What is the Community Health Survey?
The University of California, Merced is conducting the Community Health Survey. The aim is to gather information that can help improve health care and well-being in Arizona and California. We are inviting people to respond to a short survey online or by phone. We are asking them to share about their experiences and the resources in their community. The Community Health Survey is part of a larger study of people’s health, experiences, and how they use public services.
What is the University of California, Merced?
The University of California, Merced, or UC Merced, is one of the ten campuses in the University of California system. It is located in the rural and agricultural San Joaquin Valley and is a Hispanic-serving institution. UC Merced has a special mission to increase college-going rates among first-generation students in the region. Other universities in the UC system are the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). For more information regarding UC Merced, please visit https://www.ucmerced.edu/.
Who is leading the survey?
Dr. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young, an Assistant Professor of Public Health, is leading the Community Health Survey. She has help from other faculty, graduate and undergraduate students, and community stakeholders in Arizona and California.
Why was I selected?
All participants are randomly selected to take part in this survey. Random selection allows us to capture a wide variety of perspectives.
Can I be identified by my responses?
All responses will be kept confidential. Any information that could reveal a person’s identity is removed. All survey participants are protected under the Certificate of Confidentiality. This protects the privacy of research participants. To learn more about the Certification of Confidentiality, please visit the NIH website at https://grants.nih.gov/policy/humansubjects/coc.htm.
How long is the survey?
This survey takes about 20 minutes to complete.
Is participation mandatory?
Participation is voluntary. The decision whether to participate will not impact anyone’s insurance, health care, or relationship with any state or federal agency.
Why is this survey important?
This survey captures a wide variety of experiences. It asks about healthcare access, health insurance coverage, and interactions with other community resources that influence a person’s health and well-being. Understanding people’s experiences with community resources may help identify barriers to healthcare, gaps in health needs, differences in healthcare across counties, and other aspects of well-being in both Arizona and California.
How will my responses be used?
The results of this survey will be used for future research on barriers to health and county health needs. The results may inform policymakers, researchers, and community workers about ways to improve health outcomes and access to public services.
