Nicollet County Health and Human Services Releases Community Health Improvement Plan

Nicollet County Health and Human Services has released its new Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), a strategic roadmap that will guide local efforts to improve community health and well-being over the next five years. The CHIP builds on findings from the Community Health Assessment (CHA), which gathered input from residents, community organizations, healthcare partners, and local data sources to better
understand the factors affecting health in Nicollet County. “This plan reflects what we heard from our community and what the data shows us about where we need to focus,” said Spencer Crawford, Nicollet County Public Health Planner. “It turns that information into action.”

Priority Areas

The CHIP focuses on five key priority areas identified through community input and data analysis:
• Community connectedness
• Health literacy
• Transportation access
• Youth mental health
• Youth substance use
These priorities were selected based on identified community needs, available evidence-based
strategies, and feedback from residents and community partners.

What the Plan Does

For each priority area, the CHIP outlines goals, strategies for action, opportunities for policy
development, and methods for measuring progress over time. The plan is intended to remain flexible
and evolve as work continues.
“Our goal is to create a plan that people can actually use — grounded in data, informed by residents,
and adaptable over time,” said Cassandra Sassenberg, Director of Nicollet County Health and Human
Services.

Working Together

The CHIP emphasizes that improving community health is a shared responsibility and not the work of
public health alone. The plan reflects collaboration among community organizations, healthcare
providers, local government, and residents working together toward healthier outcomes across
Nicollet County.
“This is shared work,” said Bree Allen, Nicollet County Public Health Supervisor. “We all play a role in
building a healthier Nicollet County.”

Learn More

The full Community Health Improvement Plan and Community Health Assessment are available
online at: https://www.nicolletcountymn.gov/1953/Understanding-Our-Communitys-Health

For more information, contact:
Cassandra Sassenberg
Nicollet County Health and Human Services Director
Cassandra.Sassenberg@co.nicollet.mn.us