Public Health agencies are required to complete a community health assessment every five years. The assessment should collect both primary data (data collected by the agency) and secondary data (data collected by other entities about the community). Across our region, our counties have historically participated in the collection of primary data through our Adult Health Survey. This random-sample survey is very costly and results in limited responses, often from the same type of demographics (females over age 50).

The Collaborative for Rural Public Health Innovation worked with our partner health departments to review their most current community health assessment and organize their primary and secondary data indicators into the following categories:

• Access to Care
• Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Chronic Disease
• Environmental Health
• Infectious Disease
• Injury & Violence
• Maternal & Child Health
• Mental Health
• Demographics
• Social Determinants of Health
• Substance Use

The indicators were futher organized into subcategories within each major category and provided the source for the data. This project was done to determine data indicators that the collaborative assessment team and students will collect on behalf of all partner agencies on an ongoing basis. This project also identified secondary sources that can be used in place of, or to supplement, primary data such as the Adult Health Survey.

Download the Community Health Assessment Indicators Catalogue