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Clatsop County and hospitals present 2025 community health needs assessment; childcare and behavioral health top priorities
Summary
Public health and local hospitals presented a collaborative 2025 community health needs assessment identifying four priorities: social drivers of health, mental/behavioral health services, access to care and health care for Spanish-speaking residents; the coalition will develop a countywide community health improvement plan and share results publicly.
Clatsop County public-health officials and representatives from Columbia Memorial Hospital and Providence Seaside Hospital presented the 2025 community health needs assessment on Wednesday, identifying housing, childcare, behavioral health and access to care as the county's top priorities.
Jill Quackenbush, public health division manager, said the assessment was conducted from March through September 2025 with consulting support (Heidi Bertu Consulting), participation by the two hospitals and the Rural Health Coalition. The analysis combined 11 key informant interviews, six focus groups (including two Spanish-language groups), a quantitative data workbook and a community survey that yielded roughly 600 responses.
Quackenbush said the assessment produced four priority needs: social drivers of health (the places people live and work), mental and behavioral health services, access to health care, and health care for Spanish-speaking residents. "These were the 4 things that came up," she said, and described how the findings will guide a countywide community health improvement plan.
Speakers highlighted measurable improvements and ongoing gaps. Hospital representatives said child-care access for 3'5-year-olds increased from about 28% in 2022 to roughly 50% in their latest measure, but access for 0'2-year-olds remains low (from about 7% to 17%). Quackenbush said only about 20% of survey respondents felt healthy food was available locally; she reported that in 2024 the local WIC program served 30% of pregnant women.
Panelists emphasized mental-health demand and language-access gaps: many respondents reported increased anxiety and stress, trouble getting appointments soon enough, and barriers to interpreting services for Spanish speakers, which can deter primary-care access. Jason Plomondon, chief administrative officer at Seaside Hospital, and Chris Layman, vice president of strategy at Columbia Memorial Hospital, described collaboration through the Rural Health Coalition and urged using the report to inform grant writing and coordinated actions.
Quackenbush said the coalition will publish results online (www.classofhealth.org), share the slide deck with partners including schools and community organizations, and develop a shared community health improvement plan. Commissioners thanked presenters and asked staff to supply additional breakdowns on Spanish-speaking population estimates and pediatric care in future reports. No formal board actions were taken at the work session.
