Board members at the Fargo Cass Public Health Board of Health discussed recent community health needs assessments from local health systems and agreed to form a work group to develop a community health improvement plan and implementation strategy.

Jen Fall Fargo, public health director, summarized that Sanford’s 2025–27 assessment and Essentia’s 2023–25 plan had been reviewed by department staff and by a community group of health partners; she said priorities identified by those health systems include social drivers of health, nutrition, physical health and housing. Fall Fargo said the health department and community partners had identified gaps such as access to affordable health care, transportation, quality childcare and affordable housing.

Board members suggested narrower focus areas. Dr. Grant Severson and other board members emphasized healthy living and prevention as possible departmental priorities. John Strand, substituting as chair, urged the board to prioritize Native American life expectancy: he said the disparity is “one of the most pressing issues in the community” and said prior figures he had heard showed dramatically shorter lifespans for Native American residents.

Mayor Mary Mahoney, who attended the meeting, cautioned the group to rely on agreed-upon data and said a quick check showed life expectancy figures had improved (she cited a search result of 65.2 years for one figure and 77 years for the broader population). Jan Eliason of harm reduction said race and ethnicity and homelessness are important drivers and noted the impact homelessness can have on lifespan.

Board members agreed a smaller working group would be a better forum for developing an implementation plan and volunteers were solicited; Dr. Severson agreed to take part. Fall Fargo said the group will include representatives from Sanford, Essentia and other health providers already participating in a regional community health planning group, and she invited board members to suggest community members and leaders, including Native leaders and community health providers.

Ending
The board directed staff to reconvene the community partners working group to draft a community health improvement plan and asked staff and volunteers to report progress to the board at a future meeting.