The David Ranken Neighborhood Health Committee, a partnership between the neighborhood residents and St. Louis University School of Nursing, Community Health Nursing Masters Program, was formed in 1984 to affect the health of the Forest Park Southeast Neighborhood. Health was and continues to be defined broadly according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and includes such issues as housing, youth activities, school activities as well as assisting with health promotion and accessing primary medical care. Our values are commitment, continuity, and being community resident directed. Residents set health priorities and have the ultimate decision as to which projects and activities are initiated in the neighborhood and technical assistance in given by St. Louis community nursing faculty. Graduate and undergraduate students working with residents implement the activities with faculty providing continuity.

   The David Ranken Neighborhood Health Committee, the Human Service Committee of FPSE neighborhood with the assistance of ARCHES, held 6 focus groups on November of 2001. The focus groups, which included 51 residents, represented different age groups. Led by trained facilitators, each group discussed their assessment of the community's greatest health needs. Each group listed these needs and possible ways to meet them. A St. Louis University faculty member and a graduate student presented information on a broad definition of health and health related statistics for the neighborhood compiled from the US Census, the City and State Health Departments and four recent surveys of health and social needs in FPSE. This information was discussed and then the large group identified several common themes from the work of the 6 focus groups and the health data.

   A month later residents returned to identify the highest priorities. Over 50% of attendees had not been at the earlier focus groups. The large group was provided with lists of health issues identified in the focus groups, a review of the health statistics, and then were asked to vote on the neighborhood's health priorities. Each participant voted with stickers in two categories: issues that are the highest priorities and those that are important.

   The Health Committee reviewed the lists generated in both the focus groups and the larger meeting and recommends the following three areas of focus:

1. Family Support
2. Violence
3. Mental health