Monett Community

Service Area

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Population Overview

The Commission noted several important demographic and population trends within the Monett Community. This 2-county Community is home to 73,734 individuals, a decline of 2.3% between 2000 and 2010. A shrinking population can lead to aging populations, job losses, declining tax revenues and shrinking schools and neighborhoods. These effects can already be seen today with nearly 24% of the Community being under the age of 17, while approximately 33% are over the age of 55. Meaning, that the population is, on average, older than both the Region and nation. Older residents are more likely to be living with chronic illnesses and require access to more health services. Further, approximately 43% of the Community is within the age grouping of 18-64, which drives the workforce in the community.   

Approximately 18% of the total population is living with a disability, which is higher than the OHC Region rate at 17.3% and national rate of 12.62%. This may contribute to access to care and disparities amongst the disability community members, which should be considered when planning for improvement in rural versus urban areas.   

A few of these factors contribute to the overall vulnerability of the population of the Community. Vulnerable populations, such as people in poverty, minorities and the elderly, often experience higher rates of chronic illness and worse health outcomes. To ensure vulnerable and at-risk populations were considered when identifying and addressing community health needs, the Commission identified them in each Community using the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Social Vulnerability Index (SVI).   

Using U.S. Census and American Community Survey data, the SVI identifies the most vulnerable groups across all comparative census tracts. Out of the highest vulnerability score of 1.0, the Monett Community has an overall SVI score of 0.8, meaning that it is more vulnerable than 80% of the rest of counties in the OHC Region. Scores for Socioeconomic Status (0.7), Household Composition and Disability (0.8), and Minority Status and Language (0.6) demonstrate significant vulnerability of the local population. Homeless students’ status (4.3) is above the OHC region (4.2), Missouri (4.0) and the United States (3.0).    

Monett has a higher rate of physical inactivity (30%), tobacco use (23.8%) than the OHC Region, Missouri, and the U.S. These are all areas of concern and result in poorer health outcomes.  

What makes a population vulnerable?

		Barry County	Lawrence County	Monett Community
Socio-Economic Status	Below Poverty	0.8	0.55	0.68
	Unemployed	0.46	0.71	0.58
	Income	0.71	0.61	0.66
	No High School Diploma	0.81	0.77	0.79
Household Composition & Disability	Aged 65+	0.62	0.39	0.5
	Under Age 18	0.42	0.91	0.67
	Disability Status	0.63	0.66	0.64
	Single-Parent Households	0.39	0.6	0.49
Minority Status & Language	Minority	0.82	0.7	0.76
	Speaks English “Less than Well”	0.97	0.93	0.95
Housing Type & Transportation	Multi-Unit Structures	0.22	0.49	0.36
	Mobile Homes	0.83	0.49	0.66
	Crowding	0.99	0.94	0.96
	No Vehicle	0.27	0.440	0.36
	Group Quarters	0.04	0.37	0.21
Orange highlight: The population in this county is more vulnerable than 90% of all other counties in its respective state.
Blue highlight: The population in this county is more vulnerable than 80% of all other counties in its respective state.

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Assessed Health Issues

Commission stakeholders began the RHA process with analysis of publicly available health data (secondary data) and participating health systems’ emergency room utilization data (primary data) to identify health issues of greatest concern across the region.  The result was a ranked list of eight Ozarks Health Commission Region health issues.  A full description of the health issues and indicators used can be found in the OHC Regional Health Assessment.   

To represent diverse views from across the region and population, qualitative data was garnered.  Across the OHC Region, these viewpoints were solicited via 75 individual interviews, 10 focus groups and 2,638 surveys.  Methodologies used for the initial scoring/ranking of the health issues and the full report of the qualitative work can be found in the OHC Regional Report.  This prioritization information can be used by organizations to develop community health improvement plans, guide decision-making, and foster collaboration across initiatives. 

During September and October 2021, four individual interviews, in addition to ten virtual focus group discussions in both Barry and Lawrence Counties were completed. Those interviewed represented health and social service organizations, education and community collaboratives.  

