the installation," said the health promotion officer. "That's something that we really want to get out because it's a unique opportunity for the community to tell the leaders of Fort Rucker exactly how they feel, what they want and need, and what they would like to see changed."
George said that this survey differs from others in that it goes more into detail about certain issues and deals more with how people feel about an issue rather than what they think about a specific program.
"This is not a program assessment, which we do a lot of here on the installation," she said. "It's all based off on what individuals feel about the installation and what they would like to see changed."
The results of the survey will show what the population has identified as the top priorities and concerns, and those top issues will be addressed by Brig. Gen. Michael D. Lundy, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and Fort Rucker commanding general, as well as the CHPC and workgroups within the CHPC.
"We're hoping that this survey will have a great impact and that people will be heard very strongly," said George. "The results go directly to (the commanding general) and he'll decide what needs to be addressed based on the results. If a large part of the community feels a certain aspect needs to be addressed, then it will definitely be a priority for the CHPC to address it."
Some of the questions people can expect to see on the survey are things like what people think are the top five health problems in the community, including obesity, diabetes, domestic violence, alcohol abuse and things like that, said the health promotions officer.
"In regards to a question like that, if people were to overwhelmingly answer that the population feels that obesity is a problem on the installation, then Fort Rucker could take steps to help fight that particular issue," she said.
Another question is what people might think are the three most risky behaviors in their community that needs to be targeted, and they'll be able to choose from a list that includes, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, lack of fitness programs, distracted driving and issues of that nature.
George said this type of survey is needed on the installation because, as far as she knows, a survey like this hasn't been conducted on Fort Rucker.
"Every other survey that Fort Rucker puts out is a program assessment, and this is a population assessment," she said. "We want to hear what the population has to say about this community, and then do what we can to make it better."
The survey is also completely anonymous, added Alexandra Rogers, CHPC program assistant, so people don't need to worry and repercussions for saying how they feel, only that their issues are being heard.
"It doesn't matter if you're a Family member, Soldier, spouse to a junior enlisted or spouse to a senior officer -- your voice will be heard the same," she said.
The survey will close June 30, and people can access the survey online at https://usaphcapps.amedd.army.mil/Survey/se.ashx?s=251137456E6E1EA5.
It's the job of the CHPC to direct a comprehensive approach to the health promotion programs on the installation, said George. Chaired by Lundy, it strives to evaluate the needs and concerns of the Fort Rucker community and develops targeted interventions to enhance the overall quality of life on the installation.
The council also drives the Ready and Resilient Campaign at the installation level to ensure that there is a unity of effort in caring for the community, she added.
"We are fully dedicated to supporting the health and resiliency of our Soldiers, Family members and civilians," said the health promotions officer. "That's something really important about the CHPC, we're trying to reach the entire community, not just the Soldiers -- it's Family members and civilians, too."
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