COWG and Needs Assessment Work Groups Joint Meeting
February 25, 2003

Attendees:

David Johnston, ORRHES member
Donna Mosby, Chair, NAWG
Peggy Adkins, ORRHES member
Karen Galloway, ORRHES member
Kowetha Davidson, Chair, ORRHES
James Lewis, Chair COWG
Lorine Spencer, ATSDR
Theresa NeSmith, ATSDR (by phone)
Barbara Sonnenburg, ORRHES member (by phone)

Introductions:

Update on the Needs Assessment from Theresa NeSmith:

Currently the report is being written.
The focus group should be finished this week.
The report will include background information, info gathered from the focus groups, telephone interviews and key resource interviews.

Discussion:

Barbara asked about the names of the focus groups, number of people in the groups and where the groups were held. Theresa indicated that she did not have this information and wanted to respect the Needs Assessment process. Barbara requested that this information be available at the ORRHES meeting for the members.

Donna asked when the report would be available and if the NAWG would be able to review it prior to it coming to ORRHES. Theresa responded that the report would be available in the Spring and she would speak with Rebecca re: the NAWG preview.

Barbara wanted to pin down the date of the report and Donna requested that the report be brought to the NAWG in April or May and bring to the ORRHES at the June meeting. Theresa stated she would talk with Rebecca.

The report will include recommendations for a health education plan.
James was concerned about the timeliness of the report and apathy of the community due to the lack of momentum.

Peggy expressed the community’s lack of trust, need for 2 way communication, and the importance of true community input and participation.

Review of the Savannah River Site (SRS) Needs Assessment:

James stated that we were reviewing this report to see what a Needs Assessment may look like, what to expect and what has happened in other sites where ATSDR has been involved.

Theresa cautioned that the process for this report was different, the report and outcome may also be different since each individual community has different needs and different issues.
The members present had the cover page, appendix, Executive Summary and Recommendations from the SRS Needs Assessment for review.

Many of the recommendations have to do with communication and James expressed the importance of the CIB and the Health Education folk working together to come up with a congruent plan for the community that is done in way people will understand.

Peggy was particularly interested in the recommendation having to do with schools and felt that having children do service learning projects would be a good community outreach and education tool. One such group in Oak Ridge is the CyberTeen/CyberSenior or CyberSenior/CyberTeen project. Kowetha also mentioned the SECMI group in Oak Ridge.

Notice of ORRHES meetings:

Barbara is concerned about getting the notice out about the ORRHES meeting in a more timely matter.