The community health improvement process helps communities progress toward better health. The process begins with gathering population-level health information, analyzing it, creating a data-driven Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) to address the community’s greatest health needs, implementing the CHIP through the collaborative efforts of various community partners, and evaluating work to ensure outcomes are achieved. It is essentially strategic planning for population health. The process repeats every few years to make sure new information is considered.
What is a Community Health Needs Assessment?
A community health assessment (sometimes called a CHA), also known as community health needs assessment (sometimes called a CHNA), refers to a local health assessment process that uses quantitative and qualitative methods to systematically collect and analyze data to understand health within a specific community. Community health assessment data inform community decision-making, the prioritization of health problems, and the development, implementation, and evaluation of community health improvement plans. Click here for the 2020 Community Health Assessment for St. Mary’s County.
What is a Community Health Improvement Plan?
A community health improvement plan (CHIP) provides a blueprint for improving the health of local residents. It provides insight into health solutions for the long-term and presents a road map for achieving optimal health for all. Good health provides the foundation for a healthy community and economy.
The CHIP for St. Mary’s County, Healthy St. Mary’s 2026 was developed by the Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership as a guide to improving the health of local residents from 2021-2026.