Letter to the Community
To Our Friends and Partners,
The Tooele County Health Department is committed to making measurable improvements in the health and safety of this community. As part of an ongoing community health improvement process, community partners from various organizations worked together to develop Tooele County’s Community Health Improvement Plan 2018…2022. Health priorities selected by partners for the CHIP are based on data presented in the 2016 Community Health Assessment. The Community Health Assessment summarized the health status of the residents who call Tooele County home, and included data on overall health, behavioral health risks, health outcomes, the structural environment and access to medical and dental care. A review of the data shows improvement in select areas from our first health assessment conducted in 2011.
Despite the improvements made and efforts expended in promoting health and wellness, too many of our citizens continue to use tobacco products, are overweight or obese, eat unhealthy foods, lack access to affordable healthy foods, abuse substances and suicide rates continue to increase.
The challenges we face require a call to action. The 2018-2022 CHIP provides the framework for mobilizing community action through partnerships to improve the health of all Tooele County residents, particularly for our most vulnerable citizens. Three data-driven health priorities have been identified to work on improving: (1) Promoting Healthy Living (Active Living and Reducing Obesity), (2) Improving Mental Health and Preventing Suicide and (3) Reducing Substance Abuse.
Our community must share the ownership of these complex public health problems and we will need diverse community engagement to show improvement. Improved community-wide alignment of our efforts and resources across all areas will be essential to meeting the goals established for each health priority. By working together, we can improve the health of the citizens we serve and achieve our vision of Working Together for a Safe, Healthy and Flourishing Community!
A sincere thank you is extended to all of those who have already contributed to the success of the Tooele County Community Health Improvement Plan, especially the members of the three health priority workgroups. Without their talents, interest, insights and knowledge, this report could not have been completed. To become involved or to receive more information about the CHIP, please contact Scott McKenzie at 435-277-2465. Read the full plan here- Community Health Improvement Plan 2018…2022
Working together today, we can improve our health and safety for tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey R. Coombs
Executive Director/Health Officer, Tooele County Health Department
