A new effort is underway to determine what folks in Cheatham County are doing right about their health, and what they still need to improve. Local health department officials are working with the Cheatham County Health Council, a group made up of citizens concerned about promoting healthy lifestyles in the community, to conduct the Community Health Assessment (CHA) over the next six months. According to Brittany Tate, Cheatham County Health Department Director, Cheatham is one of 26 counties across the state carrying out the assessment.
The CHA was developed by the Tennessee Department of Health, and it’s a process that allows rural counties in the state “to identify strengths and address needs in their communities,” Tate said.
“It builds upon local leadership and expertise to put community members in the driver’s seat towards addressing community health concerns,” she added. The last time an assessment was completed at the initiation of the Health Council in Cheatham County in 1996.
The Health Council will conduct the assessment, which will include existing health department data as well as a survey given to local residents. The goal is to identify three priority health issues specific to Cheatham County, Tate said.
“Highlighting those issues will ensure that we can potentially apply for targeted grant funding to aid in addressing the specific needs of our community. The data will justify any future requests for grant funding of healthy living initiatives,” she explained.
The Health Council meets the fourth Monday of each month at the Mayor David McCullough Community Room from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
