Yolo County Unveils Health Needs Focus for Next Three Years

Mental health and addiction care, disease prevention and management, and access to basic needs identified as priorities.

WOODLAND, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2020) – Mental health and addiction care, disease prevention and management, and access to basic needs like housing, jobs and food were identified as priority areas to address the evolving health needs of Yolo County residents. These findings—amongst many others—were revealed today in the county’s latest Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) during a community event at the Yolo County Food Bank.

“The collaboration that went into developing this report is just the start of what we can achieve when we are partners in health,” said Don Saylor, District 2 Yolo County Supervisor. “We hope sharing these needs with the community will create a call to action for all community leaders to come together to develop strategies, interventions, and make commitments to prevent and address the significant health needs presented here today! We are excited to see this renewed commitment to ensuring a Healthy Yolo County!”

The CHNA summarizes the significant health needs facing the more than 200,000 county residents. It allows health leaders to identify and prioritize significant health needs in the region, helping to improve health outcomes for patients wherever they seek care throughout the county. Local care providers – including hospitals – use the CHNA to guide their community benefit investments to help meet the individual regional health needs.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to have collaborated with the County and our health care partners to determine and address the needs of the most vulnerable in our community,” said Gena Bravo, Chief Nurse Executive and Chief Operating Officer at Dignity Health Woodland Memorial Hospital. “The Community Health Needs Assessment is important work, and we know it will have a direct impact on lives and the communities we serve.”

“The Community Health Needs Assessment gives remarkable insight into the targeted areas where our investments can make a difference to support the unique needs of our community,” said Rachael McKinney, CEO of Sutter Davis Hospital.

Other focus areas identified in the report include active living and healthy eating; access to quality primary care health services; access to transportation and accommodations for those with disabilities; access to specialty and extended care; safe and violence-free environments; pollution-free living environments and access to dental care and preventive services.

For the first time, the 2019-2021 CHNA was completed collaboratively by Yolo County Health and Human Services Agency Community Health Branch, CommuniCare Health Centers, Dignity Health, Sutter Health and Winters Healthcare. Research and writing of the CHNA was conducted by consultants, Community Health Insights.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (and California State Senate Bill 697) requires that not-for-profit hospitals conduct a CHNA at least once every three years to satisfy the Public Health Accreditation Board reporting requirements for the county. 

“The collaborative CHNA process gave visibility and voice to some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” said Evan Priestley, Director of Health Wellness and Promotion at CommuniCare Health Centers. “Inviting safety-net organizations to the table demonstrates commitment to capture the experiences of everyone in the community. CommuniCare Health Centers is grateful to participate in the CHNA process.”

“The Community Health Needs Assessment gives us insight into the health issues specific to our own community in Winters, while simultaneously providing information on the whole county,” said Chris Kelsh, Executive Director of Winters Healthcare. “Without this data, we are guessing on what issues are most prevalent. The CHNA supports us in working strategically with our health center, hospital, and social service counterparts to focus our efforts so we can use our resources to improve the lives of all people in the county.”