Annual Blue Ribbon Committee Meeting Unveils 2005 Cortland Counts Report

One hundred ten people attended the unveiling of the 2005 Cortland Counts report on January 11th at the Holiday Inn. The entire community was invited to attend the annual Community Assessment Team Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) meeting. The BRC consists of representatives from labor, business, medicine, youth, elderly, disabled, human service providers, government, schools and colleges, who meet to identify priorities and establish goals for the community. The priority issues are categorized into health, youth, economic and housing tracks. (The housing track was added at the January 06 meeting)

Seven Valleys Health Coalition monitors the health issues, the Cortland Area Communities That Care Coalition has taken responsibility for development and monitoring of the youth issues and the Cortland County Business Development Corporation has taken charge of the economic issues. The Housing Track is currently being led by the Housing Confab leaders. After hearing progress reports from each track leader and highlights from the 2005 Cortland Counts, the BRC split into their respective tracks to review and revise, if necessary, priorities, goals, and objectives.

“Cortland Counts: Assessment of Health and Well Being”, produced by the Community Assessment Team, provides a picture of the quality of life in our community by presenting health and social indicators, public opinion and a community vision in one report. The assessment is produced in three formats – the comprehensive report (compiled and printed every 5 years), an annual Cortland Counts Report Card, and on-line versions of each product at www.sevenvalleyshealth.org

Cortland Counts is used by Cortland Memorial Hospital in developing its Community Service Plan, by the Cortland County Health Department as its Community Health Assessment, and by the United Way for Cortland and a majority of other local agencies in resource allocation decisions. Cortland Counts has evolved into a living document and is seen as a model assessment format by other organizations.

Opening Remarks
Health Report		Reviewing Health Priorities
Reviewing Youth Priorities
Reviewing Housing Priorities