Health plan outlines priorities for county
The Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health published the 20222027 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP): humboldtgov.org/PHdata in February.
While the creation of a collaborative CHIP was launched and guided by Public Health, this document is a product of the collaborative efforts of Live Well Humboldt. Live Well Humboldt is a communitywide initiative guided by the partnership, expertise and passion of individuals and organizations from multiple sectors across our county working to increase equitable opportunities for health and well-being in our community.
This plan was informed by the most recent Community Health Assessment (CHA) and builds on the partnerships and progress made since the 2014 CHIP. The priorities were selected based on CHA data, several community engagement activities and input from the diverse organizations involved in Live Well Humboldt and the CHIP. It is important to recognize that the work of partners across many sectors is necessary to make an impact on the complex issues shaping health and well-being in our community.
The priority areas for the 2022-2027 CHIP are:
• Behavioral health (suicide and substance use)
• Housing instability and homelessness
• Healthy beginnings and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
The choice of these priority areas is affirmed by the multiple organizations and collaborations already working to improve outcomes in these areas. We hope that the CHIP process will help coordinate the activities happening in each priority area and identify shared measurable health outcomes that community partners will use to track progress toward equity and improved health for all in Humboldt County. The CHIP also highlights the connections between these priority areas and reinforces working across sectors to address upstream inequities that impact multiple downstream health outcomes.
As a community, we recognize that the conditions in which people are born, live, learn, work, play and age directly impact their health and well-being, and that no single organization or sector can improve the health of the community alone. This CHIP provides the framework for continued community action through partnerships to improve the health of all Humboldt County residents, particularly those most impacted by inequities.
The work we accomplished together in the last two years, despite the pandemic, gives us a strong starting place for the 2022-2027 CHIP and speaks to the commitment and resilience that exists throughout Humboldt County. Despite the barriers of working across virtual platforms, more than 28 organizations participated in Live Well Humboldt meetings to brainstorm data, goals and strategies to make an impact on the three priority areas. This is remarkable, especially considering that the COVID-19 pandemic response has been ongoing for many community partners.
The pandemic also underscores Public Health’s commitment to health and racial equity. We push to address, alongside our community partners, discriminatory policies and practices that result in significant and unfair health outcomes for some communities. We are committed to this effort, improving the way we provide backbone support, ensure transparency and share power.
We are deeply appreciative of the efforts of the Live Well Humboldt partners and many other community members who have supported the CHIP work so far. It is an honor to partner with so many passionate and creative organizations and individuals. We look forward to the continued collaboration ahead. Thank you for your commitment to our community’s health — these partnerships make change possible.