Based on information presented in this report, the Jasper and Newton Counties Community Health Collaborative (CHC) has worked to identify several factors that have an impact on the overall wellness of the two-county region.

These factors include:

• increasing Hispanic population
• rapid growth of area
• education issues (drop out rates, low level of education)
• low income issues
• well/surface water quality
• access to basic dental care and increased prevention activities aimed at reducing dental health problems
• substance abuse (drug and alcohol)/crime-related issues
• child health issues (child abuse/neglect, unintentional injuries, child hospitalization rates, child death rates)
• teen/problem pregnancy issues (smoking during pregnancy, inadequate prenatal care, repeat pregnancies to women less than 20 years old, adequate birth spacing, proper weight gain).
• communicable disease rates/vaccine preventable disease and immunization rates
• chronic disease issues ( all cancers, breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease)
• access to basic primary care
• transportation/access to care from remote locations

From these key factors, the Collaborative narrowed the scope to ten issues through data collection and analysis. The ten issues were then prioritized through a community prioritization process. Community stakeholders were invited to attend a forum at which each participant was provided an opportunity to prioritize the issues of most importance to them, keeping in mind how aware the community was of each issue and how difficult the issue was to change. As a result, the issues fell into the following order of priority. Each issue is also summarized in priority order within the report.

1. Healthy Behaviors
2. Child and Maternal Health
3. Smoking and Tobacco
4. Access to Health Care Services
5. Disease and Mortality
6. Unintentional Injuries
7. Environment
8. Personal and Family Safety
9. Income, Employment, and Education
10. Alcohol and Drugs

It is the goal of the Collaborative to continue working with other community members to develop and implement strategies to improve conditions in these priority areas.

To read the report in its entirety please click the link below.

Community Health Collaborative Health Status Report

Data and charts used to compile report. In Excel format.