Park Records file photo by Tanji Propst
Summit County health officials need the community’s help in determining which programs and initiatives should be prioritized over the next five years.
The Community Health Assessment was last conducted in 2019, and county health department officials said it was time to reassess the data and strategies currently in place. A health assessment is a tool used to determine the situation, needs, resources and problems within a community in order to improve the efficiency of services.
Nancy Porter, an epidemiologist with the health department, said the goal is to conduct an evidence-based evaluation that will be used to make data-driven decisions, evaluate community progress and improve community engagement.
“We’re going to use it to really paint a picture of what’s going on in Summit County. What should we prioritize? Are there groups that need more assistance than others because of certain factors? That way we can efficiently tailor programs and services to meet those needs,” she said in a presentation to the Council of Governments. last month.
The assessment is then incorporated into the Community Health Improvement Plan, a guiding document for the next five years. A health assessment is also a requirement for accreditation by the Public Health Commission. In Utah, only five health departments have this accreditation, including Salt Lake County, Tooele County and Davis County.
The evaluation process involves five steps:
Officials are gathering and collecting data in the first phase: Summit County residents are being asked to fill out a community survey. The survey asks about community health factors and improvements, awareness of and use of health department programs, environmental concerns such as climate change and water quality, and access to health care. It also draws information from secondary sources such as the Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey.
The next step will be to analyze the data. Staff will then identify health priorities and prepare 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 will begin in late May and run through November, and Porter said results will be made public once they have received about 50 responses.
Officials want to get at least 1,000 responses to ensure the data is statistically valid, and they also want to hear from 400 Latino residents to ensure the information reflects a diverse group.
The information gained from the Community Health Assessment isn’t just used by the Health Department. Once the assessment is completed, the data is compiled into a report and shared with organizations across the Wasatch Back. It also helps inform grant applications.
Please contact us at CHA@summitcounty.org. Or, for additional information about a Community Health Assessment, call 435-333-1512.
