Working to improve health in Whatcom County
with long-term, data-informed, community-driven strategies to address systemic inequity and advance racial justice.
Who we are:
Healthy Whatcom is a collaboration involving public health, community members with lived experience, and local organizations working together to improve community health.
What we do:
We advance social and racial equity in Whatcom County through collective action that is guided by data, accountability, and direct input from our community.
Why we do it:
We work to eliminate inequities caused by historical and systemic oppression, so that residents of all races and ethnicities in Whatcom County can thrive.
Community Health Improvement
Healthy Whatcom is Whatcom County’s community health improvement (CHI) process, convened by Whatcom County Health and Community Services. What does that mean? When it comes to nurturing the health of our community, CHI is like cultivating a vibrant garden where we learn and adapt along the way:
New data serves as fertile ground for planting fresh solutions.
We build on existing efforts, fostering collaboration and growth.
Together, we cultivate a healthy and equitable community for all.
Steps to building a healthier community together:
1.
Build the Community Health Foundation
Local leaders, health professionals, and community members come together to assess the impact of power imbalances on health equity and plan for a successful CHI cycle.
2.
Tell the Community Story
Working together, we explore what matters most through a Community Health Assessment.
3.
Continuously Improve the Community
We craft a Community Health Improvement Plan with actionable solutions, take action on our shared priorities, and track progress and adjust our approach for lasting impact.
What is Healthy Whatcom?
In this video, several Healthy Whatcom participants discuss how community health improvement works by focusing collaborative efforts to improve health for the entire community.
Note: Beyond the participants interviewed in this video, we also seek input from those within the community who are directly affected by the issues we aim to address.
Does your work intersect with health issues, or do you have personal experience with our health systems? We want to hear from you: learn how you can get involved!
