Neosho County Teresa Starr, Health Department Contributing Author: Stacy Sauerwein, Mid America Nazarene College Contributors: Madison Richard, PSU Nursing Student Gregg, PSU Nursing Student Kennedy Reeves, PSU Nursing Student Kathryn Lundstrom, PSU Nursing Student Faith Davolt, PSU Nursing Student Courtney Medsker, PSU Nursing Student Nicole Federico, PSU Nursing Student Hannah Bajkowski, PSU Nursing Student Executive Summary Southeast Kansas (SEK) is considered to be a rural area. Community members in the SEK area are very satisfied with their quiet small town atmospheres, yet they are able to travel two hours to an urban area to experience the urban atmosphere. The community health assessment participants revealed good jobs, economy and good schools were important in their communities. Rural residents tend to be more independent and form their own solutions for concerns. This has been demonstrated many times by the community relying on their own resources rather than waiting for external governmental assistance during natural disasters such as the Franklin tornado in Crawford County, ice storms in Cherokee County, and flooding in Montgomery and Neosho counties. During these times the communities have come together as a county as well as a region to meet the needs of community members. Likewise, these communities have learned that teamwork is needed to address other issues such as poverty, health, education, economy, and lifestyle changes. That being said, there are many issues that remain and need to be addressed. Industry for the region consists of educational services, health care and social assistance with manufacturing and agriculture following as second and third. Agriculture is the primary industry for Chautauqua and Elk counties. Southeast Kansas communities have watched their youth mature into young adults and leave the area for better educational and employment opportunities. The community health assessment revealed that community members thought that the schools were one of the most important aspects of their community. The unemployment rate for the region is the same as the state unemployment rate of 3.9%. Despite the fact that the unemployment rate for the region was 3.9% the regional median household income is only $39,442.00 compared to the state of Kansas median income of $52,405.00 which is more than 25% lower than the state.
Neosho County Teresa Starr, Health Department Contributing Author: Stacy Sauerwein, Mid America Nazarene College Contributors: Madison Richard, PSU Nursing Student Gregg, PSU Nursing Student Kennedy Reeves, PSU Nursing Student Kathryn Lundstrom, PSU Nursing Student Faith Davolt, PSU Nursing Student Courtney Medsker, PSU Nursing Student Nicole Federico, PSU Nursing Student Hannah Bajkowski, PSU Nursing Student Executive Summary Southeast Kansas (SEK) is considered to be a rural area. Community members in the SEK area are very satisfied with their quiet small town atmospheres, yet they are able to travel two hours to an urban area to experience the urban atmosphere. The community health assessment participants revealed good jobs, economy and good schools were important in their communities. Rural residents tend to be more independent and form their own solutions for concerns. This has been demonstrated many times by the community relying on their own resources rather than waiting for external governmental assistance during natural disasters such as the Franklin tornado in Crawford County, ice storms in Cherokee County, and flooding in Montgomery and Neosho counties. During these times the communities have come together as a county as well as a region to meet the needs of community members. Likewise, these communities have learned that teamwork is needed to address other issues such as poverty, health, education, economy, and lifestyle changes. That being said, there are many issues that remain and need to be addressed. Industry for the region consists of educational services, health care and social assistance with manufacturing and agriculture following as second and third. Agriculture is the primary industry for Chautauqua and Elk counties. Southeast Kansas communities have watched their youth mature into young adults and leave the area for better educational and employment opportunities. The community health assessment revealed that community members thought that the schools were one of the most important aspects of their community. The unemployment rate for the region is the same as the state unemployment rate of 3.9%. Despite the fact that the unemployment rate for the region was 3.9% the regional median household income is only $39,442.00 compared to the state of Kansas median income of $52,405.00 which is more than 25% lower than the state.