Of the 2,628 survey respondents from the Region, 5.28% indicated they lived in the Monett Community. Respondents were asked to rank perceived community needs, and the top 10 that emerged were: 

1. Drug and other substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation services, including detox 

2. Emergency mental health services for issues such as suicidal thinking or actions, homicidal thinking or actions, self-harm, or harm to others 

3. Integrated care, or where people can get medical care and counseling at the same time 

4. Affordable, quality childcare 

5. Drug and other substance abuse, education, prevention, and early intervention services 

6. Coordination of patient care between the hospital and other clinics, private doctors, or others 

7. Counseling services for mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or others for adults 

8. Counseling services for mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, trauma, or others for adolescents and children 

9. Affordable housing 

10. Social services (other than healthcare) for people experiencing homelessness 

Those interviewed represented health and social service organizations, education and community collaboratives. Stakeholders, education and community individual interviews and focus groups agreed that a top challenge was access to mental health services and healthcare. This information was considered during the process of establishing health priorities for the Monett Community. Methodologies used for the initial scoring/ranking of the health issues and the full report of the qualitative work can be found in the OHC Regional Report. This prioritization information can be used by organizations to develop community health improvement plans, guide decision-making, and foster collaboration across initiatives. 

Monett Community Health Priorities  

(click a health priority below to learn more)

Each Commission Community convened stakeholders to assess the feasibility of addressing the health issues identified through primary and secondary data sources, and further illuminated the qualitative community feedback.  In the Monett Community, this was organized by Heather Coulter, Director of Community Health Improvement for CoxHealth and was held virtually Tuesday, February 15, with every effort made to invite all public health agencies, organizations engaged by Crescendo Consulting, CHC members and leaders of vulnerable and underrepresented communities.   

Based on the eight health issues identified by the Commission using publicly available and participating health systems’ data, stakeholders from the Monett Community convened to further discuss top priorities for the community. 

The feasibility of changing each issue and readiness to address each issue was assessed. Feasibility rankings were influenced by stakeholders’ perceptions of the readiness of the community to address an issue, existing initiatives or momentum, whether leadership was established around the condition, perceived feasibility to change, complexity of the issue and the time frame to improve the issue (within 2-3 years or more than 2-3 years). The higher the score, the more significant the impact of the condition on the community, and the more difficult the condition was to address.  

Participants using a short survey, which was opened one week before the meeting, assessed feasibility. Survey responses equaled roughly 50% of the total weighted ranking for each health issue.  

Rank	Initial Ranking Emergency Department and Public Health Data		Final Ranking Emergency Department, Public and Feasibility Data		Rank Change
1	Oral Health	3.67	COVID-19	2.92	+3
2	Lung Disease	3.32	Oral Health	2.91	-1
3	Heart Disease	2.99	Lung Disease	2.89	-1
4	COVID-19	2.83	Heart Disease	2.89	-1
5	Diabetes	2.67	Diabetes	2.76	no change
6	Mental Health	2.44	Mental Health	2.69	no change
7	Cancer	2.25	Cancer	2.14	no change
8	Substance Use & Recovery	1.42	Substance Use & Recovery	2.11	no change

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Mental Health 

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Substance Use & Recovery

Community context data provided by Crescendo showed that drug and other substance use treatment and rehabilitation services, including detox was the top-ranking health issue among survey respondents. Additionally, this data showed that drug and other substance use, education, prevention and early intervention services, was the fifth most important health issue among survey respondents. According to one individual that was interviewed, “There are a lot of drugs like meth and prescription drugs, and few treatment options. People must pay cash to go to rehab facilities and few places for people to detox safely”.   

Substance use complicates many other health issues. Prevention efforts, treatment and recovery services present an important opportunity to improve overall community health outcomes.   

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Diabetes

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Special Health Issue: COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Most people infected with the virus experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some become seriously ill and require more advanced medical care. People over the age of 64 and those with underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease or cancer are more likely to develop serious illness. Even after recovery, some people may have post-COVID conditions. These conditions can present as different types and combinations of health problems for different lengths of time.  Multiorgan effects can affect many body systems, including heart, lung, kidney, skin and neurologic functions. 

Throughout the pandemic, the Monett Community saw a case rate 1% lower than the state and 7% lower than the national case rate. This was largely due to lower transmission in Barry County, resulting in a case rate 7% lower than the rest of the state and 13% better than the U.S.  

