Originally published on the Kent State, College of Public Health website
Kent State University has partnered with Greater Akron community organizations to conduct the first comprehensive and specific LGBTQ+ Community Needs Assessment (CNA). Efforts of this assessment focus on producing a better-informed public health system and improving the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ community members.
Thanks to the leading support of the County of Summit, Summit County Public Health, the city of Akron, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Summa Health and the Gay Community Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation, the impact of this project will improve the day-to-day lives of many LGBTQ+ community members.
This assessment will engage the entire Akron community to participate in the needs assessment process to determine what the local LGBTQ+ community identifies as important. To do so, the assessment will take a holistic view of the health and wellness in Akron’s LGBTQ+ community by looking at seven key health domains: health and wellness; religion and spirituality; education and literacy; housing, food and nutrition; business and commerce; safety and law enforcement; and recreation and leisure.