utilize available resources to better themselves and their fellow community members. Priorities Methodology The Mineral County Health Department (MCHD), Mineral Community Hospital (MCH), and the Public Health and Safety Division (PHSD) collaborated in the spring of 2016 to conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER); in which the goal was to collect primary data for a community health assessment (CHA). Ten to fifteen teams of 2-3 people conducted 140 household interviews. The 140 households were a sample of the 2,446 total households in Mineral County. Data was compiled from the CASPER to identify the most perceived serious health issues. The data was then presented to the Mineral County Healthy Communities Coalition (HCC) and the decision to move forward with the four priority areas was made. Those four major areas of concern for the residents of the communities within Mineral County were 1) Substance abuse, 2) Unemployment, 3) Child Abuse and Neglect, and 4) Obesity. These four health issues are the prioritized the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Task forces were assembled based on areas of expertise and interest, then goals and objectives were created as a guide to implement the CHIP by 2019 in Mineral County. Priority Area- Substance Abuse Substance abuse, including alcohol and illicit, legal, and prescribed drugs, is an extremely important topic to address as it affects every member of our county- from individuals to families; the effects can be felt within the communities and throughout the county. These sentiments are reflected within findings from the CHA. Almost 80 percent (79.3%) of participating households identified substance and alcohol abuse as the most serious health concern. Health outcomes related to substance abuse include an increased risk for motor vehicle crashes, domestic violence, crime, child abuse and neglect, and suicide. Substance abuse can cause loss of lives if not prevented, left untreated, or mismanaged.
utilize available resources to better themselves and their fellow community members. Priorities Methodology The Mineral County Health Department (MCHD), Mineral Community Hospital (MCH), and the Public Health and Safety Division (PHSD) collaborated in the spring of 2016 to conduct a Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER); in which the goal was to collect primary data for a community health assessment (CHA). Ten to fifteen teams of 2-3 people conducted 140 household interviews. The 140 households were a sample of the 2,446 total households in Mineral County. Data was compiled from the CASPER to identify the most perceived serious health issues. The data was then presented to the Mineral County Healthy Communities Coalition (HCC) and the decision to move forward with the four priority areas was made. Those four major areas of concern for the residents of the communities within Mineral County were 1) Substance abuse, 2) Unemployment, 3) Child Abuse and Neglect, and 4) Obesity. These four health issues are the prioritized the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). Task forces were assembled based on areas of expertise and interest, then goals and objectives were created as a guide to implement the CHIP by 2019 in Mineral County. Priority Area- Substance Abuse Substance abuse, including alcohol and illicit, legal, and prescribed drugs, is an extremely important topic to address as it affects every member of our county- from individuals to families; the effects can be felt within the communities and throughout the county. These sentiments are reflected within findings from the CHA. Almost 80 percent (79.3%) of participating households identified substance and alcohol abuse as the most serious health concern. Health outcomes related to substance abuse include an increased risk for motor vehicle crashes, domestic violence, crime, child abuse and neglect, and suicide. Substance abuse can cause loss of lives if not prevented, left untreated, or mismanaged.
Mineral-County-2016-CHIP.docx