District releases Grant County Community Health Assessment

 Grant County Health District (GCHD) released its 2023/2024 Grant County Community Health Assessment (CHA) last week, with a a comprehensive look at the overall health of Grant County.

The CHA highlights both challenges and strengths within the county for an outline of important local data and community perspective, the district said in a press release. The CHA will impact the future work of local public health and other key community partners. 

The Community Health Assessment assists local communities in gaining a deeper understanding of health concerns, needs, and milestones in Grant County. The CHA is a collaborative effort between GCHD, local partners, community organizations, and residents, who offered their valuable insights into the health priorities and concerns affecting the communities where they live, work, and play.

GCHD assessment staff, with assistance from the University of Washington School of Public Health, provided comprehensive data collection and analysis. That involved analyzing data collected from local focus groups and various data from diverse sources to provide a representation of the current health landscape that will inform future health initiatives. 

“We are excited to share the findings of the Community Health Assessment and eager to meet with community partners and stakeholders to begin the work of developing the Grant County Community Health Improvement Plan,” stated Theresa Adkinson, GCHD administrator. “By working together and focusing on evidence-based strategies, we can address the underlying factors contributing to health disparities and create a healthier future for our community.

“I would also like to extend my thank you and congratulations to GCHD staff who have dedicated time and expertise over several months to create this report,” Adkinson added.

The next step will be for GCHD and community stakeholders to use the findings in the CHA to inform the creation of the Grant County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). This plan will outline priority areas and strategies to improve health in Grant County.

The Community Health Assessment is accessible on GCHD’s website: https://granthealth.org/community-health-assessment-and-improvement-plan/.