A CHA is a careful, systematic examination of the health status of the community that is used to identify key health problems and assets in the community. The information gathered through this assessment is valuable to community organizations and agencies and allows for updated and timely data regarding the community and its wellbeing. The data collected from this assessment informs decision-making, prioritization of health problems, and development of plans to improve the health of the community.
Mission Statement: “Our mission is to collaboratively assess, understand, and address the health needs of our community by engaging diverse stakeholders, gathering data, advocating for policies and programs and using evidence-based strategies to improve the overall health and well-being of all community members.”
Vision Statement: “Our vision is to foster a community where innovative, evidence-based health solutions are embraced, and where collaborative partnerships lead to sustainable improvements in optimal health and quality of life for every resident.”
2026 Community Health Assessment
The Lord Fairfax Health District (LFHD) and Valley Health System have worked collaboratively to examine the health of the Northern Shenandoah Valley by conducting a joint Community Health Assessment (CHA) because of the mutual interest in the process between both organizations and the desire to maximize available resources. The report is currently in production and is expected to be published January of 2026.
The framework used for this assessment was the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP 2.0) framework designed by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). MAPP 2.0 provides a structure for communities to assess their most pressing population health issues and align resources across sectors for strategic action, resulting in a community health assessment (CHA) and a community health implementation plan (CHIP).
This process includes:
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- Assessing perceptions of community health needs via survey
- Understanding the scale of these issues via partner interviews
- Surveying organizations to understand the services provided
- Collect secondary data to visualize the state of health in LFHD
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The draft of the 2026 Community Health report will be published for public comment from the dates of July 1 to July 31 to ensure time for community feedback regarding the report.
2026 Community Health Improvement Plan
The Community Health Implementation Plan or CHIP is the process that follows the CHA. It holds an emphasis of using the information collected during the CHA to build goals and a plan to improve the health of the community through community-led efforts. This process will begin immediately after the CHA report is finalized and will be published with the CHA in January 2026.
For questions regarding the Community Health Assessment, please contact the Population Health Manager, Katherine Schroeder