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Mohave County public-health staff summarize CHIP focus groups and priorities after 1,474 survey responses
Summary
Public-health staff reported results of the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment and the Community Health Improvement Program (CHIP) focus groups. Top community concerns reported were drug and alcohol abuse, lack of maternity care, mental-health problems, aging issues and motor-vehicle crashes. Local CHIP groups are forming in multiple towns.
Mohave County public-health staff on Jan. 27 updated the Board of Health on the county’s Community Health Improvement Program and the results of the 2024 Community Health Needs Assessment, which collected 1,474 completed surveys.
The assessment and follow-up focus groups identified community priorities countywide, and local CHIP groups are forming to develop community-led strategies. Staff described early, locally led initiatives in Bullhead City, Colorado City, Lake Havasu and other communities.
Why it matters: The CHIP process sets county priorities and informs grantmaking, partner coordination and local interventions. The assessment and subsequent focus groups are intended to put residents’ top concerns at the center of planning.
What the survey and focus groups found: Assistant Health Director Clint Welty said about 71% of respondents rated their own health as good or very good, but 43% rated their community’s health as unhealthy or very unhealthy. When asked to identify the three most important health problems in their community, respondents ranked mental-health problems, aging-related issues and motor-vehicle crashes and injuries among the top concerns; respondents also identified drug abuse, alcohol abuse and lack of maternity care as leading contributors to poor community health.
Local CHIP group activity: Danielle Lagana, special programs analyst, described focused work in specific communities. She said two CHIP meetings have already convened in Bullhead City to address nutrition education, insurance barriers and pediatric care. Colorado City held a well-attended CHIP meeting (about 30 residents) and is aligning its efforts with countywide coalitions. The county is deploying a “street team” — a group of community partners who bring resources and sign-ups into rural events — to build engagement in communities such as Dolan Springs and White Hills.
Coordination and measurement: Staff said they are forming a countywide medical coalition based in Lake Havasu to reduce duplication and share resources; CHIP group leaders are being identified so work can be community led. The public-health unit also plans to create measurement and process trackers to monitor whether community interventions produce measurable improvements.
Board reaction: Board members encouraged outreach to local clinics and community partners (Tri State Health Care was suggested as a communication pathway for Topock/Golden Shores) and requested continued updates as CHIP groups advance.
Ending: Public-health staff said they will finalize the CHIP reports and the community health needs assessment in cooperation with Kingman Regional Medical Center and partners and will circulate the full report to the board when complete.
