Summit County Health Department Launches Community Health AssessmentSummit County Health Department Launches Community Health Assessment Park City, Utah – Local health officials are seeking input from Summit County residents to prioritize community health programs and services. Every three to five years, the Summit County Health Department conducts a comprehensive assessment to gauge the health needs of the community. Kendra Babitz, Deputy Health Director, emphasizes the importance of local data. “This assessment is crucial to understand the specific health priorities and concerns of our residents. It will shape our Community Health Improvement Plan for the next year and guide our long-term planning for the next five years.” The survey encompasses not only physical health but also social and economic factors that influence well-being. It explores the impact of the environment and climate change on residents’ health and identifies gaps in services. Phil Bondurant, Public Health Director, deems this investigation paramount. “It’s the most important study we do. It allows us to compare data pre- and post-COVID to assess the pandemic’s local impact.” The survey, launched in May, will run through November. Approximately 300 out of 43,000 residents have responded. The health department aims for 1,000 respondents, with a focus on increasing participation among Latin American residents. The 10-minute survey is available online in English and Spanish at summitcountyhealth.org/cha24. Residents are encouraged to provide their valuable input to inform future health programming.
Local health officials say they have enough national and regional data to inform policy, but the most important data comes from Summit County residents.
That’s why the Summit County Health Department conducts a community health assessment every three to five years.
“This is to assess what the priorities and concerns are for community health,” said Summit County Deputy Health Director Kendra Babitz. “This will impact what we do next year for our Community Health Improvement Plan, and that will impact the next five years of planning for our programs and services.”
The survey asks about more than just physical health. It also touches on social and economic factors that influence health.
The health service also wants to know how the environment and climate change are affecting residents’ health and identify any gaps in services.
Summit County Public Health Director Phil Bondurant said it’s “the most important” investigation his department is conducting.
“This is the first one we’ve done post-COVID,” he added. “We had one done right before the pandemic started, so we have some pre- and post-data on how the pandemic has affected us locally.”
The survey opened in May and will run through November. Babitz said about 300 of the county’s 43,000 residents have already responded.
The health service hopes for about 1,000 respondents and wants to increase participation among Latin American residents.
The 10-minute survey is available online in English and Spanish at summitcountyhealth.org/cha24.
