Recorded presentation

Christie Spice, MPH, Non-Infectious Conditions Epidemiology, Washington State Department of Health, 1102 Quince St. SE, PO Box 47812, Olympia, WA 98504-7812, (360) 236-4345, christie.spice@doh.wa.gov

Local and state public health agencies in Washington State have worked together over the past decade to develop infrastructure and capacity for community health assessment. Though assessment is considered a standard for public health practice in Washington, it is increasingly difficult for local health agencies to sustain in an era of shrinking resources. Public health is faced with finding new ways to increase effectiveness in performing assessment and using the results to plan actions for community health improvement. However, to date, little is known about the effectiveness of assessment. What factors and approaches contribute to strong, sustainable assessment practice resulting in action? Through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Washington State explored this question in a recent evaluation of community health assessment practice in local health agencies. A qualitative inquiry was conducted to identify successful approaches to assessment, factors contributing to this success, and improvements needed in the public health system to sustain the work. Data were collected through open-ended, semi-structured focus groups and interviews with local health officials, assessment staff, community stakeholders, and elected officials, and were analyzed for emergent themes. The evaluation results were used to plan strategies for improving local health assessment practice statewide. In this session, the presenter will (1) discuss the development of community-based infrastructure for assessment in Washington, (2) describe the evaluation approach and methodology, (2) share lessons learned about factors linked with successful assessment, and (4) present plans for enhancing community health assessment practice across the state.

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