“We find the Community Survey to be one of the most valuable parts of our health assessment process,” says ECHD Director of Public Health Linda Beers. “We can study numbers and data, but hearing directly from the people we serve, learning about how they are impacted by health policies and issues, and understanding the complex mix of factors that drive health outcomes helps us better meet resident needs”.

Participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous. Community members can access the secure online questionnaire through May 2025 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NG3L23G. Paper copies can also be requested by calling the health department at 518-873-3500.

The 2025 Community Health Assessment will inform the next Essex County Community Health Improvement Plan. The plan, due out in early 2026, identifies health priorities and interventions that ECHD, AH, ECH and other health and human service organizations will implement to improve the overall health of the community.

Beers encourages everyone to participate in the health improvement planning process by completing a survey. “Knowing our communities is one of our greatest collective strengths; we appreciate the challenges our residents face and we strive to leverage the many assets we already have while building the ones we know we need. The information we learn from the people we serve cannot be replicated elsewhere,” stresses Beers.

The planning process is a cyclical endeavor guided by the NYS Health Improvement Plan, known as the Prevention Agenda. ECHD anticipates the release of an updated Prevention Agenda in early 2025 and expects a heavy emphasis on addressing the social needs that influence health and well-being.