A county health improvement plan is a long-term, systematic effort to address public health through the factors that impact health outside of hospital settings such as access to healthy food, access to health and wellness services, violence and substance use. CHIP priorities are identified through qualitative and quantitative data identified by CHIP member organizations as well as the results of county health needs assessments (CHNAs) completed by hospitals every three years. Hospitals in Hampden County include Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Noble, Baystate Wing, Mercy Hospital, Holyoke Hospital, and Shriners Hospital.
Hampden County Health Improvement Plan
- Ongoing Projects
- Health & Aging
- Hampden County
Overview
A five-year grant from the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Fund (MA CHHAF) and mini grants from Baystate Health have allowed the CHIP Network to update the CHIP and to implement initiatives that support CHIP goals and objectives since 2019. As a result, the Hampden CHIP has developed into a strong network of individuals, many of which live and work in Hampden County and represent community based organizations, community health workers, hospitals, and health and social service agencies. The work is focused on addressing health disparities by creating more equitable opportunities and directing resources to areas and communities that have been marginalized through systemic racism and other forms of marginalization and oppression.
The Hampden CHIP sets priorities in order to coordinate and target resources to enhance health outcomes for Hampden County residents. The CHIP is organized into four Community Teams focused on the following priority health concerns:
- Mental and Behavioral Health
- Primary Care, Wellness and Preventative Care
- Healthy Eating and Active Living
- Violence and Injury Prevention
These teams develop goals, objectives and strategies that can be achieved through a collaborative approach or led by partner organizations or coalitions. As we approach the end of our 5-year funding cycle from the Massachusetts Community Health and Healthy Aging Fund, Community Teams are focusing on ways that they can continue to collaborate and partner on funding opportunities to keep the work moving forward, and will continue to update the CHIP to align with priorities identified by the most recent CHNAs.