WHAT IS IT?
The CHP is an exciting opportunity for the residents of Whatcom County to participate in a visioning process to discuss health issues, establish health priorities, and create goals, policies, and action plans designed to preserve and enhance the health and quality of life of Whatcom residents.
The plan will focus on four primary topics:
Disease Prevention, Healthy Environment, Health Promotion, and Health Care Access and Delivery.
 WHAT WE'VE LEARNED
Beginning in January 2008, residents were invited to participate in focus groups, public forums, surveys, and CHP workgroups.
This issue-identification stage is now complete and we have summarized the public input data into two documents:
- CHP Vision Map (1 page)
- CHP Summary of Public Input (113 pages)
If you have any questions please contact our Health Information Specialist at (360) 676-6724 ext. 50838.
2008 Newsletters: May, April, March, Summer 2008, Fall 2008
NEXT STEPS:
We have now begun Step Two of the Comprehensive Health Planning process. With input from the Health Board, the Public Health Advisory Board, and numerous community partners, we have begun to move forward in deciding how best to approach what we have learned in each of the four topic areas. Here are three of the key questions we are in the process of addressing:
- WHAT IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO ACHIEVE THE IDENTIFIED VISIONS FOR HEALTH? In partnership with the Whatcom Coalition for Health Communities, we are completing an environmental scan of our county to find out what is already being done to address identified health issues and achieve visions for a healthier Whatcom County. This is important because we do not want to duplicate work already being done but rather partner with those in our communities with similar interests and commitments.
- WHAT QUANTITATIVE DATA DO WE HAVE TO SUPPORT PUBLIC INPUT WE RECEIVED? We are also verifying what we have heard during the public input process by using existing data sets. For instance, we have 2006 data from the Healthy Youth Survey and 2007 data on adults from the Behavioral Risk Factor Survey, as well as data posted by the Coalition at www.whatcomcounts.org from which to draw. This is important because we need an accurate picture of the current status of health issues. This can then be used to target what we hope to achieve and to measure progress as efforts to improve health move forward once the CHP goals, policies, and action plans have been created.
- WHO WILL FACILITATE PLANNING EFFORTS TO CREATE THE COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PLAN? Some topic areas have a natural affinity with organizations already committed and working in specific areas. For instance, the Health Department is the natural choice to facilitate work in the area of Communicable Disease because that is the traditional work of public health. Likewise, the Whatcom Alliance for Healthcare Access (WAHA) will likely provide leadership in the topic areas of Health Care Delivery. It is essential to know who will provide leadership in each topic area so that efforts are coordinated and timelines are managed for the completion of Step Three.
Once these questions are answered, Step Three planning work can begin as various workgroups are convened to create goals, policies and action plans in each identified priority health area. Participation opportunities will be announced in upcoming newsletters.
BACKGROUND
In January 2007, the Whatcom County Public Health Advisory Board (PHAB) - based on the directive of the Whatcom County Health Board (HB) - held a retreat to create a framework and process for the development of a county-wide comprehensive health plan (WCCHP) that would guide public health policy. This plan has the potential to maximize health planning by focusing the efforts of diverse partners on common issues and goals. Governance of this process is provided by a three-person standing Health Committee of the Whatcom County Health Board.
An Overview of the CHP 
CHP Version 3.1
Comprehensive Behavioral Health Plan
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