Public health presents Community Health Improvement Plan focused on access, behavioral health and ACEs

Del Norte County’s Public Health branch presented a high-level overview of the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), a community-driven roadmap informed by a Community Health Assessment and a local survey. Janelle Ovenchain, deputy director of the Public Health branch, said the CHIP was shaped by stakeholder convenings and a community survey; she noted that the top-ranked priority voiced by residents was improved access to medical care: "The number 1 ranked topic from the community voices, improved access to medical care would have the greatest impact on health." (Janelle Ovenchain).

The plan identifies three priority areas—access to health care services, behavioral health, and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)—and establishes subcommittees chaired by local partners. Public health said it will use a results-based accountability (RBA) scorecard to track progress through December 2028 and refresh the assessment and plan in 2028–29 to align with statewide cycles. During public comment, several residents criticized the county’s ability to convert assessments into measurable outcomes, citing ongoing shortages of providers and calling for more outcome-driven oversight. Public commenters also raised concerns about behavioral health resourcing and opioid impacts, urging the county to link planning to measurable results.