Public forums begin tonight for Wyandotte County community health assessment

The Unified Government Public Health Department of Wyandotte County is holding community forums in July and August 2022 as part of a Community Health Assessment for the county.

Forums are open to anyone who lives in Wyandotte County.

The forums will gather input from people who live in Wyandotte County about the biggest health challenges facing the county and ways to make Wyandotte County a healthier place to live for everyone.

The forums are one part of the community health assessment process, which also includes surveys and focus groups to collect additional data. Input collected through the assessment will be used to help set specific goals for a five-year Community Health Improvement Plan. Refreshments will be provided at each event. No RSVP is required.

Community forum locations and dates:

July 28 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
USD 500 Central Office, 2220 N. 59th St., Suite 229, Kansas City, Kansas

Aug. 1 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
South Branch Library, 3104 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kansas
Spanish interpreter on site.

Aug. 2 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Bonner Springs Community Center, 200 E. 3rd St., Bonner Springs, Kansas

Aug. 5 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Piper Creek Elementary School, 13021 Leavenworth Road, Kansas City, Kansas

Aug. 7 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Quindaro Community Center, 2726 Brown Ave., Kansas City, Kansas

ASL interpreting is available on request. To request an ASL interpreter, email [email protected] at least two days in advance of the event you plan to attend.


Community health assessment background

According to the CDC, a Community Health Assessment “identifies key health needs and issues through systematic, comprehensive data collection and analysis.” The information collected through a CHA process is used to develop a Community Health Improvement Plan, which is “a long-term, systematic effort to address public health problems based on the results of community health assessment activities and the community health improvement process,” (https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/cha/index.html).

The CHA and CHIP processes are a critical part of public health practices, according to the UG Health Department. The assessments include opportunities for community members to provide their perspective about important issues and the conditions that affect those issues. CHAs also collect important data to inform decision-making about key health issues.

In addition to being a part of robust public health practice, up-to-date CHAs are required for local health departments to seek and maintain accreditation from the National Public Health Accreditation Board. The UG Health Department completed the accreditation process in late 2020 and was awarded national accreditation through PHAB in early 2021. The UG Health Department is currently one of eight accredited health departments in the state of Kansas.

A CHA is meant to be conducted every five years. The previous Wyandotte County CHA was conducted in 2016-2017, and a CHIP was launched in 2018. To learn more about what the current CHIP is doing for Wyandotte County, visit
dashboards.mysidewalk.com/wyco-chip-dashboard

  • Story from UG Health Department