Community Advisory Council
CARING FOR DOUGLAS COUNTY
UHA’s Community Advisory Council (CAC) includes community members and representatives from healthcare and related organizations from across Douglas County. The CAC meets monthly to evaluate healthcare needs, issues, and strategies for increasing access and improving the delivery of services. Among the CAC’s activities are also issuing annual grants to support community programs aimed at creating a healthier Douglas County. The CAC also leads a detailed Community Health Assessment (CHA) every five years to help guide local services and inform program planning.
CAC meetings are held virtually the second Thursday of every month from 3:45-5:15pm and are open to the public.
INTERESTED IN JOINING?
UHA’s CAC is accepting applications for new members. We need people like you who are willing to make a difference in elevating health and wellness in Douglas County. For more information about joining or about the CAC in general, contact Kat Cooper. Click here to download an application.
Community Health Assessment
UHA’s CAC every five years works with local community partners to conduct a detailed Community Health Assessment (CHA) to help guide local services and inform program planning. The main purpose of the CHA is to assess the health status of Douglas County residents and identify key issues. Past research, experience delivering services, and listening to community members expanded the scope of the latest CHA conducted in 2018 to include socioeconomic factors that impact health also known as Social Determinants of Health.
TAKE THE 2023 COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY HERE.
The CHA data is used to build our Community Health Improvement Plan. To learn more about our CHIP and project funding click here.
Click here to review the full 2018 CHA report.
- Leading causes of death include cancer, heart and respiratory disease, diabetes, alcohol-induced mortality, and suicide
- Mental health and depression remain top concerns among residents
- Suicide rates are alarmingly continuing to rise
- The rate of low birthweight babies has historically been higher than the state average and is trending up
- Poverty rates are consistently higher than the state average
- 18% of households in Douglas County are experiencing serious housing issues
- 25% of children lack access to nutritionally adequate food
- Access to an adequate supply of healthcare providers remains a major issue throughout Douglas County
CAC MEETING MINUTES
If you would like to learn more about the discussions taking place at CAC meetings, please see the meeting minutes below. If you’d like to see a report for a meeting not listed here or you’d like to see the agenda for the next meeting, please contact Kat Cooper.
“We are now entering into the 6th year of our Kickstart Douglas County program made possible by UHA, as one of our founding partners, that aids youth and adults to adopt healthier lifestyles.”
– Marisa Fink , CEO, YMCA of Douglas County
“Housing insecurity and homelessness has a big impact on health. Valiant Seed’s Tiny Home Village, which will provide local housing solutions, has begun to take root thanks to UHA. ”
– Teresa Mankin, Valiant Seed Director
“A well-balanced diet is important for good health. UHA is helping transform community health by making programs like the UC-VEG Total Health Improvement Program possible.
– Juliete Palenshus , UC-VEG Exe. Dir.
“UHA’s community health grants have greatly enriched our local community-based programs that give hope and provide a road to recovery for those who struggle in isolation with mental illness.”
– Coleen Roberts, Chadwick Clubhouse Director, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Douglas County Chapter
