What is a Community Health Assessment?
Every four years, Rockingham County Department of Public Health, and other community organizations work collaboratively to develop a comprehensive Community Health Assessment (CHA). The role of the Community Health Assessment is to identify factors that affect the health of a population and determine the availability of resources within the county to adequately address these factors. Community Health Assessments are increasingly regulated on national and local levels. The CHA provides the opportunity to connect organizations and others with an interest in improving the quality of life for Rockingham County citizens in order to collaboratively consider the county's needs, assets, and resources in order to identify priority health issues and make recommendations for community action to address these issues.
Rockingham County Top 3 Health Priorities:
On May 24, 2024, participants attended the Priority Identification Meeting held at Eden Public Library. The Rockingham County Health Opinion Survey, focus group data, current statistics, and leading causes of death helped identify the top health concerns for the county. Local data was presented to the group to help determine the needs of the county. Each participant was given the opportunity to select his/her top three concerns that should be addressed for the next three and a half years.
The group identified Rockingham County's top three health priorities to be as follows:
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Mental Health: Emphasis on Substance Misuse
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Physical Activity & Nutrition: Emphasis on Food Access
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Social Determinants of Health: Emphasis on Early Childhood Education
The Health Education Team is tasked with collaborating with community partners and residents to conduct a Community Health Assessment (CHA) every four years. The CHA allows a community to identify factors that affect the overall health and determine the availability of resources within the community to adequately address those factors.
View the most recent (CHA) by clicking the link below.
2023/24 Community Health Assessment
View infographic summaries of key findings by clicking the links below.
General Findings Infographic
Mental Health Infographic
Physical Activity & Nutrition Infographic
Social Determinants of Health Infographic
Health Disparities Infographic