The strengths and challenges impacting quality of life in Tioga County was the topic of conversation at a recent kickoff meeting held on Oct. 19 at Tioga Downs. The program, entitled “Tioga Tells,” brought together community members, government officials, business partners and service providers to network and share experiences during interactive round-table discussions. (Photo by JoAnn R. Walter)
The strengths and challenges impacting quality of life in Tioga County was the topic of conversation at a kickoff meeting held on Oct. 19 at Tioga Downs. The program, an assessment project entitled “Tioga Tells,” brought together about 35 community members, government officials, business partners and service providers to network and share experiences during interactive round-table discussions.
Categories in the spotlight focused on health care, employment and income, education and social and environmental aspects, among others.
The Rural Health Network of South Central New York along with partners, the Tioga County Health Department and Tioga Opportunities, Inc. hosted the Tioga Tells program.
Feedback received from a countywide survey among a broad spectrum of residents will act as a framework for Tioga Tells in developing strategies to address quality of life concerns and help guide future planning for all residents of the county.
Jack Salo, executive director of Rural Health Network, commented in a press release prior to the event, “Rural Health Network fully supports the Tioga Tells Quality of Life Assessment,” and further explained that the assessment provides Tioga residents an opportunity to create a shared vision for the future, and where basic needs are met.
Project Leader, Deanna Hutchison, Rural Tioga County Poverty educator, shared, “We have numbers and statistics, but now we are working together to gather more specific details that will allow us to look past the numbers.”
Hutchison explained that hearing from all sectors and community levels would help guide the project over the next year, to include focus groups, structured interviews and small group discussions. Ultimately, data and community input, Hutchison remarked, are valuable in achieving a quality of life framework specific to Tioga County.
Mary Maruscak, Tioga County Population Health coordinator for the Rural Health Network of South Central New York, Inc., commented, “Being a more rural and smaller community can be a strength,” and as a nod to the participants gathered at the meeting, added, “And where real core groups can better work together.”
A final report is set to be produced in the spring of 2019. This, in turn, will be presented and used to develop future recommendations for Tioga County residents.
For updated information, find the Rural Health Network of South Central New York on Facebook, or view their website at www.rhnscny.org.
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