A unified vision for healthy communities: Sustaining community health assessment (MAPP) through a larger community visioning process

Objectives: The goal of this project was to engage community stakeholders in the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) process to increase awareness about the issues affecting the health of the community, as well as identify strategic priorities, focus current community health efforts, and mobilize new partners.

Methods: Using the framework provided through MAPP, the Community Health Priorities process was coordinated by the Sedgwick County Health Department and organized through Visioneering Wichita. “Visioneering” unites citizens, public and private organizations to adopt shared values, vision and strategies for a regional community based strategic plan. Community forums brought together representatives from private business sector, health care, public health, government and community leaders. Four forums were held to review community health assessment data, select priorities, identify best practices and develop potential strategies for action. As the result of these forums, five community health priorities were identified: mental health, oral health, obesity and diabetes, access, and health disparities. Next steps include a community-wide electronic survey seeking commitment to action on the health priorities.

Results: Forums engaged 143 community leaders. This project is in the action stage and these community health priorities have been shared with over 2000 community members, physicians, and dentists through presentations, and thousands more through the web, radio, and print media.

Conclusions: Embedding this health assessment work in the overarching community visioning process is the key to sustainability over time. This strategy for community health planning provides external infrastructure support and opportunities to engage unique business and community leaders.