Introduction
Cortland Counts: An Assessment of Health and Well Being in Cortland County
July 2005 Community Report Card
For previous report cards and comprehensive assessments go to: www.sevenvalleyshealth.org/projects/cc.htm
Overview
This fifth annual Report Card for Cortland County supplements the comprehensive Cortland Counts: An Assessment of Health and Well Being in Cortland County, 2005. The Report Card is organized into five categories: 1) Health and Safety; 2) Social Cohesion, Culture and Recreation; 3) Employment, Economy, and Welfare; 4) Housing and the Environment; and 5) Positive Development Through the Life Stages.
Format
Data from Cortland County are compared to upstate, state and national data. Upstate NY consists of 57 of 62 counties (NY City counties excluded). Single-year data are provided except for those indicators with very few cases; then the rate is given as the average of 3-5 years. This report also includes Healthy People 2010 goals established by the federal government that serve as a guide in establishing our local priorities.
The apple symbol indicates a favorable status and the magnifying glass symbol indicates that the community should take a closer look. The up and down arrows in the last column, “Cortland County Goal,” signal the desired direction of change.
Report Card Comparibility
The data from the first two report cards (2001, 2002) are comparable to each other; both were based on post census estimates from 1970-1990. This 2005 report card and the previous 2003 and 2004 versions use population projections based on 2000 census data and some indicators are age-adjusted (AA) unlike the first two report cards. All versions from 2003 until the next census will be comparable.
Community Participation
A broad-based Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC) was created to assess the data provided from focus groups and citizen surveys orchestrated by the Community Assessment Team (CAT), as well as from other community research and feedback. Using this wealth of knowledge -- subjective and objective -- the BRC identified priority issues and created a Strategic Plan with three tracks: economic development, youth, and health.
The BRC meets each December to provide yearly progress reports, refine the priorities and update the strategic plan. The entire community is invited to participate in this process. The 2005 Report Card and the comprehensive Cortland Counts informs and is informed by the annual BRC meeting. These two reports form the basis of the county’s plan of action for many community agencies. Furthermore, officials of local governments and organizations, as well as community grant-writers delight to find so much information about Cortland County in one place.