Community Health Needs Assessment Quality of Life survey begins February 1

The Teton County Health Department (TCHD) and St. John's Health (SJH) are partnering on the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), an every-three-year initiative designed to improve the health and quality of life for Teton County residents.

The public will be involved in this process by completing a Quality of Life survey. Designed for Teton County residents, the five-minute survey is available online in English by clicking here and in Spanish by clicking here.  These surveys will be open from February 1 through March 15.

According to Jodie Pond, MPH, Director of Health at TCHD, “Community input is essential to the assessment process. We want to learn how locals from different backgrounds prioritize their health and quality of life issues.”

This will be the third iteration of the assessment for Teton County. As in past years, the partners will follow the MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships) framework. MAPP is a “best practice” utilized across the nation to help communities identify their public health needs and resources for addressing them.

"A process like MAPP is exciting because it brings diverse community interests together,” said Michelle Huntzinger, RN, Director of Wellness at SJH. “Through this process, we can collaboratively determine the public health needs of our community and develop effective ways to address them.”

Two additional assessments, Community Health Status (a collation of quantitative data from federal, state, and local sources that reflect upon identified health issues in Teton County), and Forces of Change (an assessment of factors, trends and events that are currently affecting the community) will take place over the next two months. These assessments will involve input from over 25 local organizations. Following completion of all three assessments, the partners will publish a comprehensive report on their findings as well as a community action plan to address identified health needs.

For additional information about the Teton County MAPP process, visit www.healthytetoncounty.org or contact Michelle Huntzinger at 307.739.7244 or mhuntzinger@stjohns.health or Rachael Wheeler at 307.732.8446 or ph@tetoncountywy.gov

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Media contacts:

Karen Connelly, Chief Communications Officer, St. John's Health, kconnelly@stjohns.health, 307.739.7380

Rachael Wheeler, Public Health Response Coordinator, Teton County Health Department, rachael.wheeler@wyo.gov, 307.732.8446

About St. John’s Health:

St. John’s Health is a locally led community health system serving Teton County, WY and the surrounding region. Recently recognized as a top hospital by Newsweek, St. John’s Health is focused on clinical excellence, individualized care, and community wellness. St. John’s offers a broad range of high-quality inpatient and outpatient care and a five-star senior living community in Jackson, WY.

About Teton County Health Department:

Teton County Health Department has a variety of services and programs designed to protect the health and safety of Teton County residents. Programs and services are delivered using the Core Functions and Essential Services of Public Health as a framework.