Health Equity in the Spotlight: New Report Highlights Community Needs

HCPH is the local public health agency for the Harris County, Texas jurisdiction. [...] It provides a wide variety of public health activities and services aimed at improving the health and well-being of the Harris County community. [...] The CHA report is a comprehensive examination of the current health status of Harris County community members, with a particular focus on identifying and addressing health disparities among different populations. The full CHA report is available on HCPH’s website at hcphtx.org/CHA-CHIP. [...] The CHA is a requirement for reaccreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), which sets national standards and measures of excellence for local health departments. PHAB accreditation is integral to building the community’s trust in public health and supporting evidence-based innovation to improve community health. [...] The CHA communicates Harris County's current health status and uncovers unfair health differences in certain groups of people. [...] “The 2024 CHA report helps us understand the health needs of our diverse community,” said Brandon Maddox, Director of the Office of Planning and Innovation for HCPH. [...] “By identifying areas of concern and uncovering unfair health differences, this report guides our efforts to invest in programs and initiatives that promote health equity and ensure everyone in Harris County has the opportunity to live a healthy life.” The CHA serves as the foundation for improving overall community health, reducing health disparities, and achieving health equity for all resi [...] The report identifies 10 key issue statements, based on public health data, community health surveys, and input from residents and partner organizations. These statements highlight the most significant factors impacting health in Harris County, including: • Affordable housing • Access to green spaces • Environmental concerns • Food insecurity -more-2 • Health insurance and care acce [...] “On behalf of HCPH, we wish to express our deepest thanks to all community partners and residents who participated in the data collection process for the CHA report,” Maddox said. [...] “Their contributions were essential in creating a report that accurately reflects the community's needs. We also look forward to ongoing collaboration with stakeholders and the community to improve health outcomes for all of Harris County.” For further information, please contact CHA-CHIP@phs.hctx.net or visit HCPH’s Office of Planning and Innovation web page at hcphtx.org/OPI.