Calaveras public-health officials flag aging population, loneliness and service gaps in county health briefing

Public health leaders on Feb. 10 presented a data-driven snapshot of Calaveras County that highlighted an aging population, rising social‑driver pressures and unmet service needs that officials say will guide the department’s priorities in the coming years.

“Calaveras County is aging,” Colleen Rodriguez, the county’s public-health director, told the Board of Supervisors during Part 2 of a departmental presentation. She said the county’s population was about 45,995, with a median age of 52 and roughly 29% of residents 65 or older — nearly double the California average — trends that she said will increase demand for chronic‑disease management and other services.

Public‑health staff presented a range of indicators: an uninsured rate of 6.6%; a median household income of about $79,087; food insecurity of roughly 13.1%; housing insecurity near 10.6%; and behavioral‑health measures that include a binge‑drinking rate around 15%, tobacco use near 13.4% and opioid‑related emergency‑department visits described during the presentation as elevated. Sherry Merbach, a public‑health program supervisor, said the county’s leading causes of death are cancer, heart disease and unintentional injuries, and Justin Barnes, a program supervisor, discussed mental‑health indicators including a depression rate the presenters cited at about 23% and loneliness near 32%.

The presenters also outlined provider shortages: the packet provided to the board showed one dentist per about 1,667 residents and one primary‑care provider per about 2,380 residents — lower provider availability than state averages — and noted a disparity in mental‑health provider access. Courtney Atnip, HHSA program manager, said about 32% of county residents are covered by Medi‑Cal and described problems that arise when demand outstrips local provider capacity.

Rodriguez and other staff framed the numbers as a guide for policy and program priorities rather than as definitive judgments. They described planned steps including finishing the Community Health Improvement Plan, launching a 2027 Community Health Assessment to collect updated local data and convening a 2026 health summit to strengthen local partnerships and refine action priorities.

Board members pressed staff on data methods and local disaggregation. Supervisor Tropey asked how poverty was measured; staff said it uses 150% of the federal poverty level. Board members and staff acknowledged the limitations of rural data collection and the need to combine quantitative measures with community outreach. Several supervisors praised street‑medicine outreach and mobile clinics as practical ways to reach isolated residents.

Public commenters and nonprofit partners including First 5 Calaveras and Habitat representatives highlighted the importance of cross‑agency collaboration and local programs that link outreach with care. Rodriguez said staff will prioritize continuity, data‑driven planning and partnerships in allocating limited resources.

The presentation ended with staff asking the board for guidance on implementing the CHA/CHIP cycle and support for convening the 2026 health summit; the board did not take a formal action but encouraged continued engagement and requested future updates.

The county’s public‑health team said the CHA will collect local input to guide the CHIP; staff encouraged residents to visit the department’s website or the office for information and resources.