FREDERICK, MD – July 25, 2022: This year, the Community Foundation of Frederick County updated its 2018 human needs assessment to account for shifts in needs and resources that resulted from the pandemic. The public is invited to attend the Community Foundation’s virtual presentation on its findings on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 9 a.m.
The 2022 updated human needs assessment reflects that the priorities in 2018 are still critical needs in the community, but it also shows that there are several emerging areas of need. The Community Foundation funded the research to help guide its grantmaking and scholarship programs for the coming years.
In 2018, the Community Foundation conducted a comprehensive human needs assessment to shape its strategic funding initiatives for the next 10 years. Three significant areas of need were identified at that time: supporting families with children, preparing for an aging population and responding to substance use disorder.
Then in the spring of 2020, COVID-19 began affecting our communities and homes. In response to shifting needs and resources throughout the county, the Community Foundation updated its needs assessment in 2022, revealing several emerging areas of need. The Community Foundation continues to address the target areas identified in the 2018 study, but will also begin prioritizing emerging areas of need that include supporting access to affordable housing, addressing mental health needs, and alleviating disparities in service delivery.
The Community Foundation of Frederick County’s virtual presentation on Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 9 a.m. is open to anyone who wants to learn more about the study, its outcomes and the human needs landscape in Frederick County. Learn more about the Community Foundation’s human needs assessment and register for the event at www.FrederickCountyGives.org/needsreport.