Delaware County Completes Community Health Improvement Plan
Updated: March 12, 2025
Delaware County Completes Community Health Improvement Plan
The Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) is proud to announce the completion of its Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) 2024-2028, a comprehensive strategic plan designed to address the most pressing health needs of its residents. This plan represents a collaborative effort between DCHD and its community partners, setting forth a vision for a healthier Delaware County.
The CHIP is the culmination of a thorough Community Health Assessment (CHA) process, which involved gathering and analyzing data on key health indicators and engaging with diverse community stakeholders to identify priority health issues. Key focus areas of the CHIP 2024-2028 include:
- Promoting Whole Person Care & Prevent Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders: This goal focuses on improving mental health and decreasing overdoses.
- Promote Maternal, Parental, and Infant Health: This goal aims to improve birth outcomes, decrease prenatal opioid misuse, and prevent infant deaths.
- Prevent Chronic Diseases: This goal focuses on decreasing breast cancer deaths, increasing primary care access, understanding local asthma trends, and reducing obesity.
The plan emphasizes a focus on health equity, addressing the social determinants of health, and fostering collaboration across sectors to create sustainable improvements in community health.
"The CHIP is a testament to our commitment to the health and well-being of all Delaware County residents," said Lora Werner, Public Health Director. "We are confident that by working together, we can achieve our goals and create a healthier future for our community."
Recognizing the urgency of these health priorities, CHIP Implementation Committees for each focus area were established and began work in 2024. These committees simultaneously finalized implementation plans and began the initiation of actions to address key public health concerns. Connectivity across organizations serving Delaware County residents is a key component of the CHIP. During the planning phase, 24 organizations provided input into the process, and 59 organizations are currently participating in CHIP implementation.
The Delaware County Health Department encourages residents to review the CHIP, which is available on the Delaware County website, delcopa.gov/community_health/dchd_chip.html. Findings from the Community Health Assessment can be found at delcopa.gov/cha.
Community members or organizations interested in being a part of the CHIP implementation can call or email the Wellness Line at (484) 276-2100 or by email at DelcoWellness@co.delaware.pa.us
