Essex Co. Health Partners release Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan

ELIZABETHTOWN | The Essex County Health Partners – which includes the Essex County Health Department (ECHD), University of Vermont Health Network – Elizabethtown Community Hospital, and Adirondack Health (AH) - have announced the release of the Essex County Community Health Assessment (CHA) 2025 and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) 2026–2030. Taken together, the 2025 CHA and 2026-2030 CHIP make up a comprehensive public health planning document that outlines key health needs, data insights, and priority strategies to improve the health and well-being of Essex County residents. The full report is now available for public review and download at the Essex County Health Department website:https://health.essexcountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/Essex-County-CHA-2025_CHIP-2026-2030-1.pdf. This CHA and CHIP represent a collaborative effort between the Essex County Health Partners and other key community-based organizations, healthcare providers, and residents. It synthesizes data from well over 300 health indicators, community-wide surveys, stakeholder engagement, and socioeconomic factors to provide a clear picture of the county's current health status and the social determinants that influence health outcomes. The Community Health Assessment portion of the document identifies current health strengths, challenges, and disparities across the county. It highlights key areas of concern, such as access to healthcare, chronic disease prevalence, environmental health factors, and other social determinants that affect quality of life, such as income, employment, education, and food access. This assessment reflects input from hundreds of residents who participated in the county health survey, providing vital community perspective and voice. Building on the CHA findings, the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) 2026–2030 lays out strategic priorities and actionable goals to address the most pressing health needs. The plan sets measurable objectives and outlines collaborative interventions that align with the New York State Prevention Agenda 2025-2030 framework, ensuring a coordinated and evidence-based response to community health challenges. The key focus areas for the CHIP include: Economic Stability Social & Community Context Neighborhood & Built Environment Health Care Access & Quality "We are committed to using data and community input to guide our work and improve health outcomes for all Essex County residents," said Linda Beers, Director of Public Health for ECHD. "This report not only highlights where we are today but sets a roadmap for where we need to go together over the next five years to build healthier, more resilient communities. We are so grateful for the collaboration and engagement of our stakeholders, partners, and residents throughout this process." Jessica Darney Buehler, Director of Health Planning & Promotion for ECHD agreed, noting, "This report exemplifies the science of data collection, analysis and interpretation and the art of collaboration, communication and display. Essex County Health Partners have a deep understanding and commitment to our community. From here, we'll embark on dissemination and action plans as we lean into 2026 and beyond." "As a community hospital, we have a responsibility to understand the challenges our neighbors face and to respond in meaningful ways," adds Amanda Bola, Director of Quality and Community Benefits at Elizabethtown Community Hospital. "This assessment gives us valuable insight into those needs and strengthens the work we do across Essex County. We're grateful to play a role in shaping a healthier, more connected community." "Adirondack Health is proud to partner with the Essex County Health Department and Elizabethtown Community Hospital to complete this important work," said Aaron Kramer, Adirondack Health president and CEO. "Making meaningful improvements to population health requires communication, collaboration, and shared vision, and we couldn't ask for better partners across the Essex County communities we serve." Residents, community leaders, and partner organizations are encouraged to review the report, share insights, and contribute to the ongoing implementation of the CHIP strategies. For more information, or to request additional data, please contact the Essex County Health Department at (518) 873-3500 or visit https://health.essexcountyny.gov.

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Essex Co. Health Partners release Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan

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