Community Health Needs
A Community Health [Needs] Assessment provides the foundation for improving and promoting the health of the community. A Community Health [Needs] Assessment identifies and describes factors that affect the health of a population, and factors that determine the availability of resources within the community to adequately address health concerns.
Through the assessment process, a County Health Board identifies and describes the health status of the community; factors in the community that contribute to health challenges; and existing community assets and resources that can be mobilized to improve the health status of the community.
The Community Health [Needs] Assessment, therefore, assures that local resources are directed toward activities and interventions that address critical and timely public health needs.
– Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Performance Improvement