However, deaths from COVID-19 were more common in this Community, with a nearly 15% higher mortality rate compared to the state average and close to 3% higher than the national average. Lawrence County accounts for much of this disparity, with a mortality rate 29% higher than the Missouri rate and nearly 20% higher than the national rate. While Barry County saw around 10% fewer deaths than the state and more than 20% fewer than the nation.  

COVID-19 was the reason for 3% of emergency department visits in the Monett Community, with 46% of patients paying for care through Medicare and 32% utilizing commercial insurance.  

Comments from individual interviews and focus groups about the impact of COVID-19 for the Community showed concern that residents stopped visiting the ER, unless major emergency. Residents died from problems because they didn’t get the care they needed. It was also mentioned that “Covid hasn’t taken distrust away from providers – residents may not get the vaccine, but they’ll see their doctor for other reasons”. 

Though COVID-19 initially ranked fourth as an assessed health issue in the Monett Community, when feasibility and readiness to change were factored in, it was determined by community stakeholders that there was already a strong system in place to continue to address screening, testing, contract tracing, vaccination and treatment. The ongoing efforts and the lack of confidence that the virus would continue to be a dominating issue over the next several years resulted in the determination that COVID-19 is not a priority health issue. However, the full impacts of the virus will be seen in the months and years to come, so it will be prudent to continue evaluation of its impact. 

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Social Determinants of Health

(click a social determinant of health below to learn more)

Additional data critical to understanding the health of the population and the vulnerability of the Community was discerned by examining six groupings classified as social determinants of health: Economic Stability, Education Access and Quality, Healthcare Access and Quality, Neighborhood and Built Environment, Social and Community Context and Health Behaviors. The social determinants of health have a major impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life while also contributing widely to health disparities and inequities. Twenty percent of a person’s health and well-being is related to access to care of quality of services provided. Rather, 80% is related to the physical environment (10%), social determinants of health (40%) and health behaviors (30%). Therefore, examination of these factors is important as they play a significant role in the impact the assessed health issues have on the Monett Community.  

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Economic Stability 

In the United States, 3 in 10 people live in poverty, and many people can’t afford things like healthy foods, health care, and housing. People with steady employment are less likely to live in poverty and more likely to be healthy, but many people have trouble finding and keeping a job. People with disabilities, injuries, or conditions like arthritis may be especially limited in their ability to work. In addition, many people with steady work still don’t earn enough to afford the things they need to stay healthy.   

In the Monett Community, close to half of residents (44.9%) live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (FPL), meaning a family of four cannot earn more than $25,750 annually. The percentage of children living in poverty is much higher, at 61.2%. In fact, the per capita income in the Monett Community is below the FPL for a family of four, 22% lower than the Missouri average income and nearly 30% lower than the national average.  

In addition to living in poverty, many in the Monett Community struggle to find affordable housing. Twenty-six percent of those in the Monett Community live in substandard housing according to the U.S. Census Bureau and 10.1% report a severe housing cost burden. Forty-one percent of citizens currently have affordable housing that is below 60% of the area median income (AMI). Community stakeholders note that housing costs in the Monett Community have outpaced salaries. There are long wait lists for lower cost rental housing, which is contributing to higher costs.  

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Education Access & Quality 

Education can be an indicator of health, with persons with higher levels of education often living healthier and longer lives. Nearly 16% of adults over 25 years old in the Monett Community do not have a high school diploma. This is nearly 5% worse than the state average and 4% higher than the national rate. Moreover, the Monett Community struggles with community members achieving college degrees. Those receiving their associates degree or higher account for 22.5% of the population, which is nearly 40% below the state average and 45% below the national average.  

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Healthcare Access & Quality 

Many people in the United States don’t get the health care services they need. About 1 in 10 people don’t have health insurance. In the Monett Community, the rate of uninsured is even higher, with more than 20% of adults and 10% of children not having health insurance. People without insurance are less likely to have a primary care provider, and they may not be able to afford the health care services and medications they need. In addition, people may not trust the healthcare system. Some reasons for this may include lack of cultural awareness by providers, feeling unwelcome or uncomfortable in traditional clinical settings, previous negative experiences with healthcare providers, insufficient accommodations for the disabled, language barriers or clinics not having convenient times or locations. 

