Public health organizations use a Community Health Assessment as one tool to look at the overall health of a community. This is a process that looks at the ways many organizations, schools, health care providers, health systems and policies in a community contribute to the health of their community.  

The work of a Community Health Assessment will usually inform a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP). A CHIP will identify priority areas of improvement, ways to evaluate our progress, and set a path towards creating a healthier community for everyone in San Juan County.  

The goal is to repeat this process every five years to ensure our efforts are meeting the current needs of the community. You can read our most recent reports below!

2025 Youth Community Health Assessment

We published our first Youth Community Health Assessment in June 2025. It is available online in English and Spanish or you can find hard copies at your local library, health department office, and senior center. This report followed our 2023 Community Health Assessment and looked specifically at the health and well-being of youth and families in our community. 

The top needs identified in youth focus groups were: 

• Mental health education and support
• Reproductive health education
• Better technology and social media management

Two additional needs were identified by youth, but with less frequency: 

• More youth activities and opportunities
• Substance use prevention support and honest conversations with adults about substances

The top needs identified for youth were: 

• Access to health care and services
• Mental health and well-being
• Basic needs and economic security

Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences with us as we developed this report. Your contributions made this report possible and we thank you for trusting us with your stories and experiences. 

2023 Community Health Assessment

We published our most recent Community Health Assessment in February 2024. It is available to read online in English and Spanish. We also have hard copies available at your local library, health department office and senior center upon request.  

The information collected during this process identified the top needs our community is facing around health and well-being. This will help us plan the actions and services needed to improve health in our community.  

The top three community-identified needs were:  

• Mental health
• Affordable housing
• Access to medical care

Two other needs were consistently raised as well:  

• Workers to support the island infrastructure and economy
• Transportation impacts

Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and made this report possible. We are honored by your contributions.  

Community Health Improvement Plan

Our staff will work with community partners to create a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), based on the findings in recent community health assessments. The CHIP will identify priority areas of improvement, ways to evaluate our progress, and set a path towards creating a healthier community for all in San Juan County.  

More Information

If you have questions about our reports or would like to request an interview, please email hcs@sanjuancountywa.gov.  

Last updated June 9, 2025