The Public Health Department and its partners have released a new Community Health Improvement Plan for San Luis Obispo County. Based on feedback from thousands of community members, the plan serves as a roadmap for improving overall health in the county. This year, the focus has narrowed down to three specific priorities: mental health and substance use, healthy neighborhoods and access to care, and building a strong community engagement.
Dr. Penny Borenstein, the SLO County Public Health Officer, highlighted the importance of families recognizing mental health issues in their children and taking steps to prevent substance abuse at home. Other priority areas include creating safe bicycle traffic, building parks, and ensuring access to a variety of healthcare professionals beyond just physicians.
The Community Health Improvement Plan for San Luis Obispo County is tailored to address the unique needs and strengths of the community. Developed based on data from a community health assessment involving nearly 4,000 respondents in the county, the plan was created by SLO Health Counts, a collaboration of community members, nonprofits, and government agencies. Adyan Nazmi, a participant in SLO Health Counts and a professor at Cal Poly, believes that health is fundamental and wants to leverage the plan to empower students to contribute to the community’s health priorities.
Dr. Borenstein hopes for accountability and community engagement in the implementation of the plan, emphasizing the importance of ongoing conversations with community members about how to achieve health improvements collectively. The Community Health Improvement Plan serves as a strategic guide for the Public Health Department and its partners to work towards building a healthier county.
