PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Calvert County is working on its next Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and is looking for public input to help shape the county’s health priorities in the coming years.
Calvert County Department of Community Resources and the Public Health Department work together to gather data and put together the assessment. The CHNA tracks what health resources people use in the county and helps identify gaps where needs aren’t being met.
Calvert County Health Officer Dr. Nimfa Teneza-Mora and others briefed the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) on the assessment at the April 7 meeting.
Dr. Teneza-Mora explained that the CHNA ensures community-informed health planning, aligns hospital and public health initiatives with county needs, and supports funding, grants and policy decisions. The group will collect data, including surveys from people in the county, prioritize health needs according to the data, and then begin community outreach about related programs.
The CHNA isn’t limited just to residents, either — anyone who lives or works in the county can participate to help the departments get a full picture of everyone’s health needs.
“If you live here, if you work here, we want to hear from you,” said Dr. Kara Harrer, vice president (AVP) of ancillary services at CalvertHealth, a partner in developing the CHNA.
The CHNA survey is now live and will be available until April 27. Anyone can also go to HealthyCalvert.org to view more information about health data and services within the county based on the assessment.
Got a tip or photo? Text us at 888-871-NEWS (6397) or email news@thebaynet.com.
Join The BayNet Membership for exclusive perks and zero ads.
Don’t miss a story—sign up for our newsletter!