Riverside County public health officials have planned a countywide series of community forums to hear about residents’ health-related concerns and create a plan to address them. The meetings will begin this month in Perris and be held into April at locations from Temecula to Blythe.
While no meeting has yet been scheduled on the Hill, Jose Arballo Jr., senior public information specialist, said, “I understand that we are planning something in the Idyllwild area…” They will be trying to schedule it in conjunction with a meeting of one of the local community groups, he added.
“It is an ambitious schedule, but it is important that we hear from everyone,” said Susan Harrington, director for the Riverside County Department of Public Health. “Each region of the county is unique, and the needs and concerns of the people living in those communities are unique as well. It is critical that as many people as possible get to express their concerns and needs.”
The hour-long meetings will help the department and partners from across the public health system better understand the concerns residents have about everything from access to health care, to education and community safety.
Participants will hear from county health officials about available programs and services, but Harrington said the focus will be on getting input about community needs. Information gathered from all the meetings and the surveys will be used to put together a plan outlining the issues discussed and ways the department and its partners will help address residents’ needs.
As part of the outreach, the department has collaborated on a needs-assessment survey available online in English and Spanish. Copies also will be available at the forums. To access the health survey, visit www.rivcoph.org/CommunityForums.aspx.
Community Health Forums
Riverside County Department of Public Health
Date Location Address
Feb. 17 Cesar Chavez Library, 163 East San Jacinto Ave., Perris
Feb. 19** Arlington Library, 9556 Magnolia Ave., Riverside
Feb. 24 Murrieta Public Library, 24700 Adams Ave., Murrieta
Feb. 25 Banning Senior Center, 789 N. San Gorgonio Ave., Banning
Feb. 26 Louis Robidoux Library, 5840 Mission Inn Blvd., Jurupa Valley
March 5 Temecula Library, 30600 Pauba Road, Temecula
March 11 Mecca Boys and Girls Club, 91391 66th Ave., Mecca
March 12 Blythe Community Center, 445 N. Broadway, Blythe
March 18 Mead Valley Community Center, 21091 Rider St., Perris
March 19 Hemet Library, 300 East Latham Ave., Hemet
March 24 Health and Wellness Center, 11750 Cholla Dr. Desert Hot Springs
March 25 Corona Civic Center, 815 West 6th Street Rm #120 Corona, 92882
March 26 Moreno Valley Conference Center, 14075 Frederick St., Moreno Valley
April 1 Lake Elsinore Cultural Center, 183 North Main St., Lake Elsinore
** All meetings start at 6 p.m., except the Feb. 19 meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m.
