Farmington Valley Health District

CANTON, CT — The Farmington Valley Health District this week released its 2024-29 “Community Health Improvement Plan” (CHIP).

The document is a “comprehensive roadmap” designed to address the most pressing health issues facing the communities of Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, East Granby, Farmington, Granby, Hartland, New Hartford, and Simsbury.

It was developed over eight months in collaboration with community members, including municipal departments, schools, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, and residents.

According to the FVHD, the plan includes goals and strategies to improve health for those who live, work, learn, and play in the Farmington Valley.

It is based on findings from the 2022 “Community Health Assessment” and feedback from community partners and residents.

According to the plan, the following priority areas were identified:

• Healthy Eating and Active Living: Promote affordable, accessible healthy lifestyle options by fostering supportive environments and encouraging community adherence to healthy eating and active living.

• Mental Health: Foster mental wellness by promoting supportive environments, destigmatizing mental health challenges, and enhancing access to early intervention programs and services.

• Optimal Wellbeing for Older Adults: Combat ageism by raising awareness of the value of an aging population, improving access to essential services for older individuals, and creating supportive environments for older adults.

• Emerging Environmental Health Concerns: Monitor, analyze, and share public health impacts of climate change while improving environmental conditions that promote good health.

FVHD Director Jennifer C. Kertanis emphasized the importance of collaboration in achieving those goals.

“At the Farmington Valley Health District, we work to improve the conditions supporting good health and quality of life for our communities,” she said.

“This Community Health Improvement Plan represents a collective effort to address the root causes of health disparities and create environments where everyone can thrive. We are excited to implement this plan with our community partners.”