KENT COUNTY, Mich. — A needs assessment in Kent County is showing the top areas of concern for residents.
Every three years, the Kent County Health Department issues a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) to find what health issues residents are most concerned about. Over 5,000 residents participated in this year's assessment.
According to the CHNA, the primary issues in 2024 are:
- Housing
- Health Insurance
- Access to Medical Care
- Access to Healthy Food
This differs significantly from the results of the 2020 assessment, which found that health care, racial inequality and economic security were among the main worries.
The assessment helps public health officials better understand where to focus their work.
“The CHNA provides a snapshot of many different factors that can influence population health,” said Maris Brummel, Public Health Epidemiologist at KCHD. “We hope the findings will help inform the work of individuals and organizations that serve Kent County residents.”
Public health officials will be taking the results of the CHNA to develop a Community Health Improvement Plan. The plan will be used to address health concerns over a three- to five-year period, and hopefully solve some of those concerns.
“By working together with our community partners and utilizing the insights from the CHNA, we can make significant strides in addressing the critical health issues identified by our residents,” said Brummel.
More information on the assessment and the complete report is expected to be released this fall.
You can read the assessment here.
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