White Sulphur Springs Strategic Planning Feedback

Thank you for providing valuable feedback to our strategic planning process! Please help us prioritize potential action items and solutions generated through our community conversation series to address the needs of each of our communities. We ask that you rank the listed ideas and provide additional qualitative feedback on what you believe we should be focusing on for each individual need identified in White Sulphur Springs.

For a deeper dive into the needs identified in White Sulpur Springs, please see our 2019 Community Needs Assessment.

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* 1. What is your connection to HRDC?

I am a customer.

I am a staff member at HRDC.

I am a stakeholder/partner.

I am a volunteer.

Other (please specify)

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* 2. Senior needs surfaced as the #1 need in White Sulphur Springs in our Community Needs Assessment Survey, with 48% of survey takers indicating so. For the purposes of our survey, senior needs was defined as social isolation, in home help, and service opportunities. 55% of survey takers felt that the community lacks enrichment opportunities for indviduals of all ages. Even though the senior center has been very successful in offering events and resources, the population of residents over the age of 65 is continuing to grow. The community finds it challenging to meet the growing needs.

Below is a list of potential action items to address the need of senior needs in White Sulphur Springs, please rank them.

Expand our home maker program as well as SHIP

N/A

Promote programs that support social interaction and meaningful support systems

N/A

Re-engage the transportation committe and promote transportation from White Sulphur Springs to surrounding communities so seniors may receive services

N/A

Affordable senior housing

N/A

Promote aging in place by connecting community members to resources for in home care

N/A

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* 3. Please build on the above list and provide additional feedback. What other policy, promoting, partnerships, and programs should we be considering to have a positive impact in the arena of senior needs in White Sulphur Springs?

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* 4. Housing surfaced the #2 need for White Sulphur Springs according to our Community Needs Assessment Survey with 39% of survey takers indicating so. 74% of survey takers feel that White Sulphur Springs lacks affordable places to rent. Similarly, 60% feel that it lacks affordable home ownership opportunities. Survey takers and community members report that many of the unoccupied homes in White Sulphur Springs are in a state of disrepair and that improvements to these sites are costly. This, in conjunction with the lack of housing and rental stock, has created a cost, quality, and availability issue in the community.

Below is a list of potential action items to address the need of housing in White Sulphur Springs, please rank them.

Preservation and rehabilitation of existing housing

N/A

Developing affordable housing - for those with fixed incomes and those in the workforce

N/A

Affordable home ownership

N/A

Affordable rentals

N/A

Continue to inform local policy (i.e. zoning ) to address affordability

N/A

Promoting awareness of housing crisis and shortage to community and leaders

N/A

Promote policy that will protect existing housing stock

N/A

Promote the addition of affordable senior housing

N/A

Connect community to affordable contractors, developers, and builders

N/A

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* 5. Please build on the above list and provide additional feedback. What other policy, promoting, partnerships, and programs should we be considering to have a positive impact in the arena of housing in White Sulphur Springs?

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* 6. Mental Healthcare surfaced as the #3 need in White Sulphur Springs in our Community Needs Assessment Survey, with 38% of survey takers indicating so. 70% feel that the community lacks resources for the mental health needs for youth and adults. As with many rural communities throughout Montana, there is a perceived stigma around mental healthcare and seeking services. Many report that the mental health care model feels reactionary and not proactive. Also, there is a concern of social isolation, substance abuse, and grief.

Below is a list of potential action items to address the need of mental healthcare in White Sulphur Springs, please rank them.

Help inform local and state policy to address access and affordability of mental healthcare resources

N/A

Leverage our existing programs through the financial opportunity center to reduce stresses to income and finances that may impact mental health

N/A

Promote our existing programs to help reduce stresses to housing that may impact mental health

N/A

Support campaigns aimed at reducing mental health stigma in rural communities

N/A

Promote community awareness of mental healthcare gaps

N/A

Provide resource guide for service navigation

N/A

Create accessible telehealth opportunities

N/A

Promote whole body health and the correlation between mental and phsycial well being

N/A

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* 7. Please build on the above list and provide additional feedback. What other policy, promoting, partnerships, and programs should we be considering to have a positive impact in the arena of mental healthcare in White Sulphur Springs?

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* 8. Healthcare surfaced as the #4 need in White Sulphur Springs in our Community Needs Assessment Survey with 29% of survey takers indicating so. Over half of survey takers feel that the community lacks readily accessible high quality healthcare. Of those, 31% had trouble paying for medical care and 24% had trouble paying for insurance premiums. Much of the healthcare gap can be attributed to a lack of providers and physicians. Additional reported barriers include tech challenges, marketplace navigation, high cost of seeking care, as well as transportation barriers.

Below is a list of potential action items to address the need of healthcare in White Sulphur Springs, please rank them.

Help promote policy that aids in access and affordability

N/A

Continue to provide funding for the local public health nurse

N/A

Provide weekly transportation to Bozeman/Livingston/Helena for healthcare needs

N/A

Work with community stakeholders to support transportation options to Bozeman on a regular basis

N/A

Help community partners apply for grants

N/A

Support in-home healthcare

N/A

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* 9. Please build on the above list and provide additional feedback. What other policy, promoting, partnerships, and programs should we be considering to have a positive impact in the arena of healthcare in White Sulphur Springs?

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* 10. Childcare also surfaced as the #4 need in White Sulphur Springs, in a tie with healthcare. With minimal childcare options in town and many families working multiple jobs, many feel there is a gap in affordable high quality childcare options.

Below is a list of potential action items to address the need of childcare in White Sulphur Springs, please rank them.

Promote existing childcare options in White Sulphur Springs

N/A

Help community members interested in starting their own childcare center get proper licensing and professional development

N/A

Advocate for policy that priortizes affordable and accessible childcare for individuals of all income levels

N/A

Leverage our existing partnership with Childcare Connections to expand childcare offerings and resources in White Sulphur Springs

N/A

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* 11. Please build on the above list and provide additional feedback. What other policy, promoting, partnerships, and programs should we be considering to have a positive impact in the arena of childcare in White Sulphur Springs?

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* 12. Transportation surfaced as the #5 need in White Sulphur Springs in our Community Needs Assessment Survey with 29% of survey takers indicating so. 84% of survey takers feel that White Sulphur Springs lacks sufficient public transportation options. With the nearest large town nearly 70 miles away, it is a challenge for residents to access resources and services. While White Sulphur Springs is a largely walkable community, many feel that an emphasis should be placed on fixing existing infrastructure (sidewalks, multi modal transit, etc).

Below is a list of potential action items to address the need of transportation in White Sulphur Springs, please rank them.

Help promote policy that increases transit funding in Montana

N/A

Community awareness and education of transit options that already exist

N/A

Increase our Galavan/Angel Line services

N/A

Increase transportation options to surrounding communities for services

N/A

Establish on-demand transportation system for seniors

N/A

Help community apply for grants that focus on infrastructure

N/A

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* 13. Please build on the above list and provide additional feedback. What other policy, promoting, partnerships, and programs should we be considering to have a positive impact in the arena of transportation in White Sulphur Springs?