Dennis Chaney, Director for the Barren River District Health Department visited Logan County on Friday to speak with Judge/Executive Logan Chick about the “Big Listen.”

The Big Listen is a two-part, health-related project being sponsored by the district health department, judge executives' offices and the Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) in seven counties.

The first part of the project, completed in the summer of 2007, included a survey that was handed out in all seven counties asking participants to list concerns they had about their communities relating to health.

It is now time for the second phase of the project where the results of the surveys will be shared with each community through a public forum which will be held for Logan County tonight at 6 p.m. at the courthouse.

The Big Listen is designed to identify the single priority issues in four categories that citizens feel are important in their communities.

“We feel like for us in public health it is our responsibility to help facilitate and be a catalyst for change as it relates to the health status of the communities,” said Chaney who adds that this initiative is to pro-actively address these issues so changes can be made to implement ideas that would inevitably bring about change.

“Our objective is to narrow our focus on the health issues that challenge our communities,” said Chaney who mentioned nutrition, lack of physical activity, smoking, chronic disease, preventative ideas to minimize the risk of these illnesses and their economic impact to the county.

Chaney said they wan to get as many members of the community together at these forums - even those who did not fill out a survey. He said it is important that lots of people show up to discuss these issues to get a real picture of the problems.

A power point presentation will be given Tuesday showing the concerns that were identified by the public in Logan County. After the survey was conducted the District Health Department put together a report for each of the counties which shows the issues in relation to their importance.

After the four issues have been discussed participants who show up Tuesday will be given a card and will be able to choose if they wish to be involved in a future follow up discussion on one of the issues.

The District Health Department will be applying for a grant in the middle of March to the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky that will help pay for this facilitation and help fund solutions to the identified problems in each community.