County to Hear Residents' Health Concerns at Lake Elsinore Meeting

Beginning next month, Riverside County public health officials will be conducting meetings countywide to solicit residents’ input on how healthcare access can be improved and what local programs and services are most important to them.

The first forum is planned Feb. 17 at the Cesar Chavez Library in Perris, and the final one is tentatively set for April 1 at the Lake Elsinore Cultural Center.

Here’s the full breakdown:

• Feb. 17: Cesar Chavez Library, 163 East San Jacinto Ave., Perris, Ca. 92570
• Feb. 19 (*Meeting starts at 5:30 p.m.): Arlington Library, 9556 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, Ca. 92503
• Feb. 24: Murrieta Public Library, 24700 Adams Ave., Murrieta, Ca. 92562
• Feb. 25: Banning Senior Center, 789 N. San Gorgonio Ave., Banning, Ca. 92220
• Feb. 26: Louis Robidoux Library, 5840 Mission Inn Blvd., Riverside, Ca. 92509
• March 5: Temecula Library, 30600 Pauba Road, Temecula, Ca. 92592
• March 11: Mecca Boys and Girls Club, 91391 66th Ave, Mecca, Ca. 92254
• March 12: Blythe Community Center, 445 N. Broadway, Blythe, Ca. 92225
• March 18: Mead Valley Community Center, 21091 Rider St., Perris, Ca. 92570
• March 19: Hemet Library, 300 East Latham Ave., Hemet, Ca. 92543
• March 24: Desert Hot Springs, 11750 Cholla Dr., Desert Hot Springs, Ca 92240
• March 25: Corona Civic Center, 815 West 6th Street Room #120, Corona, Ca. 92882
• March 26: Moreno Valley Conference Center, 14075 Frederick St., Moreno Valley, Ca. 92553
• April 1: Lake Elsinore Cultural Center, 183 North Main St., Lake Elsinore, Ca. 92530

According to the Department of Public Health, the goal is to survey as many residents as possible.

“It’s an ambitious schedule, but it is important that we hear from everyone,” said Department of Public Health Director Susan Harrington. “Each region of the county is unique, and the needs and concerns of the people living in those communities are unique as well.”

Most of the meetings will span about an hour. In addition to healthcare, officials will seek opinions about community safety and education programs.

According to Harrington, after the information-gathering process is complete, officials will use the surveys to compose a working plan on where and what to improve.

Surveys can be taken online, and details regarding meeting locations, dates and times can be found here: http://www.rivcoph.org/CommunityForums.aspx .

— City News Service contributed to this report.

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