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Community Health Assessment
Health Department
(586) 469-5235

CHA / CHIP

What is a Community Health Assessment (CHA)

A Community Health Assessment (CHA) is a process that uses a systematic method to collect and analyze data to understand health within a specific community. An ideal assessment includes information on risk factors, quality of life, mortality, morbidity, community assets, forces of change, social determinants of health and health inequity, and information on how well the public health system provides essential services. Information from the CHA is used to inform community decision-making, prioritize health problems, and develop, implement, and evaluate Community Health Improvement Plans.

In partnership with local agencies, the Macomb County Health Department is leading a CHA process using the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) framework.

 

MAPP is a community-wide strategic planning framework for improving public health. Centered around four key assessments, MAPP helps communities use broad-based partnerships to prioritize their public health issues, identify resources for addressing them, and implement strategies relevant to their unique community contexts. Additionally, participation in a MAPP process is reported to have the following benefits for community partners:

  • increased recognition within the community and among peers;
  • access to accurate and current data—partners comment that access to data collected through a MAPP process is the number one benefit of participation;
  • improved focus on priorities;
  • reduction in the duplication of services within a community; and
  • increased collaboration on projects and activities.

MAPP uses the 10 Essential Public Health Services to define public health activities.

The 10 Essential Public Health Services (2020) are:

  1. Assess and monitor population health status, factors that influence health, and community needs and assets
  2. Investigate, diagnose, and address health problems and hazards affecting the population
  3. Communicate effectively to inform and educate people about health, factors that influence it, and how to improve it
  4. Strengthen, support, and mobilize communities and partnerships to improve health
  5. Create, champion, and implement policies, plans, and laws that impact health
  6. Utilize legal and regulatory actions designed to improve and protect the public’s health
  7. Assure an effective system that enables equitable access to the individual services and care needed to be healthy
  8. Build and support a diverse and skilled public health workforce
  9. Improve and innovate public health functions through ongoing evaluation, research, and continuous quality improvement
  10. Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health

 

What is a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)?

The Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is a community-driven, strategic and measurable work plan. A CHIP provides guidance to the health department, community partners, stakeholders and residents on improving the health of the population within Macomb County.  The CHIP is critical for developing policies and defining actions to target efforts that promote health.  This plan defines how community partners across sectors will come together to address priority health issues identified through the CHA.  In coordination with local hospitals, community stakeholders, and partner organizations, more than 30 diverse Macomb County community organizations identified four priority areas for the CHIP. The priority areas identified for Macomb County are:

  • Chronic Disease and Healthy Lifestyle
  • Behavioral Health
  • Access to Services
  • Social Determinants of Equity

To develop our CHIP, community partners worked together to address identified health issues as well as identify conditions needed to support and improve health.  Strong, effective partnerships are necessary for our community to create the conditions that will lead to improving the health and well-being of Macomb County residents and the health of our community. 

The CHIP is a living document that will be implemented and monitored over a five year period and continuously assessed, evaluated and revised based on the evaluation results and feedback from our community partners and community members.