Different lenses, common ground: Two health needs assessments in Summit County

The Community Solutions research team recently completed our 2025 projects, including two based in Summit County. As someone who is also “just a kid from Akron,” I’m always excited to engage with my own community through this work. Each project deepens my understanding of the community and highlights the dedication of those working every day to support community well-being.

Two longstanding leaders in Summit County health recently released their community needs assessments.

Akron Children’s assessment focuses on their core population: children and their families, examining health through a family-centered lens. In contrast, an assessment from Summit County Public Health takes a broader, population-level approach, capturing the health of residents across the lifespan.

Similar goals, similar barriers

Despite these different lenses, similar priority needs were identified through the two assessments. Mental and behavioral health, the impact of housing instability and economic stress on health, and significant barriers to accessing care emerged as similar concerns, indicating that these issues are widely felt and deeply interconnected.

Both assessments also intentionally centered the voices community members and service providers.

Both assessments also intentionally centered the voices community members and service providers through surveys, focus groups, and stakeholder engagement, placing a value on lived experience, elevating the perspectives of people most affected by local health challenges.

No single system can address the challenges

Just as clearly, both assessments emphasize that no single system can address these challenges alone. Health outcomes are shaped by a web of factors spanning healthcare, public health, education, housing, social services, and community organizations. Both reports highlight the necessity of cross-sector collaboration to move from identifying needs to creating lasting change.

Both assessments make a compelling case for shared ownership of community health and coordinated action across institutions.

Together, both assessments make a compelling case for shared ownership of community health and coordinated action across institutions. Reinforcing that meaningful progress in Summit County will require partners working together toward common goals.

To inquire about Community Solutions working with your organization, please contact Emily Muttillo, Director of Research, at emuttillo@communitysolutions.com.