Those with the financial means to access healthcare in the Community have nearly 15% fewer primary care providers per 100,000 residents to seek services with than the rest of Missouri and more than 20% fewer the U.S. Moreover, the Community has nearly 60% fewer mental health care providers than Missouri and more than 70% fewer than the U.S. Overall, the Monett Community struggles with retaining and attracting healthcare providers, with 40% of residents living in Health Professional Shortage Areas. A rate that is nearly twice as high as the state and national rates.  

Input from the community highlighted that the low-income community has few resources to travel for healthcare due to unreliable transportation. They need more basic services in community, and to work with others to get more advanced care including appointments, transportation Mission Fund to help patients pay for services or equipment, but there’s still a large gap and access to services. 

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Health Behaviors  

Health behaviors include individual-level behaviors, often influenced by access or quality of services, that can impact the overall health of an individual or community. Measured health behaviors include physical activity, fruit and vegetable expenditures, smoking, alcohol binge drinking, sexually transmitted infection (STI) rates and the prevalence of HIV. These behaviors can affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. 

In the Monett Community, physical activity has declined slightly since the prior assessment in 2019. Nearly one in three (30%) residents report no leisure time physical activity, which is higher than both state and national averages.  

Analysis of fruit and vegetable expenditures are a way of determining how many community members have the inclination and ability to enjoy healthy foods. In the Monett Community, a household spends just over $681 on fruits and vegetables (fresh, frozen, or canned), which is more than $60 less than the national average.  

Additionally, the Monett community has a smoking rate slightly higher than the state average, and 6.8% higher than the national averages. 

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Neighborhood & Built Environment  

The neighborhoods people live in have a major impact on their health and well-being. Where we live affects the basics of our daily lives and health. When affordable housing is lacking it impacts families and where they can afford to live. In the Monett Community, 26% of community members live in substandard housing. The Community also reports nearly one in five of community members have limited/low access to food. The Monett Community performs better in these areas than both the state and national rates.  

However, 27 out of 100 households in the Monett Community have low or slow internet access, a rate higher than the OHC Region, Missouri, and the U.S. As evidenced by the Covid pandemic, this lack of connectivity can affect resident’s ability to learn, work, and play. In Barry County, only 7 in 10 households have internet that is not low or slow.  

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Social & Community Context 

Health begins where we live, learn and play. Community connections and social relationships can have a major impact on their health and well-being. Many people face challenges and dangers they can’t control, like unsafe neighborhoods, discrimination or trouble affording the things they need. The Monett Community has total social vulnerability index (SVI) of 0.8, with 1.0 indicating the highest possible vulnerability. This is 50% higher than both state and national averages. SVI scores that are higher show areas that are more vulnerable to socio-economic factors that can influence their health choices and behaviors.  A prime example of this is homelessness. In the Monett Community, 4.3% of elementary and secondary students have been identified as homeless, which is greater than the OHC Region, Missouri, and national rates. Homelessness is closely connected to declines in physical and mental health. Persons without homes often lack access to health care and resources for treatment.  

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Conclusion

The issues and trends discussed in the Monett Community summary have their limitations and cannot tell the full story of the health of these counties. Other factors, such as environmental, social and economic, impact individual and community health and provide context necessary to understanding the Community. Therefore, it is important to consider the Social Determinants of Health outlined in this summary when creating plans to address mental health, substance use & recovery, diabetes or any of the other assessed health issues.  

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Health Services Available

In addition to the websites of participating health systems and public health agencies, there are several robust resource directories available to assist consumers in locating care. These include:

• Burrell Behavioral Health
• Barry County Health Department
• Clark Community Mental Health Center
• CoxHealth
• Jordan Valley Community Health Center
• Lawrence County Health Department
• Mercy Hospital Springfield
• The Arc of the Ozarks

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Endnotes

¹Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP20-07-01-001, NSDUH Series H-55). Rockville, MD: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.   

²https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/factsheets/diabetes-prediabetes.htm