Community Input
2026 - 2030 Priorities

Meeker-McLeod-Sibley Community Health Services (MMS CHS) wants to know which issues matter most to you.

Please read each topic below and its bullet points. The bullet points share facts and feedback from our community.

There are 19 topics. After you read them, choose the five you think MMS CHS should focus on over the next five years. Then rank them in order of importance. There are no right or wrong answers. Your input will help guide our next steps.

Take your time. Think about what matters most for the health and well‑being of people in your community.

Access to healthy food

• Most residents say there are many fast-food places but fewer healthy food choices.
• Residents find healthy food often costs too much.
• Fewer than one out of three residents are eating enough fruits and vegetables.

Access to physical activity

• Adults who do no physical activity in their free time increased from 22% to 28%.
• Meeker and Sibley Counties have fewer places to be active than McLeod County.
• Residents said broken sidewalks, few parks, poor lighting, and older neighborhoods make it harder to be active and feel safe.

Alcohol use – youth

• 12% of Sibley County 11th graders drank alcohol the past 30 days. 8% reported binge drinking (drinking a lot at one time). (Data for Meeker and McLeod youth are not available.)
• Youth say alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use is a top concern.

Childcare access

• Finding affordable childcare is difficult in our community.
• · The biggest challenge to childcare access in each county is:
  • Meeker County has too few childcare spots
  • McLeod County has higher childcare costs
  • Sibley County has too few childcare spots

• Residents say lack of childcare affects family health and well‑being.

Dental care access

• Fewer local dentists make it harder to get dental care, especially in Sibley County.
• Meeker and Sibley Counties have fewer dentists per resident than Minnesota overall.

Diabetes (type 2)

• Community members said diabetes is a major concern.
• It is a bigger concern for Hispanic residents and older adults.
• Diabetes rates are highest among:
  • Adults 65+
  • people with lower income
  • people with less education
  • Hispanic residents

Economic Challenges

• Many people say money worries make it harder to stay healthy.
• Since 2018, cost of living has increased from 22-26% across the three counties.
• About 40% of renters spend too much of their income (over 30%) on housing. This makes it hard to afford other basic needs.
• 23% of residents live in households earning less than 200% of poverty level.

Environmental changes

• Temperatures in Central Minnesota have increased 3.1°F since 1895.
• Rainfall has increased in the region by an average of 4.7 inches per year, more than the state average of 3.3 inches.
• These changes cause more flooding, longer dry periods, and poor air quality/wildfire smoke.
• Residents say weather changes affect farming and health, now and in the future.

Having enough food - lower-income and Hispanic community

• Nearly 1 in 4 Hispanic residents face food insecurity (not always having enough food).
• Food insecurity is more common among households with incomes below $50,000.
• Healthy food often costs too much.

Health care access - Hispanic community

• More Hispanic residents do not have health insurance compared to non-Hispanic residents.
• Language barriers and fear about immigration enforcement stop some people from getting care.

Healthcare access in rural areas

• Getting health care is a major concern across our community.
• More people delay care because they cannot get an appointment.
• All three counties have fewer primary care and mental health providers than the state average.
• Sibley County has the worst access.

Healthcare costs in rural areas

• Health care costs are a major concern across our community.
• Health care spending in Minnesota is expected to increase 5.6% per year through 2031.
• More people are delaying care because it costs too much.

High blood pressure

• Nearly 2 out of 3 adults age 65 and older have high blood pressure.
• Rates are higher among people with lower income and education.
• Rates increased by more than 4% from 2014 to 2022.

Loneliness and isolation

• Mental health is a top community concern.
• Seniors and farmers are especially affected.
• About 1 in 3 adults say they feel lonely.
• 23% of adults lack the social and emotional support they need.

Marijuana use and vaping – youth

• Youth say marijuana use and vaping are concerns.
• 41% of Sibley County 8th, 9th and 11th grade students believe marijuana use has little or no risk.
• 7% of Sibley County 11th graders use marijuana, which is higher than the state average. (Data for Meeker and McLeod youth are not available.)
• Vaping has gone down, but 10% of Sibley County 11th graders still report recent use.

Mental wellbeing – youth

• Mental health is a top concern for youth.
• More than half of Sibley County middle and high school students felt anxious in the past two weeks.
• About 1 in 4 students report long‑term mental health, behavior, or emotional problems.

Radon

• Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer for non‑smokers.
• Lung cancer rates are highest in Meeker County and higher than the state rate.
• Homes with high radon levels:
  • 55% in Meeker
  • 62% in McLeod
  • 67% in Sibley

Suicide

• Deaths by suicide across the three counties are higher than Minnesota’s overall rate.
• Young adults ages 18–34 are most likely to say they have thought about suicide.

Technology

• Community members say technology will have a big impact in the future.
• Concerns include more screen time, loss of jobs, privacy, scams, and mental health.
• 82% of middle and high school students in Sibley County use social media every day. 37% say they spend too much time on social media.
• Fewer residents in the three counties have internet access compared to the state overall.