Improving the health of the community requires a multi-faceted approach. The St. Clair County Health Department (SCCHD) has been utilizing the model1 recommended by the National Association of County and City Health Officials. In this model, a community begins with conducting a comprehensive needs assessment which informs three planning processes: Community Health Planning, Continuous Quality Improvement, and Strategic Planning.
In 2018, the St. Clair County Health Department completed a three year community-based assessment process that resulted in the 2019 Community Health Plan.2 In 2019, the Health Department implemented a Continuous Quality Improvement process at the program level. In February 2019, the health department contracted with Balcer Consulting and Prevention Services to lead its staff and leadership through a strategic planning process. The strategic planning process was focused on how to best define the roles, priorities, and direction of the health department; thereby, strengthening the capacity of the organization to impact community health indicators.