Community Health Needs Assessment – A Survey that Makes a Difference in Your Community

People get asked to take surveys all the time, but not all surveys are created equal. The Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) is one survey that makes a positive difference in your area.

Your feedback helps local healthcare organizations identify health priorities by county and implement strategies related to those priorities.

“We really put that information to good use,” said Angela Stoltzenburg, Memorial Health director for Community Benefit. “From mental health to obesity to lung health, cancer and economic disparities in healthcare, programming that comes out of the Community Health Needs Assessment every three years is critical to charting an overall wellness blueprint for our communities.”

The last survey was in 2021. One of the priorities identified for Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Taylorville Memorial Hospital was tackling obesity. A nutritious diet is central to good health—but access to healthy food is a challenge for many people. The three hospitals worked to make fresh produce more affordable and easily accessible throughout the region.

• Making food dollars go further: During the 2023 growing season, the Lincoln Memorial Foundation provided $10,170 in matching benefits for shoppers enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) who purchased fresh food at The LMH Market. This was the eighth season for The Market, which promotes health and wellness through local food and health-focused programming.
• Vouchers make a difference: At the Jacksonville Farmers Market, families enrolled in SNAP can earn match vouchers thanks to a grant from the Jacksonville Memorial Foundation. This year, shoppers redeemed more than $4,500 in vouchers.
• Cooking classes share healthy techniques: In 2023, the Memorial Wellness Center partnered with the University of Illinois Extension to bring free healthy cooking classes to Taylorville Memorial Hospital, Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Decatur Memorial Hospital.
• Growing for those in need: In the summer of 2023, volunteers donated more than 100 pounds of fresh vegetables from the Taylorville Memorial Hospital Community Garden to the Taylorville Food Pantry. This year’s harvest included tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, squash, green beans and herbs. The Community Garden also benefited TMH colleagues, who could choose to spend their work break or lunch outside in the sunshine, weeding or helping to harvest vegetables.

The CHNA survey is now open for residents of Christian, Logan, Macon, Morgan and Sangamon counties Feb. 1 – 24. These surveys allow us to collect input from the public about specific health needs in our communities. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey for the county where you live.