The Health Initiative is surveying St. Lawrence County residents to determine what people believe are the major health problems in the region.

The survey, being conducted with assistance from Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center, Clifton-Fine Hospital, E.J. Noble Hospital, Massena Memorial Hospital and the county Public Health Department, is also designed to gather information on participants’ own health and the health care system.

Information from the survey will be used to develop a county-wide health improvement plan and will provide information that will help bring grant money into the county, Health Initiative staffers say.

The survey is anonymous and can be completed online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/slcha. The survey does not ask for names or addresses, only a respondent's zip code so they can identify needs specific to certain parts of the county.

Those preferring to fill out a paper copy of the survey have three options:

• Paper copies can be mailed by calling the Health Initiative at 261-4760, ext. 221 to request one. They will mail a paper copy and a stamped, addressed envelope. The survey will go directly to the project consultant; no one in St. Lawrence County will have access to personal survey data and names will never be attached to them.

• Paper copies of the survey will also be available in hospital and clinic waiting rooms, doctor's offices, and other community locations.

• You can also visit http://www.gethealthyslc.org/ for a link due to posted soon to download a copy of the survey to print out, complete and mail.