This presentation outlines the methodology used to conduct a health assessment in Riley County, Kansas and focuses on the role of a community in the planning and development of the assessment tool; the unique partnership between the community and the research organization; and other aspects of the process leading to its success. In 1997, a Community Health Council (CHC) based in Riley County received a three year grant from the Office of Rural Health Policy. One objective of the grant was to identify the most critical health needs in the County through the establishment of an on-going health assessment process. To meet this objective, CHC appointed six members (representing business, education, health and consumers) to work on the project and requested technical assistance from the Kansas Health Institute. An analytic framework for community health assessments developed by the Institute of Medicine was selected to guide the assessment. A variety of data sources were used to complete the assessment to reflect the wide array of factors, including social determinants, that impact the health of a community. A researcher from the Kansas Health Institute worked as a team member throughout the process. CHC members participated actively in all stages of the assessment and took a leadership role in disseminating the results to the community. A Community Health Forum, sponsored by CHC and attended by a broad sector of the community, resulted in a consensus of three priority areas for intervention.
Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the methodology used to complete the health assessment. 2. Identify the unique aspects of the process that contributed to the overall success of the health assessment
Keywords: Community Health Assessment,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Flint Hills Community Health Council
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: The Flint Hills Community Health Council approached the
Kansas Health Institute for technical assistance in
completing a community health assessment. The CHC contracted
with KHI for those services.