MAPP2Health (CHA)

Assessing our community’s health is critical for understanding our community’s strengths and opportunities for improvement. With an end goal of creating healthy, connected, vibrant, and well communities, health departments across Virginia are committed to engaging community stakeholders, key organizations, and citizens to come together, review health indicators, and determine priorities for focus and improvement.

Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO), Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) is a strategic framework for organizations, coalitions, and community members to work together for improved health and well-being for all.

Since 2007, Planning District 10 (PD10) / the Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) has completed three rounds of MAPP2Health community health assessment and improvement planning and published three MAPP2Health Reports in 2008, 2012, and 2016.

In the 2019 MAPP process, community partners and coalitions reviewed and discussed quantitative and qualitative data and community members provided feedback on strengths and areas for improvement. We focused on the priorities identified in the 2016 process through a health equity lens.  The health equity work we did is described in the 2019 MAPP Report.  Our four priorities remain the same:

  • Promote Healthy Eating and Active Living
  • Address Mental Health and Substance Use
  • Reduce Health Disparities and Improve Access to Care
  • Foster a Healthy and Connected Community for All Ages

What was new in the 2022 MAPP2Health Process?

During the 2022 MAPP2Health process, we dove deeper into the four 2019 priorities, further focusing on health equity by examining race and socioeconomic status as social determinants of health. The MAPP2Health participants worked together with area organizations, coalitions, and community members to identify how to improve opportunities that reduce the barriers to health equity. The 2022MAPP2Health included these partners and processes:

  • Locality-specific Work Groups  convened subject matter experts across the four MAPP priorities to review current strategies, research evidence-based best practices, and recommend a variety of strategies to address each priority.
  • Focus on root causes of health inequities with facilitated discussions on the policies and structures that create health inequities.
  • The UVA Equity Center produced a draft Equity Profile for each locality.  See Albemarle County Equity Profile.
  • Photovoice projects from those who experience systemic barriers to health.
  • Focus on policies and  strategies that advance health equity related to the built environment and healthcare access.
  • Publish a 2022 MAPP2Health Report September 1, 2022.

For questions on the MAPP2Health, please contact CHA/CHIP Program Officer Jen Fleisher >>

Read the 2022 MAPP2Health Report here.