The Hanover County Community Profile: Needs Assessment

The community of Hanover values healthy children and families. These values are exemplified by citizen support for the many family focused services that are provided by the public and nonprofit agencies in our community.

Citizens and service providers recognize that population growth and changes in the circumstances of current and new residents will bring new challenges for community service providers. For example, as the "baby boom" generation ages, more services are likely to be needed for our elderly residents. Growing families need homes that they can afford, some will need child care services, and all will need educational and recreational services.

Providing elder care, affordable housing, quality day care, accessible health care and transportation are some of the concerns that must be addressed if we are to maintain the quality of life that we cherish. Like other communities, we must also face the reality of youth substance abuse and related problem behaviors. Recognition and acceptance of this reality has led to the Hanover Community Profile, a pilot project for data sharing among the county's many service agencies.

The Hanover Community Profile is a needs assessment based on information about youth and families that is in the public domain and that is accessible to the public and service providers. It is our hope that service providers and citizens will use the data to maintain and improve the quality of life for Hanover families through targeted programming and advocacy.

Responsibility for this project is being shared equally by the Services Advocacy Committee of the Interagency Council in partnership with the I CARE Youth Development Council. Funding for this project was provided by the Governor's Office for Substance Abuse Prevention. For more information or questions, call Martha Lambert, Coordinator of Prevention Services, Community Services Board of Hanover Community Services (804-365-4228).

Project Committee Members
Kathy Anderson, Hanover Safe Place, 752-2728
Sheila Crosson-Powell, Hanover Department of Social Services, 365-4122
Marcy Durrer, Hanover Department of Parks & Recreation, 799-7948
Martha Lambert, Hanover Community Services, 365-4228
Ivy Sager, Hanover Department of Community Resources, 365-4297
Sue Whittaker, Hanover Health Department, 365-4335