Douglas County contracted with Health Management Associates, Inc. (HMA), a public health and health care research and consulting company to conduct a Community Health Assessment (CHA) and to create a Public Health Improvement Plan (PHIP) specific to Douglas County and its public health needs. Colorado’s Public Health Act of 2008 requires the use of CHAs to look at the health of the population, recommend priority health needs and assess public health system capacity. The DCHD completed its CHA in the summer and fall of 2021, delivering the final CHA report to the BOH on December 8, 2021. The Act requires the development of local PHIPs based on the CHA and input from community members. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) provides a process to guide the development of the PHIP. This process is outlined in the Colorado Health Assessment and Planning System (CHAPS) and aligns with the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) requirements for accreditation as a local health department. When the PHIP was completed, HMA followed PHAB Standards and Measures Version 1.5, as an updated version was pending release. DCHD will follow Version 2022 when it applies for accreditation.
