The State of Indiana is looking to give a better picture of how where you live impacts your health and well-being. The Family and Social Services Administration announced the launch of its new Hoosier Health and Well-Being Atlas this week.
For the past two years, those who apply for various assistance programs online have been given an optional survey, with 10 questions about various social needs. For the most part, the biggest concerns in Marshall County mirrored those of the state as a whole. Of the 1,424 Marshall County households who completed the survey, 677 reported not having enough money for food at some point in the past year. Meanwhile, 659 said they didn’t engage in regular exercise at least three times a week.
More than 500 said they’d had their utilities shut off in the past 12 months because they couldn’t pay their bill, while almost 300 were worried that they might not have stable housing within the next two months.
The FSSA says it’s using the data to make sure its programs align with Hoosiers’ current needs. They note that the information can also be used by local communities to identify emerging needs and proactively address them.
