How does a CHA improve health equity in communities and beyond?   As county and municipal public health departments strive to understand and meet the unique needs of their populations, Community Health Assessments (CHAs) have become essential tools in guiding effective, data-driven healthcare. More than just a data collection effort, CHAs are pivotal in shaping public health priorities, addressing inequities and building lasting improvements in health outcomes across communities.   This blog explores what CHAs are, the frequently asked questions around them and the transformative impact they have on healthcare systems and the communities they serve.   What is a Community Health Assessment (CHA)?  Defining CHA   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a Community Health Assessment (CHA) as a "state, tribal, local, or territorial health assessment that identifies key health needs and issues through systematic, comprehensiv...

Community Health Assessments (CHAs) are vital for pinpointing community health needs. Enhancing CHAs with greater collaboration, stakeholder engagement and innovation significantly boosts their effectiveness and impact. The biennial CHA process utilizes primary and secondary data to identify priority issues, which assists in developing the Community Health Implementation Plan (CHIP).   1. Engage diverse stakeholders  Inclusive partnerships are essential for addressing health needs effectively by engaging a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including community-based organizations, healthcare providers and policymakers. By involving diverse groups, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of health needs and ensure strong support for health initiatives.   The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) emphasizes that engaging a variety of stakeholders is crucial for gathering diverse insights and securing backing for these initiatives.   B...

The purpose of a Community Health Assessment goes beyond achieving state requirements or receiving accreditation. If you're a local health department, you may be interested in finding ways to push your CHA data further to more easily identify ways to improve health equity and community outcomes. Focusing only on submission can be counter-productive to the community outcomes you want to achieve. In this blog, we'll give you an overview of the importance of conducting a CHA. Plus, we'll provide you with key information you can use to reset your workflow and rethink your processes. Why you need to complete a Community Health Assessment Certain states require a CHA because it provides a systematic review of a community's health status and essential data and information regarding the health of the community. Specifically, the New York state Department of Health writes, "Community health assessment is a fundamental tool of public health practice. Its aim is to describe...

As a local health department, your Community Health Assessment helps you discover your community’s story so you can better identify and achieve key improvements. If you feel you can achieve more from your CHA, then it’s time to re-examine your approach. It’s not as difficult as it seems, and there is a roadmap: MAPP 2.0 . The Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership tool was developed by the National Association of County and City Health Officials in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Using MAPP 2.0, DataGen created a five-month action plan that you can use over the span of five months for a better CHA — no matter where you start from or what your results have been. How to re-examine your CHA approach Month 1: Organize for success and partnership development Identifying the right internal and external community partners is the single most important step for a successful CHA. These are the individuals, at every level, who will champion, lea...