Eighty Four, PA - The Washington County Community Foundation has completed its annual review of community needs and posted the results on its dedicated website, www.communitysnapshot.org.
Approximately 200 individuals representing a broad cross section of the community participated in the annual review process, either by attending a focus group or by completing an electronic survey. Participants represented both the non-profit and for-profit sectors, and included representatives from charities, educational institutions, health-care groups, governmental groups, energy companies, and financial institutions. Additionally, Foundation personnel gathered pertinent information from a variety of sources including the US Census Bureau, Pew Research Center, Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency, PA Dept of Health, PA Dept of Human Services, etc.
Across all interest areas, Washington County has many small nonprofits who struggle to secure sufficient funding to fully meet their missions. Many of these small nonprofits rely solely on individual donors and fundraising events for operational support. Even for those nonprofits who have access to and receive governmental support, the amount received often does not fully cover the cost of providing the services and so they too must seek contributions from individual donors.
In the Animal Welfare area, educating new pet owners on the needs and ongoing costs of caring for their animals has proven to be a challenge, especially for low-income families. Most animal welfare organizations in the county focus their efforts on rescuing and/or fostering dogs and cats, and there is a lack of effort to protect wildlife in the county. One unique animal welfare charity in the county, Maries Exotics Reptile Rescue, reported taking in a variety of exotic animals that had been abandoned including12 tarantulas, 91 lizards, 102 snakes, and nine alligators this year alone. The focus group identified a lack of spay/neuter clinics to handle overpopulation particularly for cats, as well as a lack of veterinarians and veterinarian assistants, in the county.
In the Arts & Humanities area, advertising is an ongoing challenge for smaller organizations run by retirees, who need assistance attracting audiences via social media, the preferred form of advertising per our survey respondents. However, a few of the organizations in this area, such as the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Meadowcroft Museum & Rockshelter, and the Duncan & Miller Glass Museum, are attracting visitors from outside Washington County. With Washington County having just one art gallery and no existing arts council, focus group members expressed the fear that the “art community is dying.”
In the Community Improvement area, there are many resources available in Washington County for business start-ups, but few are well known, and focus group members expressed they can be difficult to access and understand. In recent years the county has witnessed an influx of Haitian immigrants to the Mon Valley region, particularly in Charleroi. Employment opportunities have been sparse for these individuals; professional credentials from their home country are not widely accepted in the United States and many employers struggle with the language barrier. When asked the likelihood of providing assistance to these families, 76% of survey respondents reported they would be unlikely to do so.
In the Conservation & Environment area, the Washington County Conservation District reports sediment as the largest source of pollution in our county, state, and nation. Focus group members discussed the need for a larger riparian buffer that would help prevent this pollution getting into streams and would also assist in the preservation of wildlife and conservation of pollinators in the buffer zone. According to EPA, the county’s recycling is becoming less frequent as a form of waste management. Of the 66 municipalities in the county, 11 are mandated to provide curbside recycling, and two do so voluntarily. Options for specific recycling, such as glass, tires, and electronics, are needed, but equipment is costly.
In the Education area, the mental health of students is a major concern. According to the CDC, across the country more students are displaying depressive symptoms, and many have had thoughts of suicide. Focus group members reported many students are displaying a lack of social skills due to extensive screen time and the isolation caused by the pandemic. Focus group members expressed a desire to have more after-school programs for children neglected at home but noted the high expense of such programs. A population shift has resulted in lower numbers of students graduating from high school and lower numbers of students entering post-secondary education.
In the Health & Fitness area, the mental and physical health of community members continues to decline since the pandemic. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults experience mental illness, and one in twenty adults experience serious mental illness. Compared to before the pandemic, there are now an estimated 33 million more US adults who are obese, and diabetes is at a record high of 14%, according to US News & World Report. Focus group members and survey respondents have highlighted a need for healthy choice education for individuals of all ages. They also expressed the desire to have more walking and biking trails throughout the county to improve the overall health of our community.
In the Human Needs area, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services reported that there were a total of 39,093 reports of suspected child abuse in 2022, an increase of nearly 1,000 from 2021. During the pandemic, the Office of Children, Youth and Families observed a significant decrease in the total suspected reports, purportedly due to less interaction between children and mandated reporters. Washington County’s high senior population of 22.1% creates a unique set of challenges and needs. Focus group members considered the lack of home health care as one of these challenges. There is also a rising need for mobility services, especially after the pandemic.
In the Religion & Faith area, many organizations have reported a decline in attendance since the reopening of churches post pandemic. Some churches have begun to livestream sermons to combat this decline, but 58% reported in our survey that they would be unlikely to attend these remote services. This attendance decline has been matched by a large group of people changing religion over time or losing spirituality completely. In 2023, the Pew Research Center reported 83% of Americans held some type of spiritual belief system, down from 90% in 1999, and 87% in 2002. Religious organizations are also experiencing a decrease in tithing.
For more information, or to register to participate in a future focus group or survey, please contact the Foundation at info@wccf.net or visit www.communitysnapshot.org.