FY19 FOCUS GROUPS

79 Focus Group Participants throughout Berrien, Branch, Calhoun, Cass, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, and Van Buren counties.

General Themes across the Region

Participants reiterated the need for quality and consistent information, that is easy to understand and access, provided in a way that is respectful and allows the individual the ability to voice their concerns or opinions
Resources like childcare, transportation, and food/diaper pantries, employment opportunities are scarce in rural communities and resources that are available are not widely publicized
Participants often felt dismissed or disrespected and stressed the importance of having to advocate for themselves to get the level of care they require