Clatsop County health partners release 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment findings
Contact: Sarah Bello
Collaboration sets stage for a countywide Community Health Improvement Plan
ASTORIA, Ore. — From March through September 2025, Clatsop County Public Health, Columbia Memorial Hospital, and Providence Seaside Hospital partnered on a comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) for the region. CHNAs are used by hospitals, public health departments, and other social service agencies as a tool to identify key community health concerns. The final report was published this month.
Every three years, a CHNA is completed to inform strategies for making health care more accessible for all in Clatsop County. Hospitals are required by the Internal Revenue Service to complete their own CHNA, and they are essential to meet Local Public Health Authority statute, but improved community health partnerships led to the production of the previous two CHNAs in tandem.
“By working together, we continue to enhance the quality of these assessments, and our health improvement plans, for the community we serve,” says Jason Plamondon, chief administrative officer for Providence Seaside.
To complete the report, the organizations conducted interviews, focus groups and surveys to make an analysis of local health data. All research was conducted in English and Spanish to ensure community members were well-represented.
The report’s findings identify key areas needing further development, including social drivers of health, access to care and providers, services for Spanish speakers, and mental and behavioral health services.
In 2026, the three organizations will develop a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) as they work to improve the identified health needs.
“This plan will help us set shared goals and work together to make Clatsop County a healthier place for everyone,” says Jill Quackenbush, public health division manager for Clatsop County.
Representatives from each organization, including Plamondon, Quackenbush, and Chris Laman, vice president of strategy for CMH, were recently interviewed on KAST 1370 radio station to discuss the CHNA. Tune in to hear the interview at 8:05 a.m. on January 30, February 27 and March 27.
“Many other local organizations, including the school districts, community college and others supported our work to gain a comprehensive view of health in Clatsop County,” Laman says. “Thank you to all who participated. Our region has many strengths, and working together to meet big challenges is one of them.”
Electronic versions of the report in English and Spanish can be accessed at www.columbiamemorial.org/chna and www.clatsopcounty.gov/publichealth/page/public-health-data-and-reports. To see more information about progress toward the CHIP goals, visit: www.clatsophealth.org.