Community Health Plan
Jackson County Healthy Communities Coalition (JCHCC) and the local community ‘Action Teams’ collaborated with Jackson County Health Department (JCHD) to develop this 5-year community health improvement plan. Through provided health data, needs assessment, community surveys, and stakeholder input three county-specific health priorities were identified and defined. Next ‘Action Teams’ helped to set objectives, risk factors, interventions, and resources to address each priority over the next five years. Each priority has been linked to several Healthy People 2030 objectives, as well as targeted objectives specific to Jackson County, IL. This health improvement plan will outline the three health problem(s), outcome and process objectives, intervention strategies, funding needed, and evaluation methods.
Three Key Health Priorities
I. Address Behavioral Health including mental health and substance abuse
Increase access to mental health services, decrease substance use, and decrease stigma around treatment by:
• Strategy #1-Increase the proportion of people with substance use and mental health disorders who get treatment for both.
o Intervention-Connect individuals directly to mental and behavioral health services available in the region.
o Intervention-Increase the proportion of people with substance use disorder who received treatment in the past year.
• Strategy #2-Expand educational and community-based programs.
o Intervention-Provide community prevention, screening, assessment and treatment options of mental disorders and behavioral conditions.
II. Focus on community-wide Health Equity and Chronic Disease Reduction
Improve overall population wellness through a specific focus on underserved and at-risk populations by:
• Strategy #1-Increase the proportion of adults and children who get recommended evidence-based preventative health care, and increase the proportion of people with health insurance.
o Intervention-Promote awareness and encourage the appropriate populations of their need for preventative health care and screenings.
• Strategy #2- Increase the health literacy of the population.
o Intervention-Provide an equitable systems of care approach to ensure the attainment of the highest level of health for our population.
III. Improve Family and Community Engagement-Impacting Social Determinants of Health
Increase economic opportunities and improve health outcomes for families and youth through:
• Strategy #1-Increase the proportion of children who participate in high-quality early childhood care and education programs.
o Intervention-Promote youth programming and education.
• Strategy #2- Increase the proportion of high school students who graduate in 4-years.
o Intervention-Increase programming available for high school completion.
• Strategy #3-Reduce the proportion of people living in poverty.
o Intervention-Increase the availability of transitional jobs programs in southern Illinois.
Jackson County Healthy Communities Coalition
Jackson County Health Department also works with several community partners as a part of the Jackson County Healthy Communities Coalition. This collaboration of citizens and community partners works together to serve as a catalyst for improving the health and overall quality of life within Jackson County, Illinois. If you are interested in joining our coalition please contact MattL@jchdonline.org.
For more information about the community health improvement plan, contact Jackson County Health Department at 618-684-3143, ext. 134