The Alliance for Health Equity is partnering with 30 hospitals, several local health departments, and regional and community-based partners on a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) for Chicago and Suburban Cook County. The 2018/2019 CHNA builds on the information collected from 2015/2016 CHNAs to expand on strategies to improve community health. Specifically, the new CHNA aims to dig deeper on specific topics including mental health and substance use, chronic disease, economic development, food security and food access, and housing. In partnership with Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH), staff from the Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) is compiling and analyzing secondary data throughout the summer and fall of 2019.

We are using several conceptual frameworks to inform how we conduct the CHNA including County Health Rankings and Roadmaps, Total Health and Anchor Mission, IHI Health Equity Framework for Healthcare Organizations, Policy Leadership for Healthcare Transformation, and Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP).

The final CHNA reports will be published in the Spring of 2019.

Primary Data: Community and Stakeholder Input

Currently, IPHI is working with community partners to collect primary data through focus groups, and a community input survey will be open throughout September and October 2018. If you are interested in more information about the CHNA, please contact Leah Barth at Leah.Barth@iphionline.org