ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603200074
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
Problems affecting children and teen-agers - pregnancy, drug abuse, child abuse and neglect - are the most significant social problems in the Roanoke Valley, according to a survey of community human services needs.
The survey, conducted by the Council of Community Services, asked staff members of 60 social services agencies, school systems and child-care centers to rank 20 social problems in the Roanoke Valley from "very serious" to "not serious." More than 600 people responded to the questionnaire.
Ranked second, third and fourth - behind problems affecting children and teen-agers - were:
* Physical and mental health concerns, including alcohol and drug abuse and unmet mental health needs.
* Poverty, including homelessness and substandard housing.
* Family problems, including family violence and families lacking stable support systems.
The council's last survey in 1991 ranked the same problems as most serious. The council, a Roanoke human services planning agency, conducts the survey every five years. Called a "community needs assessment," it is used to gauge human services needs, who is in need and how the community can improve or modify services.
"Agencies can use it as documentation for needs programs they want to develop," said Raleigh Campbell, the council's executive director.
Survey data was tabulated and analyzed by Gregory Weiss, a sociology professor at Roanoke College who headed a 15-member committee, and John Keyser, assistant professor of public affairs at the college.
In its summary, the committee wrote that findings should promote discussion about problems faced by area residents, the causes of those problems, and appropriate solutions. The data should help policy-makers focus on setting priorities in those top-ranked problem areas, the group wrote.
The findings are "especially critical in times of diminishing resources," the report said. "With projected policy changes taking place within the federal and state government, a clear understanding of the personal and community needs identified by this survey is particularly significant."
A separate questionnaire is sent to clients of the social-service agencies as part of the needs assessment. Of the 537 who responded to that survey, a majority said their key problem is the lack of money to buy the immediate necessities of life.
Not having enough money to pay for dental care, health care and medication were not their biggest concerns; clients said they didn't have enough for water, gas and electric bills; mortgage or rent; clothes; food and child care.
They indicated that they lacked information about available resources and sources of support. According to the survey, almost one client in five identified not knowing what resources were available, not knowing how to get in touch with the right agency and not having anyone to turn to for support or help, as major problems.
Some highlights:
* The most commonly used services are food stamps, Aid to Families with Dependent Children; free or low-cost medical or dental services; public transportation, and financial assistance programs for rent, utilities and other bills.
* More than two-thirds of clients indicated that they could count on family members if help was really needed, while almost half could turn to a church or other religious group. About four in 10 indicated they could go to a human service agency, about a third to friends and about a fourth to neighbors.
* Clients 18 and younger had fewer health worries and were more concerned about paying for housing and utilities and not having transportation.
* Stress, anxiety or depression was the No.1 concern of clients earning more than $25,000 per year. Equally noted problem areas included a lack of after-school day care, a lack of in-home care and difficulty in caring for a family member.
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