Our Community Health Assessment

Much like doctors collect information about a patient to develop an individual's health plan, local health departments collect information about the health of the communities through a process called a community health assessment which serves as a foundation to develop a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).

We measure or assess the health of a community by collecting data through a systematic process. The assessment includes:

• • A review of locally collected data supplemented with state and national data sources.

  • Information from interviews with members of the community and representatives of community service organizations

  • Community conversations with various sectors of the county's population

Conducting a community health assessment requires a collaborative process. There is not one entity responsible for the health of a community, but rather a network of organizations and individuals working together.

In our community, there are organizations that provide healthcare and prevention services; businesses that provide insurance and other services to their employees; local agencies who provide social services; businesses focused on making our community and residents healthier; schools; families; and individuals who make up our community.

This website includes highlights where health advances are occurring and where they are not; points out health disparities and inequities and more. We hope this report proves valuable to our community partners and funders. Through partnerships and collaborations, we can create opportunities to improve health through programs, policies and improvements in systems and our environment that impact where we work, live and play.