Summit County Health Department unveils five‑year CHA and CHIP after 1,700‑response survey

Nancy Thorpe, the Summit County epidemiologist, told the Park City School District board the county’s Community Health Assessment (CHA) drew about 1,700 survey responses and a wide set of data sources and focus‑group input that will shape a five‑year Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP).

"We had 1,700 responses," Thorpe said, noting that the survey produced a statistically robust sample across gender, ethnicity and geography. She said the CHA combines census and health surveillance data with community focus groups to identify upstream drivers of health — housing, jobs, air quality and food access — and to surface where the county should target interventions.

Kendra Babbitt, deputy director of the health department, said the assessment found outdoor recreation, safe neighborhoods and a clean environment among the community’s top assets, while affordable housing, elder care and food access emerged as the highest priorities for improvement. Babbitt said roughly 65% of respondents reported living in the county 10 years or more and about 44% of responses came from Park City.

Respondents also reported concern about climate change (about 80% of those asked said they were somewhat or very concerned) and about childhood vaccinations (about 40% reported being somewhat or very concerned); Thorpe said the majority of vaccination concerns focused on population‑level effects if vaccination rates fall.

The CHIP prioritizes three primary goals: stronger partnerships to address upstream social drivers of health, improved food and nutrition access, and increased immunization coverage. Babbitt described early implementation steps including a WIC intern working on stigma reduction and outreach, development of short instructional videos to make food‑bank use and healthy meal preparation more accessible, and coordination with community partners such as People’s Health Clinic.

Babbitt and Thorpe said the reports — including a one‑page CHIP summary and full CHA document — are available through QR codes and the health department website, and they encouraged partners and other agencies to request raw data or technical assistance for interpretation.

The presenters noted county funds supported the assessment and thanked the county administration and council for that support. They said the CHIP will guide the health department’s work over the next five years and that partners will help implement more specific, time‑bound objectives.