Community Health Needs Assessments provide Shelby County with information about the health and wellbeing of her people. A CHNA sheds light on such issues as chronic diseases in the county, health behaviors of residents, access to care, and behavioral health challenges.  However, health is also impacted by the availability of stable and affordable housing, food insecurity, educational attainment, household income, reliable transportation, and even loneliness. Therefore, the CHNA provides information on a wide range of factors that influence health and wellbeing.

A Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) are federal requirements every 3 years for non-profit hospitals. The CHNA includes primary data from a community survey and stakeholder interviews. It also contains secondary data: reportable information from schools, government, hospitals, and other organizations. Universities, the Indiana Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other organizations compile and analyze this data. Together, primary and secondary data provide a picture of the strengths and challenges of Shelby County’s health.

The Community Health Improvement Plan is based on the top areas of concern identified in the CHNA. Health improvement is a long game, requiring the collective commitment and efforts of business and industry, healthcare, government, schools, non-profits, and neighborhoods. The CHNA and CHIP are resources for informing and guiding the work of developing a healthier Shelby County.