Summit County health officials need the community’s help in determining what programs and initiatives should be prioritized over the next five years.
The Community Health Assessment was last conducted in 2019, and staff with the county Health Department said it’s time to reevaluate the data and strategies that are in place. The health assessment is a tool used to determine the status, needs, resources and issues within an area to improve the efficiency of services.
Nancy Porter, who works as an epidemiologist with the Health Department, said the goal is to conduct an evidence-based assessment that will be used to make data-driven decisions, evaluate the community’s progress and improve local engagement.
“We’re going to use that … to really paint the picture of what’s going on in Summit County. What should our priorities be? Are there groups that may need more help than others with certain factors? That way we can really tailor our programs and services to be efficient and meet those needs,” she said during a presentation to the Council of Governments last month.
It will then be implemented into the Community Health Improvement Plan, the document used to guide the next half-decade. The health assessment is also a requirement to receive Public Health Board accreditation. Only five health departments in Utah have achieved the recognition including Salt Lake County, Tooele County and Davis County.
There are five steps in the assessment process.
Officials are in the first phase: collecting and gathering data. Summit County residents are asked to complete a community survey that asks about community health factors and areas for improvement, awareness and utilization of Health Department programs, environmental considerations such as climate change or water quality, and healthcare access. They’re also getting information from secondary sources like the Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) Survey.
The next step involves analyzing the data. Then, staff will identify the health priorities and write a report. The results will be shared and a five-year health improvement plan will be developed in 2025.
The 41-question Community Health Assessment survey launched in late May and it will remain open until November. The results will start to become public once about 50 responses are received, according to Porter.
Officials want to receive at least 1,000 responses to ensure the data is statistically valid. They also hope to hear from 400 Latino residents to ensure the information reflects a diverse group.
The information from the Community Health Assessment isn’t just used by the Health Department. Once completed, the data will be compiled into a report and shared with organizations throughout the Wasatch Back. It can also be used to help apply for grant funding.
Please contact CHA@summitcounty.org or call 435-333-1512 for additional information about the Community Health Assessment.