CHASKA, Minn.—Carver County Public Health was honored with the Promising Practice Award by the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
The award-winning project, part of a Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (known as SHIP) grant, is called the Health Equity Data Analysis. The County’s Public Health department focused its efforts around the impact income has on mental health. They were one of 76 local health department projects to receive the award. It recognizes local health departments that have developed innovative approaches and strategies to public health issues and are on the path to the next level of achievement, called Model Practices.
Data show that those living on little are more than twice as likely to report ever being told by a health professional that they had depression, almost two times more likely to have been told that they had anxiety, and two times more likely to have experienced frequent mental distress.
Public Health conducted three focus groups seeking feedback from members of a rural church, clients of the County’s mental health clinic, and individuals who utilize the County’s workforce center. Public Health also interviewed community leaders and mental health professionals. Most frequently voiced concerns were related to:
- The Mental Health System (i.e. navigating the system, insurance, and services)
- Social Determinants of Health (i.e. transportation and employment)
- Family and Social Supports
- Knowledge and Awareness (i.e. stigma and services available.)
This project would not have been successful without collaboration from the community: focus group participants, community leaders, mental health professionals and public health staff.
“We are proud to receive this Promising Practice Award. The award is evidence of our commitment to developing responsive and innovative public health programs that improve the health of local residents,” said Dr. Richard Scott, Carver County’s Deputy Director of Health Services.
NACCHO’s Promising Practice Awards have honored programs, resources, and tools that demonstrate how local health departments and their community partners can effectively collaborate to address local public health challenges. Each innovative project receiving the Promising Practice Award was peer-reviewed and selected from a competitive group of more than 150 applicants.
“We are pleased to recognize local health departments striving to develop innovative public health projects to better ensure their communities’ health and safety,” said NACCHO’s Chief Executive Officer Lori Tremmel Freeman.
For more information visit the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) website. For information about SHIP work in Carver County, visit our website or call Carver County Public Health at (952) 361-1329 to speak with a public health staff member.
Carver County Public Health works to promote and protect the health of all county residents in order to make Carver County a place for a lifetime of good health.
