Washtenaw County’s First Community Health Assessment since COVID-19 Pandemic Reveals Top Health Priorities: Mental Health, Access to Healthcare, and Access to Healthy Food

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Washtenaw County has recently completed its first Community Health Assessment since the pandemic. The purpose of this assessment was to gather data on the community’s health needs and help guide the county and its partners in addressing these needs.

According to Dayna Brimley, a Community Health Analyst with the Washtenaw County Health Department, the assessment identified three top health priorities for the community: mental health, access to healthcare, and access to healthy food. Both data and community input indicated that these were the most critical needs in Washtenaw at present.

In order to address these top priorities, the county health department intends to collaborate with community members to develop actionable steps. Brimley emphasized the importance of involving the community in this process to ensure that nothing is done in isolation. This partnership with the community will be crucial as the department works on defining specific action items and goals with county partners and community members throughout 2027.