FDRHPO Supports Regional Community Health Planning for 2025–2030 Prevention Agenda Cycle

Local health departments and hospitals across New York State are implementing a new Prevention Agenda to improve population health, prevent disease, and reduce health disparities.

Every six years, local health departments and hospitals across New York State are required to complete a comprehensive Community Health Assessment (CHA) and submit related plans to New York State for review. Public health departments submit a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), and hospitals submit a Community Service Plan (CSP). This work is guided by the New York State Department of Health's Prevention Agenda, and the current cycle runs from 2025 to 2030. Together, these plans are designed to align public health and hospital strategies with the most pressing health needs identified within each community.

“The Community Health Assessment serves as the foundation for this work,” said Pat Fontana, Deputy Director for Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization (FDRHPO). “It provides a comprehensive picture of a county’s health by gathering and analyzing health-related data.”

This includes local, state, and national health data, as well as information collected directly from communities, specifically from FDRHPO’s Annual Community Health Survey. When combined, these findings help to identify health outcomes, disparities, and other factors that impact health across the region.

Patti Hogle, Senior Public Health Educator at St. Lawrence County Public Health Department, says that the Community Health Survey proved invaluable in developing the Community Health Improvement Plan/Community Service Plan.

“This collaboration enhanced the quality of data and the analysis provided by the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization, which informed the identification of priority health needs, deepened our understanding of health disparities, and ensured the plan was evidence-based to effectively guide planning and action across the county.”

She added, “The planning and writing of the Community Health Assessment, Community Health Improvement Plan, and the Community Service Plan could not have been completed without the survey and the hard work of the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization.”

During the planning cycle, public health departments and hospitals in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties collaborated with FDRHPO to assess the regional healthcare system and address identified community needs. FDRHPO supports regional coordination by convening partners, analyzing health data, and assisting healthcare and public health organizations in developing actionable, data-driven plans.

In partnership with the public health departments and hospitals, FDRHPO prepared each county’s CHA in the summer of 2025. County partners then used those findings to identify priority needs and select strategies aligned with the New York State Prevention Agenda.

“This cycle differs from previous ones in an important way, with a stronger emphasis on Social Determinants of Health (SDOHs). These are the conditions that impact health beyond medical care, including housing stability, transportation, access to food, economic security, and access to services,” said Mr. Fontana.

Addressing these factors often requires coordination across multiple sectors, not just healthcare.

While each county’s plan reflects its specific needs, there is some overlap in what all three counties are working to address. These include increasing access to services, enhancing coordination among services, improving mental health, and addressing basic needs that directly impact health. The overlap in priorities across counties highlights common challenges and creates opportunities for improved collaboration. Recognizing these opportunities is a key aspect of FDRHPO’s role in aiding local planning efforts.

This work does not end with the completion of a report.

“FDRHPO will continue to support counties and hospitals throughout the Prevention Agenda cycle by helping track progress, gather and analyze new data, and adjust strategies as community needs change,” said Mr. Fontana. “This approach helps keep health planning active and responsive to real community needs.”

Ongoing collaboration among public health departments, hospitals, and regional partners strengthens the region's ability to address challenges and improve health outcomes for residents in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.