Health Equity in the Spotlight: New Community Health Report Highlights Needs in Harris County
Harris County Public Health (HCPH) is pleased to announce the publication of its 2024 Community Health Assessment (CHA) report. The CHA report is a comprehensive examination of the current health status of Harris County community members, with a particular focus on identifying and addressing health disparities among different populations.
The full CHA report is available on HCPH’s website at hcphtx.org/CHA-CHIP. The CHA is a requirement for reaccreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), which sets national standards and measures of excellence for local health departments. PHAB accreditation is integral to building the community’s trust in public health and supporting evidence-based innovation to improve community health.
The CHA communicates Harris County's current health status and uncovers unfair health differences in certain groups of people. It enables stakeholders to create plans to improve community health, reduce health differences, and advance health equity.
“The 2024 CHA report helps us understand the health needs of our diverse community,” said Brandon Maddox, Director of the Office of Planning and Innovation for HCPH. “By identifying areas of concern and uncovering unfair health differences, this report guides our efforts to invest in programs and initiatives that promote health equity and ensure everyone in Harris County has the opportunity to live a healthy life.”
Mobile Sidebar Ad
The CHA serves as the foundation for improving overall community health, reducing health disparities, and achieving health equity for all residents. This report provides valuable insights into the county's most pressing health concerns and facilitates stakeholder collaboration to address them effectively.
The report identifies 10 key issue statements, based on public health data, community health surveys, and input from residents and partner organizations. These statements highlight the most significant factors impacting health in Harris County, including:
- Affordable housing
- Access to green spaces
- Environmental concerns
- Food insecurity
- Health insurance and care access
- Maternal, fetal, and infant health
- Mental health
- Preventative care
- Safety and violence prevention
- Systemic racism and discrimination
Next, HCPH will use the findings from the CHA to create a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which will be aligned with the Harris County Strategic Framework, approved by the Commissioners Court earlier this year. To lead this effort, HCPH has established a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Steering Committee comprised of nine diverse local organizations.
In addition to HCPH, the Steering Committee includes representatives from the African American Health Coalition, Episcopal Health Foundation, the Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Harris Health System, Houston Food Bank, Houston Health Department, Houston Recovery Initiative, Living Hope Wheelchair Association, Rice University Kinder Institute of Urban Research, and the Montrose Center. This committee will lead the CHIP's development, implementation, and evaluation.
VIEW THE COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Following a thorough review of the data, the steering committee selected three priority issues to be addressed through the CHIP over the next five years:
- Health insurance and care access
- Mental health
- Preventative care
A detailed CHIP document outlining specific goals, objectives, and activities for each priority area is expected to be published by the end of the year.
“On behalf of HCPH, we wish to express our deepest thanks to all community partners and residents who participated in the data collection process for the CHA report,” Maddox said. “Their contributions were essential in creating a report that accurately reflects the community's needs. We also look forward to ongoing collaboration with stakeholders and the community to improve health outcomes for all of Harris County.”
For further information, please contact CHA-CHIP@phs.hctx.net or visit HCPH’s Office of Planning and Innovation web page at hcphtx.org/OPI.
Source: HCPH
