The State of South Dakota has recently revitalized its State Health Improvement Plan, which was paused during the pandemic. Health organizations and communities have reported their results to the Department of Health for the newly published comprehensive State Health Assessment. Mariah Pokorny, the deputy division director at the Department of Health, stated that this effort aims to better inform the state health system. She emphasized the importance of working together and how the improvement plan supports collaborative development and implementation of community strategies based on priorities identified in the assessment.
The comprehensive assessment covers various health fields and includes information obtained through a collection of assessment data, priority health indicator assessments, community conversations, and key informant interviews. Pokorny highlighted the purpose of making the assessment available to partners and programs to support data-driven efforts in South Dakota. Meaningful insights were gathered by engaging with health care providers on the ground and seeking their input on what strategies have been successful in their communities and how the state agency can continue to support their efforts with data and collaboration opportunities.
The Department of Health’s website provides a link to access these documents, which serve as the backbone for informing and identifying areas of focus such as capacity building and training needs. The collaboration between health organizations, communities, and the state health system is crucial for addressing health challenges and improving overall public health in South Dakota.