Measuring Wellbeing

Change happens when everyone feels a sense of belonging and can help co-create a brighter future for the North Central region.

We aim to surface the experiences and insights from across our community to help reimagine strategies that foster greater wellbeing and belonging for all.

Using the Vital Conditions framework, we can analyze wellbeing in our region in a strategic way. By investing in systems and solutions that focus on the source of the issue, we are actively moving toward a future that promotes thriving conditions for all.

Below, explore the key themes from our analysis of the latest wellbeing surveys in North Central Washington.

At Thriving Together NCW, we understand that a blend of both quantitative and qualitative data is necessary to better understand what enables or prevents individuals in our region to thrive.

Thank you to our community partners who helped host meaningful and engaging conversations throughout our region. Below are a summary of quotes from those dialogues with residents.

What People Had to Say

On Belonging &
Civic Muscle

Comments on caring, inclusion,
engagement and events.

    • “Small town loyalty - people look after each other”

    • “Connecting with one another across identities, e.g., “party lines”, religious differences, economic differences, etc”

    • “Precisely these events, where we get together and their is happiness. Getting us out of our daily routine.”

    • “When everyone is included and has [a] seat, voice, and vote in what happens in our community.”

    • “people are quick to judge others who are struggling, or homeless, who have addictions to drugs.”

    • “Many of the community members have been here a long time and already have enough friends.”

    • “A lack of understanding of different perspectives, a rush to judge, misinformation”

    • “The isolation of people and lack of community places to live together”

    • “Divisive and entrenched political views expressed aggressively and with vulgar language in the public square”

    • Laws passed by state that do not meet my values or morals”

    • “Lack of communication between schools/parents, city/constituents, city/schools”

On Basic Needs for
Health & Safety

Comments on mental/physical health
services and safety.

    • “Access to stores”

    • “Having food banks and the senior center for low cost clothing and items”

    • “Access to health, dental, vision care and food programs”

    • “Safe neighborhoods, low crime”

    • “Sobriety”

    • “Access to walking paths, sidewalks”

    • “good law enforcement”

    • “Lack of medical insurance”

    • “Lack of services and infrastructure for families - limited pool hours, limited sidewalks/walking/biking trails, few summer programs that aren’t religious,”

    • “That there are not enough doctors, dentists and people who can advise more on those of us who have medical problems”

    • “Lack of resources for rural areas. Such as mental health, CAM-Complimentary & Alternative Native medicine (accupuncture, naturopathic Dr., etc.)”

    • “Lack of therapists (availability)”

    • “My community is very small and there are limited opportunities for health improvement.”

    • “Gang activity, Gun violence”

    • “Substance abuse, cycles of violence, poverty, lack of opportunities.”

    • “Alcohol and substance use, ignorance, hate, out dated ways of thinking…”

    • “Drug use in young people”

    • “There is no good wifi signal”

On Meaningful
Work & Wealth

    • “Good employers who pay fair wages and have legitimate expectations of their employees”

    • “There is a good salary available”

    • “Having a job”

    • “Having a sense of stability and security. I.e., being able to afford the necessities of life - affordable food, medical care, housing”

    • “Not enough jobs”

    • “Toxic workplaces, low wages, lack of accountability for people's actions”

    • “Things would be better if we had more respect at work and better wages”

    • “Not much work for people that have a record.”

    • “There are no good jobs and a lot of discrimination”

    • “Lack of financial stability, lower income households, lack of money, people not wanting to pay taxes for the benefit of the community”

    • “Cost of living here and rising property values and taxes that make it hard to stay here”

Comments on wealth and work.