Background: Resources within communities often hold barriers regarding accessibility, knowledge of resources, and stigmatization. Many communities lack a comprehensive report of all major resources available within and around their county. By targeting the base knowledge within the individual, it can increase participation of these resources and in turn can improve overall health outcomes in a specific area.
Objective: Create a list of comprehensive resources within each Kentucky County that can be distributed via pamphlet handout or website linkage. These resource guides have the ability to serve as a crucial connecting point between academia and local health departments.
Methods: Scan the internet, social media, and contact community resources to get a holistic understanding of resources. The standard operating procedure provides points such as logistic availability, requirements, contact information, and process of attainment within each guide. Resources are pulled from each county or if not applicable to a specific county, the nearest resource to that respective location. Within each resource guide, the following categories are included: behavioral health centers, domestic violence resources, food assistance, harm reduction/syringe program, health services, housing services, legal services, medication for opioid use disorder, meetings, naloxone location, social support services, support and treatment locators, and transportation services. Guides are provided to different partners such as county officials, local health departments (LHD’s), or various non-profit organizations within the counties.
Results: 52% of all Kentucky counties have been completed and are awaiting review/approval for distribution, with the remainder of counties to be completed in the future. Numerous guides have been used as a point of first connection between LHD and the University, along with being part of various community health improvement plans.
Resource Guides: Connecting Kentucky’s Communities
Category
Student Abstract Submission