Provider Survey

Executive Summary

Findings from a survey administered by the Foundation for Community Health to health and social service providers in the New York’s Harlem Valley and Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills region identified mental health services, oral health services and access to care as critical needs of the community. The survey had 117 respondents from providers serving both adults and adolescents.

Among both adults and teens, providers noted a greater need for mental rather than physical health services. Three of the top five most critically needed services among adults include “outpatient psychiatric care,” “substance abuse services,” and “chronically mentally ill services.” Four of the top five most critically needed services for children and adolescents are mental health services: “psychiatric disorder interventions,” “substance abuse services,” “school-based mental health services,” “disruptive behavior interventions,” and “alcohol abuse services.”

In addition, providers were also concerned with how to improve access to healthcare in their communities while still covering operating costs. Very few providers cited “no need at all” for any issues surrounding healthcare access, indicating that need exists for nearly all access issues. Providers indicated that “resources to cover costs” is the largest barrier they face in improving or increasing the amount of care they provide. They indicated that “transportation to services” and “lack of knowledge about available services” are the largest barriers that their patients encounter in obtaining better or more care. Transportation services were identified as a “significantly critical” need in Sharon and Amenia compared to other locations.

Critical Needs:

Adult General Health

Providers cited the highest level of need (“critical need”) among adults for the following services:

  • Outpatient psychiatric care (23)
  • Substance abuse services (18)
  • Access to medications (17)
  • Chronically mentally ill services (15) & Dental care (15)
  • Weight control services (14)

Child or Adolescent General Health

Providers cited the highest level of need (“critical need”) among children and adolescents for the following services:

  • Psychiatric disorder interventions (18)
  • Dental care (15)
  • School-based mental health services (13) & Substance abuse services (13)
  • Disruptive behavior interventions (11) & Weight control services (11)
  • Alcohol abuse services (8)

General Family Mental Health

Providers cited the highest level* of need (“critical need” or “high need”) among adults for the following services:

  • Parenting skills training (67)
  • Family support groups (61)
  • Job training (59)
  • Emergency/crisis services (54)

General Healthcare Access Issues

Providers cited the highest level* of need (“critical need” or “high need”) among adults for the following services:

  • Transportation to services (26)
  • Resources to cover costs (24)
  • Bilingual services (10) & Increased awareness of available services (10)

Barriers, Accommodations & Suggestions

Most frequently cited barriers for patients in obtaining services:

  • Financial (95)
  • Lack of knowledge about services available (65)
  • Transportation to services (64)
  • Lack of walk-in services (45)

The Foundation for Community Health is dedicated to improving the health of its neighbors in the Greater Harlem Valley and the Litchfield Hills. In consultation with local leaders and health care providers, the Foundation makes grants and develops collaborative projects focused on building healthier lives for those in greatest need.

*Due to very small and thus unreliable numbers in the uncombined categories, the “critical” and “high” need categories were combined, as were the “low” and “no” need categories.

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