LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY

The publication of the 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) has been possible through a collaborative effort with hospitals, surrounding county health departments and other stakeholders and community partners.

The health of a community is often measured by the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the people who live there. The resilience of our community was tested in many ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. This public health crisis brought awareness to health disparities and widened gaps in inequity, access to care and other social determinants of health in underserved communities. COVID-19 also offered opportunities for the public, non-profit and private sectors to create and strengthen partnerships, finding innovative solutions through limited resources to keep communities safe and healthy.

Routine assessment of key community health indicators is core to public health and remains a valuable method to identify significant health issues affecting a community. The top 5 priority needs reflected in the assessment for Seminole County include continued efforts to increase public health system capacity, enhance mental health outreach and treatment, streamline access to care, refine primary care and specialized medical care services and address housing and other social determinants of health.

Identifying improvement areas and gaps, and planning for projected needs are essential to ensure resilient communities. This Community Health Needs Assessment provides a unique opportunity to further explore our communities’ needs, identify disparities in diseases and access to care through collaborative efforts, and plan for future generations.

Donna J. Walsh, MPA, BSN, RN Health Officer Florida Department of Health in Seminole County