COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
Los Alamos County Social Services Manager Jessica Strong will present an interim report on the status of the Comprehensive Health Plan at Tuesday’s Council meeting at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave., Los Alamos.
The Los Alamos County Council tasked the Los Alamos County Health Council in 2022 to develop a health plan in accordance with New Mexico legislation that would monitor local health and health care, advise on policies that affect health care, facilitate communication, and identify resources to improve health.
At the March 26 Council meeting, Strong will share the findings of 18 months of cumulative research conducted by social services staff and LACHC members. This research includes interviews, focus groups, and public input sessions with over 200 community members in an exhaustive dialogue about health and well-being. She will explain how the team categorized the information into five domains of the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework to assess how different facets of individuals’ lives are interconnected and can influence overall health. These five SDOH domains are:
- Health Care Access & Quality,
- Education Access and Quality,
- Economic Stability,
- Social and Community Context, and
- Neighborhoods and the Built Environment.
Strong plans to discuss the community’s strengths and challenges, outline short-term recommendations, as well as review the pivotal next step in the project: a community-wide health survey. Participation instructions will be mailed to residents later this spring. This survey is crucial for gathering more extensive data to better understand the health issues affecting the community. The insights gained will inform the final Comprehensive Health Plan, set to be unveiled later this fall.
Strong encourages every resident to engage with this important initiative by providing input through the upcoming survey or participating in community discussions.
For more information about the development of the Community Health Plan and the Los Alamos County Health Council contact Strong at jessica.strong@lacnm.us.