The Community Health Improvement Application

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• Last Updated on Monday, 15 September 2014 20:42

The Center for Public Health Quality, working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Association of Schools of Public Health and the Center for Healthy NC, is developing a user-friendly, web-based resource to help local health departments and community organizations select and implement evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to improve priority population health conditions. Currently, existing EBI resources fall short of meeting the needs of practitioners due to their focus on assessing the evidence versus providing resources for selection and implementation – this initiative aims to close that gap. 

The recently completed first phase of the project was a collaborative effort with four local health departments and their community partners.  Teams from Buncombe, Catawba, Cleveland and Henderson counties in North Carolina formed the Community Health Improvement Application (IMAPP) User Group, which reviewed and made numerous recommendations to improve the usability and overall framework of the iMap.  The second phase of the project began on September 15, 2013, with the aim to continue to develop and enhance IMAPP’s user-friendly resources and to improve its effectiveness in assisting community partnerships with selecting and implementing EBIs to help achieve a state’s (North Carolina) health improvement plan (Healthy NC 2020). Phase 2 will focus on EBIs related to tobacco use and physical activity and nutrition. Secondary objectives include to increase awareness of the HHS 9 Public Health Quality Aims and to develop resources to aid communities in calculating return on investment (ROI) for their implemented EBIs. These objectives will be achieved by refining the IMAPP using a quality planning approach in collaboration with 7-10 North Carolina Community partners.