By Matt Simonette

Staff writer

Howard Brown Heath Center has implemented an online survey to better ascertain the health needs of the GLBT community.

Blase Masini, director of research for Howard Brown, said the survey is the result of strategic planning meetings at the health center, adding “It was time to put our thumb on the pulseline of the community.”

Masini said the survey serves two functions for the health center.

“The first is getting a needs assessment both from consumers and non-consumers. The second takes a marketing perspective and looks at our name recognition both in the LGBT community and outside the LGBT community,” Masini said, adding that Howard Brown, at the moment, is primarily concerned with measuring usage from Cook County residents.

The survey first asks respondents to rate their concerns about healthcare affordability and accessibility, diet and exercise and drug and alcohol abuse, among other factors. It also asks gender-specific questions about how frequently the respondents have gotten appropriate health screenings.

The questionnaire goes on to ask respondents about their experiences and perceptions of Howard Brown and their familiarity with the services the health center offers. It also asks whether respondents are interested in services such as fitness and diet programs, artificial insemination, parenting classes and pediatric care, among others. Respondents are also asked about their insurance coverage.

So far the response has been favorable, according to Masini. Numerous visitors to Howard Brown’s website have been taking the survey, “and we haven’t even tapped into MySpace yet,” Masini said. A paper-and-pencil version of the survey distributed at Northalsted Market Days also garnered about 150 responses.

“It’s doing really well. I’m confident that we’ll get about 800 to 900 responses,” Masini said.

Take Howard Brown’s GLBT community survey online at www.howardbrown.org.