ELIZABETHTOWN — The Essex County Health Partners — which include the Essex County Health Department , University of Vermont Health Network — Elizabethtown Community Hospital, and Adirondack Health — recently announced the release of the Essex County Community Health Assessment 2025 (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Plan 2026-2030 (CHIP). Taken together, the 2025 CHA and 2026-2030 CHIP make up a comprehensive public health planning document that outlines key health needs, data insights and priority strategies to improve the health and well-being of Essex County residents. The full report is now available for public review and download at the Essex County Health Department website: health.essexcountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/Essex-County-CHA-2025_CHIP-2026-2030-1.pdf.

This CHA and CHIP represent a collaborative effort between the Essex County Health Partners and other community-based organizations, healthcare providers and residents. It synthesizes data from well over 300 health indicators, communitywide surveys, stakeholder engagement and socioeconomic factors to provide a clear picture of the county’s current health status and the social determinants that influence health outcomes.

“We are committed to using data and community input to guide our work and improve health outcomes for all Essex County residents,” Director of Public Health for ECHD Linda Beers said in a press release. “This report not only highlights where we are today but sets a roadmap for where we need to go together over the next five years to build healthier, more resilient communities. We are so grateful for the collaboration and engagement of our stakeholders, partners, and residents throughout this process.”

The Community Health Assessment portion of the document identifies current health strengths, challenges and disparities across the county. It highlights key areas of concern, such as access to healthcare, chronic disease prevalence, environmental health factors and other social determinants that affect quality of life, such as income, employment, education and food access. This assessment reflects input from hundreds of residents who participated in the county health survey, providing vital community perspective and voice.

Building on the CHA findings, the Community Health Improvement Plan 2026-2030 lays out strategic priorities and actionable goals to address the most pressing health needs. The plan sets measurable objectives and outlines collaborative interventions that align with the New York State Prevention Agenda 2025-2030 framework, ensuring a coordinated and evidence-based response to community health challenges.

The key focus areas for the CHIP include economic stability, social and community context, neighborhood and built environment, and health care access and quality.

“Adirondack Health is proud to partner with the Essex County Health Department and Elizabethtown Community Hospital to complete this important work,” Adirondack Health president and CEO Aaron Kramer said in the release. “Making meaningful improvements to population health requires communication, collaboration, and shared vision, and we couldn’t ask for better partners across the Essex County communities we serve.”

Residents, community leaders, and partner organizations can review the report, share insights and contribute to the ongoing implementation of the CHIP strategies. For more information, or to request additional data, contact the Essex County Health Department at 518-873-3500 or visit health.essexcountyny.gov.