The Tahoe Forest Health System Community Health Department is committed to identifying and addressing community needs. Every three years, Community Health conducts a Community Health Needs Assessment to identify key priorities and develops strategies to address these needs in a Community Health Improvement Plan. Through strategic partnerships and collaboration we are able to address complex health needs that extend beyond the walls of our clinics.
History of Community Health
2006-2011
Health Promotion Department advances awareness of healthy behaviors including launching of Harvest of the Month in local schools
2011
TFHS conducts its first Communty Health Needs Assessment identifying community health priorities:
- Access to Primary Care
- Immunizations
- Ethnic Disparities
- Mental Health
- Substance Abuse
2012
TFHS Board of Directors allocates District tax payer funds to create the Wellness Neighborhood and address CHNA identified needs: added Dental Care and Chronic Disease Management as priorities
2014
2nd Community Health Needs Assessment including focused Youth Health Assessment Updated priorities with Ethnic Disparities embedded:
- Optimizing Health and Primary/Preventive Health
- Substance Abuse
- Mental/Behavioral Health
- Access to Care and Care Coordination
2014 - 2015
- Launch of Community Health Advocate/ Promotores
- Launch of Chronic Care Management and Transitional Care Management for Medicare
- Creation of the Care Coordination Department
2016
- Launch of PRIME/QIP, a program focused on improving the health of the 7) Medi-Cal population
- Launch of the Certified Athletic Training Program with TTUSD
- Launch of Customer Care Navigators with the Center for Health to support linkage to wellness services
2017
3rd Community Health Needs Assessment and priority update:
- Prevention & Wellness
- Substance Misuse
- Mental & Behavioral Health
- Chronic Disease
2019
- Launch of Behavioral Health Integration into Primary Care with support from a federal quality improvement grant
- Creation of the Behavioral Health Department
- Launch of the Zero Suicide Initiative
2021-2022
4th Community Health Needs Assessment:
- Health Equity and Social Drivers of Health
- Chronic Disease Management
- Mental/Behavioral Health
- Substance Misuse
- Prevention and Wellness
2023
Name change to "Community Health Department"
