The City of Long Beach received a preliminary presentation of the Black Community Health Strengths and Needs Assessment (BCHSNA), a community‑driven effort that engaged more than 600 Black residents to identify health priorities and local strengths.

Directorial staff and members of the community work group described a three‑phase process: building community ownership, training members and administering culturally appropriate assessment tools, and holding listen‑and‑learn sessions. Christopher McLucas, who served as assessment facilitator, said the project reached residents across nearly every Long Beach ZIP code, with the largest participation from 90805, 90813 and 90802. Survey and engagement totals noted included roughly 336 community survey responses and approximately 200 people at event check‑ins.

Key findings were that economic well‑being, housing and houselessness, and mental health — including exposure to violence — emerged as the top domains for action. Presenters noted about 25 percent of respondents indicated they could not afford rent that month and roughly 61 percent of respondents reported emotional distress. The assessment also mapped more than 60 community resources and identified 31 providers that met quality, access and cultural‑relevance criteria (BHEC designation).

Kevin Hatcher and other work group members emphasized that the report is a starting point and recommended establishing a community‑led steering committee to develop a three‑year strategic action plan. Councilmembers supported the work and asked for timelines and resourcing; Health Department staff said they expect to seat a steering committee and begin report‑back activities in the first half of the coming year, with full community presentations to follow.

Ending: Council voted to receive and file the preliminary BCHSNA findings, and staff will return with implementation steps and a steering‑committee timeline.