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Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Work
The HIPMC is responsible for designing and implementing a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) every 5-7 years. The CHIP is a 5-year community-wide action plan to address public health priorities determined by the MCDPH's Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). MCDPH conducts a CHNA every 3 years to identify strengths, challenges, health priorities, and opportunities to address and improve public health in Maricopa County.
The purpose of the CHIP is to set priorities, coordinate and target resources, and define actions taken by members of the public health system to promote health. The CHIP identifies strategies that can improve the quality of life for all Maricopa County residents, particularly the most vulnerable in our community, by reducing preventable illness and promoting wellness.
2018 - 2023 CHIP Cycle
MCDPH began conducting its second CHNA data collection cycle in 2017 to measure the health of Maricopa County residents. When data collection concluded, the HIPMC began reviewing the data collected, and determined that a greater impact would be made if the focus was on the root causes of prevalent diseases and not the diseases themselves. The HIPMC then identified 10 root causes impacting the health of Maricopa County communities, with a focus on the top three priority areas: Access to Care, Access to Healthy Food, and Early Childhood Development.
In partnership with MCDPH and community partners, the HIPMC assisted with the development of a new CHIP, which would include the three new priority areas. Learn more about each priority in the drop down below.
Appropriate access to care means that everyone receives the services and support they need to maintain optimal health and wellbeing throughout their lifetimes. This encompasses both medical and non-medical care that effectively prevents, treats, and/or minimizes the effects of health problems and supports quality of life. This requires that care services be obtainable, accessible, and affordable to all, and be designed to ensure that individuals understand how to navigate efficiently through the care delivery system to meet their needs. Such care must also impart the best possible health outcomes and be delivered through a respectful relationship between the caregiver and recipient that is based on mutual trust and understanding.
Appropriate access to healthy food means that all individuals can easily obtain high quality, fresh, affordable, and nutritious food. In both urban and rural settings, regular access to healthy food retailers and other healthy food outlets that offer fruits, vegetables, and other staples at affordable prices contribute to a more equitable food environment. Such a food environment reduces food insecurity and hunger, supports nutritious diets that lead to healthier lifestyles, and provides opportunities for thriving local economies. Special attention must be paid to ensure that culturally appropriate healthy food options are available to all communities.
Appropriate early childhood development means that all young children grow up in safe and supportive environments and receive the nurturing care and interaction needed to promote their physical, mental, and emotional growth and resilience that enables them to become healthy, happy, and productive in later life. This requires that children be protected from harm, neglect, and other undue adverse experiences. It also means that families, parents, and other caregivers must have the physical, social, and economic means to provide for their children’s needs as well as their own. Adequate support, education, and other services must also be available for children and families to address any problems during early childhood when these interventions are most likely to be effective.
2024 CHIP
In 2024, MCDPH and the HIPMC will convene to review data collected and begin planning for the development of the 2024 CHIP. MCDPH has also been conducting, in tandem, the fourth CHNA data collection cycle. Data collection is expected to wrap up by Fall/Winter 2023, the results of which will inform the health priorities and direction of the 2024 CHIP. Follow CHNA progress here.