FLAGLER AND VOLUSIA COUNTIES PUBLISH 2022 COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT

DOH-Flagler Media Contact:
Jaffy Lee
DOH-Volusia Media Contact:
Wendi Jackson
chd64pio@flhealth.gov

Daytona Beach, Florida — The 2022 Flagler County and Volusia County Collaborative Community Health Assessment has been completed. A community health assessment is a guiding document identifying key health needs and issues through systematic, comprehensive data collection and analysis.

This is the first collaborative across the two counties to identify Health Priorities. This is also the first time the collaborative worked with Health Equity Champions to ensure we were including voices from all populations. Health Equity Champions inform decisions about what data are collected and how they are interpreted to better understand the issues facing communities, as well as resources or assets to address needs.

They reviewed materials, identified focus groups and helped to prioritize health needs.

Every three years, tax-exempt hospitals and county health departments in Florida are required to conduct Community Health Assessments (CHAs) and develop Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs) to address specific opportunities for improved community health. In Flagler and Volusia counties, health department officials collaborate with AdventHealth, Flagler Cares, Halifax Health, SMA Healthcare, county government and community partners to develop shared assessments and improvement plans.

At the conclusion of the assessment process, which consisted of a community health survey, 13 focus groups, 50 stakeholder interviews, and review of secondary data, the following three Priority Health Issues were identified:

• Access to Behavioral Health Services
• Economic and Social Barriers
• System Infrastructure

The Priority Health Issues and their subcomponents will guide the development of the new collaborative CHIP “The change engine is powered by community members uniting resources to improve the health and wellness as identified by its constituents,” said Stephen Civitelli, DOH-Volusia Administrator. “Behavioral health issues have been a priority in Flagler County for too long. A major concern is substance use disorders due to fentanyl and heroin and the downward spiral that follows. The Health Department is expected to receive $1.4 million through 2 grants and will take action with the involvement of various community partners to address this scourge. The CHIP will outline our plans going forward,” added Bob Snyder, DOH-Flagler Administrator.

Over the next few months, partners involved in the planning and publication of the CHA will be convening leaders across the two-county area to develop the CHIP. The complete 2022 Community Health Assessment can be viewed on the DOH-Volusia website.