The
draft of the Community
Health Improvement Plan is
now available on the Health
Department’s Web site
HERE.
The Department is seeking
comments and feedback on the
plan from the public through
the month of February.
The 2012-2016 Kane County
Community Health Improvement
Plan reflects the
understanding that the
quality of the communities
where we live, work, and
play is as important to
achieving good health as
going to the doctor for
regular checkups, proper
nutrition, and adequate
physical activity. There are
many factors that affect our
health and have a tremendous
influence on health
outcomes. The physical
environment, social and
economic factors, and
clinical care all play a
role in an individual’s
health and are all
incorporated into the plan.
The Community Health
Improvement Plan was
developed based on the
results of the Community
Health Assessment.
Throughout 2011, the health
department, in partnership
with the five hospitals in
the county, the Fox Valley
United Way, the United Way
of Elgin, and the INC Board,
jointly funded and led the
collection of social,
economic, health and other
data to better understand
the health of our community.
For the first time, over
1,500 adults were surveyed
about their health. The
survey also asked 420 adults
about the health of a child
in their home. The
assessment also included a
number of public meetings
and focus groups to gather
input directly from
residents. All of the data
and information collected
through the assessment is
also included in the plan
and is accessible through
the website.
“This is truly the
community’s plan, designed
to be implemented by
community agencies,
partners, and residents
across the county,” said
Paul Kuehnert, Executive
Director of the Kane County
Health Department. “Working
together, we can promote
Healthy People, Healthy
Living, Healthy Communities
in Kane County and reach our
vision of having the
healthiest residents in
Illinois.”
The assessment led to the
identification of six top
threats to community health
across Kane County.
The threats are:
1.) Obesity
2.) Chronic Diseases
3.) Infant Mortality
4.) Childhood Lead Poisoning
5.) Communicable Disease
6.) Poor Social & Emotional
Wellness
The Plan recommends a focus
on 4 priority areas and 16
evidence-based strategies to
address these top health
issues over the next five
years. The Plan establishes
a framework for community
organizations, employers,
municipalities, schools,
residents and others to work
towards improving the health
of our communities.
The Community Health
Improvement Plan aligns with
the County’s update to the
2040 Plan which recognizes
and emphasizes the
connection between the most
important resource in Kane
County – its people – with
the opportunities and
barriers for healthy living
created by the built and
natural environment, and how
together they shape the
overall health of
communities. The 2040 Plan
will be the first Kane
County Plan to integrate
planning for community
health with land use and
transportation issues. This
new approach was formalized
by the Kane County Board in
October 2010 through the
adoption of the 2040
Conceptual Land Use Strategy
Report. Kane County is a
nationally recognized leader
in the integration of these
planning efforts.
Residents are encouraged to
review the draft Community
Health Improvement Plan
HERE,
and submit comments,
questions, and feedback by
February 29. These can be
submitted by emailing
health@kanehealth.com. |
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