2019
Community Health Assessment (CHA)
As part of our accreditation requirements, NVHD must maintain Community Health Assessment (CHA) and a multi-year Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Similarly, Griffin Hospital also must maintain a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and a CHIP.
The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) explains the significance of a CHA as being “a resource for all members of the public health system and the population at large. It is a basis for collaborations and for priority setting, planning, program development, funding applications, coordination of resources, and new ways to collaboratively use assets to improve the health of the population. Other governmental units and not-for-profits will use the community health assessment in their planning, program development, and development of funding applications.”
Listen to Valerie Knight DiGangi of the Valley Community Foundation speak about the updated ‘Valley Community Index’ on the Valley Independent Sentinel’s podcast!
| 2019 Valley Index | 2019 Shining a Spotlight on the Valley |
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2019
Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)
The overall goal of this Community Health Improvement Plan is to address chronic conditions that affect the health of our community. The CHIP outlines key objectives and strategies that address determinants of health and improve health equity. This plan is one of the necessary documents for NVHD’s national accreditation.
The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) explains the CHIP in the following way: “While the local health department is responsible for protecting and promoting the health of the population, it cannot be effective acting unilaterally. The health department must partner with other sectors and organizations to plan and share responsibility for community health improvement. Other sectors of the community and stakeholders have access to additional data and bring different perspectives that will enhance planning. A collaborative planning process fosters shared ownership and responsibility for the plan’s implementation. The community health improvement process is a vehicle for developing partnerships and for understanding roles and responsibilities.”
This roadmap for improved health results from the consistent dedication of numerous Valley partnerships, working together in a collaborative planning process. More than 75 stakeholders reviewed the top concerning public health issues identified in the 2019 Valley Community Health Index, resulting in identification of the following key health priorities for the Valley. We invite all residents of the Naugatuck Valley towns to learn about these planned actions to enhance community health.
- Priority 1: Behavioral Health
- Priority 2: Heart Health
- Priority 3: Maternal and Infant Health
