Community Safety
How does community safety affect health?
Community safety is more than rates of violence or the level of law enforcement resources present in a community. Even though crime rates may be low in a community, it doesn't mean everyone considers the area safe. Pockets of populations, for instance, people of color, or the LGBTQ population, may not consider a community safe for them, despite overall low crime statistics.
Community safety, therefore, is about adults and children feeling and being safe. Safe at home, at work, at school, and while walking, biking or driving down the street. It is about feeling genuinely safe in shared spaces. It contributes to quality of life and has an impact on health.
Adults & Community Safety
96%
Percent of adults in Winnebago County consider their neighborhood or community to be safe (extremely safe, safe) (Winnebago Co Community Health Survey 2018)
99%
Percent of adults in Winnebago County (out of 146 respondents) consider their neighborhood or community to be safe for their child (extremely safe, safe) (Winnebago Co Community Health Survey 2018)
Winnebago County Sheriff's
Youth & Community Safety
Youth & Community Safety
Knowing children are safe at school and at home is a big part of assessing the safety of any one community.
11%
of students have been verbally or physically forced to take part in sexual activity when they did not want to (HS YRBS 2018)
Winnebago County Middle School Students
52%
have been bullied at school
1 out of 5
have experienced electronic bullying
Winnebago County High School Students
50%
state harassment and bullying is a problem at school
1 out of 4
have been bullied at school
1 out of 5
have experienced electronic bullying
29%
state violence is an issue at school
Different Perspectives on Community Safety
What do community conversations tell us?
There is insufficient information to know whether more girls than boys, LGBTQ than straight students or student of varying ethnicity vs white students are experiencing harassment. However community conversations with youth of color did reveal a need to address issues student of color experience on a daily basis.
The Winnebago Health Department in conjunction with Fit Oshkosh and Youth 2 Youth Advocates for Justice (Y2Y), a high school student group, organized community dialogues with youth in Winnebago County during the 2018-2019 school year. The purpose of these conversations was to hear from youth of color about the resources for, and obstacles to, living a healthy life in their community. The students in these groups were most concerned about those social determinants of health including racism, community safety, and lack of social support. While pockets of support exist, students stated, they perceive and have felt the impact of, widespread ignorance, stereotyping, judgmental behaviors, and outright acts of racism. Students expressed a strong desire for increased support. They want a place where they can have "real" conversations and bring their authentic selves to school and in the community to increase their level of safety.
Racism as a Public Health Crisis
In 2018, the Wisconsin Public Health Association (WPHA) declared racism as a public health crisis.
Racism causes persistent racial discrimination in housing, education, employment, and criminal justice; and an emerging body of research demonstrates that racism is a social determinant of health. More than 100 studies have linked racism to worse health outcomes, and in Wisconsin, the highest excess death rates exist among African Americans and Native Americans at every stage in the life course.
The impact of race on health stems largely from differences in access to resources and opportunities that can hurt or enhance health. People of color have consistently faced barriers to opportunity and good health due to a history of unfair laws and practices. Increasing opportunities for everyone can reduce gaps in health and make our entire community healthier.
The American Pediatric Association has created a policy statement, “Racism and Its Impact on Child and Adolescent Health,” that encourages "pediatricians to create welcoming, culturally competent medical practices, to advocate for policies that advance social justice, and to engage leaders in their communities to reduce health disparities."