Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Collaborative Efforts to Improve Community Health Over the Next Three Years

Imperial County Community Health Improvement Partnership Announces Community Health Assessment Findings and Community Health Improvement Plan

IMPERIAL COUNTY- The Imperial County Community Health Improvement Partnership (ICCHIP) is excited to announce the release of the 2024 Community Health (CHA) findings and the launch of the 2024-2027 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). The CHA and CHIP are the result of collaborative efforts involving local stakeholders including healthcare providers, health plans, community-based organizations, and other partners. This represents the second comprehensive, collaborative CHA/CHIP process for Imperial County and provides an opportunity to refresh key data from the prior assessment and to adjust to any changes in the current health status of the community.

“As a community, understanding the health challenges we face is the first step toward improving the health of our community. The CHA offers insights into the health status and needs of our residents, while the CHIP outlines a clear path forward to address these challenges,” stated Dr. Stephen Munday, Imperial County Health Officer.

The Community Health Assessment (CHA) is a comprehensive process that collects and analyzes data on the health status of Imperial County residents. This includes examining risk factors, quality of life, social determinants of health (such as housing, income, education, and access to healthcare), health inequities, and rates of illness and death. The CHA also incorporates valuable input from community members, gathered through surveys and focus groups conducted in 2022 and 2024. The results of this assessment helped identify the most pressing health challenges and informed the selection of local health priorities.

Using the CHA findings, the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) outlines strategies and will guide the collective work of partners across local agencies and disciplines over the next three years. The CHIP will serve as a roadmap for health improvements in Imperial County, ensuring that resources and efforts are directed toward areas of greatest need.

The local health priorities identified for 2024-27 are as follows:

Priority Area #1: Access to High-Quality Healthcare

• Improve access to primary care and specialty care providers.  
• Improve access to mental health providers and substance use disorder treatment
• Improve the number of residents who engage in preventive healthcare services

Priority Area #2: Healthy and Safe Living

• Improve access to healthy and nutritious foods
• Improve access to affordable and safe housing
• Improve environmental and economic factors that contribute to poorer health outcomes

Priority Area #3: Behavioral Health

• Reduce the prevalence of substance misuse and abuse
• Improve access to mental health services
• Improve the mental health status of young people

For key findings, the full Community Health Assessment (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) reports, as well as a complete list of ICCHIP participants, please visit the Imperial County Public Department's website. Hard copies of the CHA document will also be available for viewing at Imperial County Library locations (Calipatria, Heber, Holtville, and Salton City.)