Every five years, the Public Health Department collaborates with Community Partners to release a Community Health Improvement Plan, which is based on feedback from thousands of community members. This plan serves as a roadmap for how the Public Health Department and its partners will work together to improve the overall health of the county. This year, the focus has narrowed down to three specific priorities, in contrast to the eight priorities implemented over the past five years.
One of the key priorities in this year’s plan is mental health and substance use. Dr. Penny Borenstein, the SLO County Public Health Officer, emphasized the importance of families recognizing mental health issues in their children and taking steps to prevent substance abuse at home. Other priority areas include healthy neighborhoods and access to care, which involve creating safe bicycle traffic, building parks, and ensuring access to a variety of healthcare professionals beyond just physicians.
The Community Health Improvement Plan for San Luis Obispo County is tailored to address the unique needs and strengths of the community. Developed based on data from a community health assessment involving nearly 4,000 respondents in the county, the plan was created by SLO Health Counts, a collaboration of community members, nonprofits, and government agencies. Adyan Nazmi, a participant in SLO Health Counts and a professor at Cal Poly, believes that health is fundamental and wants to leverage the plan to empower students to contribute to the community’s health priorities.
Dr. Borenstein hopes for accountability and community engagement in the implementation of the plan, emphasizing the importance of ongoing conversations with community members about how to achieve health improvements collectively. The Community Health Improvement Plan serves as a strategic guide for the Public Health Department and its partners to work towards building a healthier county.