History
During the 1990's, hospitals and their communities began to form collaborative partnerships to identify and reduce community health risks. In September 1994, The Washington Hospital facilitated the creation of a Community Health Needs Assessment Committee.
In 1995, this committee conducted an assessment that included a mailed household survey, focus groups, and review of available community health data. In January 1996, the Committee issued a report calling for the formation of task forces to address identified community health risks, including: Access to Care (now Covering Kids and Families); Mental Illness/Substance Abuse (MISA); heart disease and stress (now Community Wellness); Respiratory Illness; and teenage pregnancy (now Teen Wellness). Subsequently, a number of the members attended a Hospital Alliance of Pennsylvania (HAP) Conference, entitled " Transforming Health Care: A Trilogy," that March.
During 1996, more than 140 professionals and community residents volunteered to serve on the task forces. The task forces presented action plans in early 1997 and began to implement activities.
During 1999 and 2000, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH) launched the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), which replaced a centralized statewide health planning process with community-based planning to address health problems at the local level. The PA DOH recognized Washington County Health Partners, Inc. (WCHP) as a SHIP-approved, local community health initiative responsible for community health assessment and planning. An evaluation of the program's activities was undertaken during this same time period, and it determined that a periodic assessment of the community's health must be conducted; providers must work collaboratively to achieve measurable outcomes; and both staff and funding resources were needed to enable the task forces to accomplish their goals. Subsequently, WCHP was incorporated in September 2000.
The Board of Directors represents major stakeholders in the health of the community, such as health care providers, county government, business, education, law enforcement, human/social service agencies, faith community, citizen volunteers, public health, and philanthropic organizations.
Links
Community Wellness Task Force History
Covering Kids and Families Task Force History
Minority Health Task Force History
Respiratory Health Task Force History
Teen Wellness Task Force History