Students Present Health Needs Assessment Findings in Richwood

Community Health Education students are spending the 2016-2017 academic year identifying health and safety needs in Richwood, W.Va., one of the communities affected by the historic flooding in June 2016.

In October, Dr. Amy Sidwell, Assistant Professor of Health Education and Physical Education in the FSU School of Education, Health and Human Performance, and Dr. Janie Leary, Assistant Professor of Community Health Education, took a team of students to Richwood to interview residents and determine the town’s ongoing community health recovery needs.

On Dec. 1, the FSU team returned to Richwood to present the students' needs assessment findings and enjoy lunch at a community forum. Representatives from the mayor's office, West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources, Rebuild Richwood and the mental health team attended. They provided the FSU class with important information and feedback that they will use to plan spring semester projects.  

“It was a powerful experience for all of us,” Sidwell said. “The morning was spent sorting clothing for donations, distributing food from a food pantry and cleaning/organizing a 100-year-old building that is being converted into a Starting Points childcare center to replace the community’s center that was destroyed by the flood.”

Community Health EducationSchool of Education, Health and Human PerformanceDr. Amy SidwellDr. Janie LearyRichwood