Community Health
Assessment
Building a Healthier Delaware County: DCHD's CHIP
Background
The Delaware County Health Department (DCHD) has completed its first community health assessment (CHA), in partnership with community-based organizations and government agencies. Assessment of a community’s health is a core function of local health departments.
During the CHA process, DCHD identified key health assets, needs, and disparities in Delaware County through comprehensive data collection, research, and analysis. DCHD's aim through the CHA was to gain an understanding of the public health issues affecting Delaware County communities and to provide accurate data that can be used to develop strategies to improve the health of Delaware County.
The community health priority areas selected through this process include:
- Promote Whole Person Care, and Prevent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
- Promote Maternal, Parental and Infant Health
- Prevent Chronic Diseases
The overarching themes which will be interwoven and used as a lens for the multi-sector work include promoting health equity and improving access to and awareness of health care and community services. Our efforts to achieve health equity by addressing the underlying social and structural determinants of health will require sustained action and commitment across sectors, partners, and levels.
County residents participated in this process by completing a community health survey, participating in focus groups, and attending community meetings to give first-hand accounts of their health concerns in Delaware County. This information was coupled with secondary health and population data from local, state, and national sources to identify the County’s leading health concerns.
In March 2024, the Delaware County Health Department was proud to issue its final Community Health Assessment report. Reports and Assessments are open for public comment between 4/5/24 and 4/19/24 via the Delaware County Wellness Line. Details below.
2024 Public Comment:
A Public Comment period was open to residents between April 5th - April 19th. No comments on the Community Health Assessment documents were received. The documents included here are considered final.
Summary Of Findings:
Final Report & Assessments:
Supporting Documents:
Community Partner Assessment Final
Community Context Assessment Final
Community Conversation Flyer Radnor
Community Conversations Concord Chester
Community Conversation Morton 1
2023 Resident Participation:
Community Health Survey
Residents helped by taking our community health survey to tell us what health and social problems affect their families. The survey was available to adults living, working, or attending school in Delaware County, and was available in several languages.
The Community Health Assessment Dashboard
The dashboard allowed interested parties to follow along with the DCHD and monitor progress and findings from the community health survey. This tool provides the ability to identify trends across geographic boundaries and demographic groups.
Community Conversations
Community Conversations and Focus Groups offered a chance for people who live and work in Delaware County to share their local knowledge and ideas with Delaware County and the Delaware County Health Department. These conversations included discussion about local assets that make it easier to be healthy, current barriers to good health (including mental health), and ideas for how to make Delco a healthier place to live, work, and play. Participants at Community Conversations also shared ideas for how Opioid Settlement Funds should be used.
THANK YOU to our Steering Committee partners:
AIDS Care Group
Chester Chaplains Corporation
Chester City
Delaware County Chamber of Commerce
The Delaware County Intermediate Unit
Delaware County Medical Society
Family & Community Service of Delaware County
The Foundation for Delaware County
Haverford Township
Widener University
Delaware County agencies participating include the Departments of Emergency Services, Health, Human Services, Planning, and the Offices of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the Medical Examiner.