Adolescent Mental Health in a Rural Community
A community assessment was conducted on the town of Buffalo, Minnesota (MN). Conducting a community assessment involves one to become more familiar with a community by collecting and analyzing data within a community (Anderson & McFarlane, 2011). Buffalo is a rural community that is centrally located between Minneapolis and St. Cloud, MN (Buffalo Chamber, 2015). This allows Buffalo residents the opportunity to commute 35 miles to the surrounding suburban areas for healthcare and greater employment opportunities. However, this is unobtainable for some individuals due to lack of reliable transportation, limiting individuals the ability to seek certain healthcare resources such as mental health resources. …show more content…
However, less than half of these adolescents with mental health disorders receive any kind of treatment. Lack of treatment is often related to the lack of health insurance and mental health resources for adolescents (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). As stated by Wright County (2015), a recent community assessments continues to support an increase need for in mental health resources issues in Wright county. Buffalo resides within Wright county, which is considered a rural community. Rural communities are significantly less likely to receive any type of treatment compared to suburban or urban communities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). Buffalo has experienced considerable growth over the last 15 years (City Data, 2015). “In 2013, 10 percent of adolescents lacked insurance and, when they are covered, the amount of mental health services they can receive is often limited” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011, para. …show more content…
Other outpatient mental health facilities that provide services for families, include Central Minnesota Mental Health, Bridging Hope and Family Counseling Center. There are also home health care agencies and several chiropractic offices scattered throughout town. There are several assisted living/long term care options for the elderly. Buffalo also has a full-time police department and a volunteer fire department. The Wright County Human Services building resides in the town and offers many county resources and applications, such as wellness on wheels (WOW) van, MNsure, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women Infants and Children (WIC), child care assistance and medical assistance
A community assessment was conducted on the town of Buffalo, Minnesota (MN). Conducting a community assessment involves one to become more familiar with a community by collecting and analyzing data within a community (Anderson & McFarlane, 2011). Buffalo is a rural community that is centrally located between Minneapolis and St. Cloud, MN (Buffalo Chamber, 2015). This allows Buffalo residents the opportunity to commute 35 miles to the surrounding suburban areas for healthcare and greater employment opportunities. However, this is unobtainable for some individuals due to lack of reliable transportation, limiting individuals the ability to seek certain healthcare resources such as mental health resources. …show more content…
However, less than half of these adolescents with mental health disorders receive any kind of treatment. Lack of treatment is often related to the lack of health insurance and mental health resources for adolescents (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). As stated by Wright County (2015), a recent community assessments continues to support an increase need for in mental health resources issues in Wright county. Buffalo resides within Wright county, which is considered a rural community. Rural communities are significantly less likely to receive any type of treatment compared to suburban or urban communities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). Buffalo has experienced considerable growth over the last 15 years (City Data, 2015). “In 2013, 10 percent of adolescents lacked insurance and, when they are covered, the amount of mental health services they can receive is often limited” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011, para. …show more content…
Other outpatient mental health facilities that provide services for families, include Central Minnesota Mental Health, Bridging Hope and Family Counseling Center. There are also home health care agencies and several chiropractic offices scattered throughout town. There are several assisted living/long term care options for the elderly. Buffalo also has a full-time police department and a volunteer fire department. The Wright County Human Services building resides in the town and offers many county resources and applications, such as wellness on wheels (WOW) van, MNsure, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women Infants and Children (WIC), child care assistance and medical assistance