Freeborn County Public Health and Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea and Austin are conducting a Community Health Needs Assessment within Freeborn County during the next few weeks. Households chosen at random will be asked to assign one adult to complete and return the mail survey that includes questions about their health, health habits and factors that impact their quality of life.

Hospitals are required to survey the community it serves every three years to identify the unmet health needs of the community and to develop a plan to better meet those needs.

FCPH is also required to complete a survey and have expressed interest in collaborating with MCHS in Albert Lea and Austin on the project. The 2013 CHNA identified the community’s most significant health needs as mental health, obesity and chronic disease.

MCHS and Freeborn County Public Health have collaborated with community partners to develop and/or implement programs to improve health locally.

Community members receiving surveys are requested to please complete and return them and to encourage friends, neighbors or family to do the same. The results should be made public sometime in the fall.

For more information, contact Sue Yost at Freeborn County Public Health at 507-377-5273.