Community Health Assessment

WHAT WE'RE ABOUT

One of the primary core functions of public health is assessment. The East Central District Health Department has been involved in some form of assessment on a yearly basis since 2000 (when it was known as the Platte Colfax County District Health Department). Following an extensive review of the public health literature, the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership (MAPP) approach was selected and identified in 2001 as the strategic planning approach of choice for the health department. MAPP is a community-driven, strategic planning tool, which was developed by The National Association of City and County Officials (NACCHO) in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The department completed it's first full planning and action cycle in December of 2005. A new MAPP cycle is underway and will not be completed until 2009.

The MAPP cycle has four assessments which are the essential building blocks of MAPP are four assessments which provide critical insights into the health challenges and opportunities confronting the community.

• Community Themes and Strengths Assessment:
  Provides a deep understanding of the issues residents feel are important, including how quality of life is perceived in the community. This assessment is slated to be completed for the second time in 2006.
• Local Public Health System Assessment:
  This involves a comprehensive assessment of all of the organizations and entities that contribute to the publics' health. The ECDHD is included here, of course, but other vital organizations also are included (hospitals, schools, service organizations, law enforcement, etc.). This assessment was completed for the second time in late 2004.
• Community Health Status Assessment:
  Identifies priority issues related to community health and quality of life. This assessment is slated to be completed in 2006.
• Statistics on Drug Abuse in Nebraska Youth (pdf 28 KB)
  ECDHD 4 County Coverage area Injury Report (pdf 90 KB)
  ECDHD 2008 Demographic report (pdf 1 MB)
• Forces of Change Assessment:
  Focuses upon the identification of forces such as legislation, public policy, technology, and the social-economic trends that all impact the community and its public health system. This assessment was completed in January of 2006.

The four assessments made a crucial contribution to the analytical phase of the MAPP process including the Identification of Strategic Issues and the Formulation of Goals and Action Steps to address each strategic issue.

Once the four assessments are completed in 2006 then the process of choosing the next strategic public health issues that the community will work on will begin. Once the issues are chosen the action cycle will begin.

"Community ownership is the fundamental component of MAPP.  Because the community's strengths, needs, and desires drive the process, MAPP provides the framework for creating a truly community-driven initiative." MAPP Field Guide

SERVICES OFFERED

Assessment and strategic planning have driven the development of all the current services ECDHD provides. Assessment information is available from all the current and past assessments by contacting the department.

East Central District Health Department Assessment Information

• Boone County Assessment Overview
• Colfax County Assessment Overview
• Platte County Assessment Overview
• Nance County Assessment Overview
• ECDHD Assessment Direct Profile Hightlights

Cost of Services and Eligibility

Links

Quick Census facts for the Counties

Statistics on Drug Abuse in Nebraska Youth (pdf 28 KB)

Nebraska HHSS System