Health officials in Youngstown are pleading with residents for their input on what is needed to address their health concerns.

It was more than a year ago that the Mahoning and Trumbull Community Health Assessment was launched to help identify the most significant health concerns for the people who live in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties.

The Youngstown City Health District revealed last week that only 275 responses were submitted by City residents.

With that response representing less than 1% of a population of 60,000, health officials say it is impossible to address the health needs of City residents.

The Youngstown City Health District, in conjunction with a $450,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Health set up Health Improvement Zones (North Side, South Side, East Side, West Side) dedicated to City residents.

The first step in the process to bring change is to conduct a Needs Assessment specific to the City of Youngstown.

The survey will provide the Health Department with Youngstown-specific data on what residents need to improve their health and well-being.

The data will then be used to create interventions specific to the priorities identified in each zone.

City health officials are again asking residents to take the Needs Assessment Survey to determine what residents need in their neighborhoods.

Health authorities characterize the 5-minute survey as the voice for all residents for future plans to improve their health and well-being.