Over the past year, I have been involved in a collaborative effort by local and state partners to study factors that contribute to the health and wellbeing of Jefferson County and its residents. The result is our 2024 Community Health Assessment (CHA). We are grateful to our county stakeholders and residents who have contributed information and insight into the physical, mental and social health of our community.
Every three to five years, health departments are encouraged to conduct a CHA to capture a collective view of health in their counties. The assessment examines information from a variety of sources to identify challenges, strengths, opportunities, and resources related to health and wellness. The results provide information and data needed to make informed decisions and set priorities to improve the overall health and wellbeing of the community.
The new CHA contains a wealth of information that will be relevant to different people in different ways, including previously conducted assessments, state and national data sources, and data collected from county residents and stakeholders. This process included gathering primary data during three stakeholder meetings, five key informant interviews, two focus groups, and a survey distributed throughout the county. Secondary data was collected from county, state and federal data sources. Direction for the CHA was provided by a core group of local community leaders and representatives, whose efforts were facilitated by the Systems Improvement Office at Montana Department of Health and Human Services and Yarrow, a Montana-based public health consulting organization.
What did we learn?
The CHA identified several strengths of Jefferson County. Our residents have a strong sense of community and value opportunities to improve their health and wellness. One survey respondent noted, “Jefferson County is an amazing place to live. Despite some shortcomings which are present in nearly all rural areas, it is still one of the best places for community and quality of life.”
What’s more, Jefferson County has a strong history of supporting social service organizations and residential facilities. Despite the county’s small size, many healthcare and social services exist to support residents’ needs. We do a good job of caring for people and our people express confidence in their local primary care providers.
There are areas of improvement that will require attention and resources to foster change. Jefferson County residents are concerned about healthcare access and quality care. Access to healthcare involves several factors, including insurance coverage and the ability to receive services locally.
Mental and behavioral health are also challenges. Suicide is of great concern in Montana, and sadly, the rate of those who lose their lives to suicide in Jefferson County is notably higher than that of Montana as a whole. Emergency medicine is also a health concern of residents due to our lack of emergency rooms or urgent care services. Jefferson County does not have a hospital.
I encourage you to take time to read and reflect on Jefferson County’s 2024 Community Health Assessment. It is a systematic, data-driven approach to determining health status, behaviors, and needs of our residents. Our hope is that this document will be used widely to create awareness and shape solutions to improve the overall quality of life in Jefferson County.
The next step in working toward better health and wellbeing in Jefferson County is to create a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). This is an ongoing effort to work together as a community to address the issues identified in the CHA. While the health department will work with key partners to facilitate the CHIP, this work belongs to our community. Our combined awareness, ideas and resources will help us address health challenges in a strategic way.
Health is a result of many factors and is more than the absence of illness. It is influenced by and inclusive of how we live, work and play as individuals, families and communities. Communities thrive when their residents share their voices and energy to assist in improving health and wellbeing. We invite you to join this health improvement effort.
Be well!
Pam Hanna is Jefferson County’s public health director.
