A community health assessment (CHA), or community health needs assessment (CHNA), provides a high-level picture of community health experiences, trends, and issues. It centers community voices by gathering information and data directly from those most impacted. These assessments help guide organizations like Health Share in improving community health.

In 2010, local health care and public health leaders began to discuss the upcoming need for several community health assessments and health improvement plans within the quad-county region in response to the Affordable Care Act and Public Health Accreditation.

They agreed that the best approach was to form a work group to complete one community-wide health assessment. With early support from the Oregon Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, the Healthy Columbia Willamette Collaborative Leadership Group was created.

In June 2013, Health Share of Oregon joined the HCWC. Health Share is the coordinated care organization that serves the three counties in Oregon, and it joined to meet state rules and Oregon Health Authority guidelines related to community health assessments and health improvement plans.

This shared and comprehensive approach looks at the health needs of everyone in the community. It helps organizations avoid doing the same work twice, focus on the most important needs, and work together to carry out and track improvement efforts.

By working together, this approach builds strong partnerships between communities, health care organizations, hospitals, and public health agencies. It also supports meaningful assessments and creates a strong foundation for collaboration to improve the health and well-being of local communities.

HCWC uses a modified version of the Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) assessment model. The MAPP model uses health data and feedback from the community to identify the most important health issues. HCWC adjusted this model by gathering data and community input at the same time, so each could help inform the other.

Member organizations have incorporated HCWC's assessments into their individual community health needs assessments and Community Health Improvement Plans.

The Data Workgroup invited community members to take part as full members in creating the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment. Community members played an important role by sharing valuable insights. HCWC also hosted four town halls and 18 listening sessions. More than 200 community members, leaders, and staff from community-based organizations shared their input, which was reviewed and included in the final findings.

The Healthy Columbia Willamette Collaborative is committed to addressing health disparities and working with communities who are experiencing them.

All phases of community engagement completed to date have built on information learned from vulnerable communities.