COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT & IMPROVEMENT PLAN

The Brookline Department of Public Health and HumLogo of Brookline Department of Public Health and Human Servicesan Services (Brookline DPHHS) has partnered with HRiA, a trusted leader in public health consulting, to embark on a collaborative endeavor that embraces data, engagement, and innovation. In partnership with HRiA, the Brookline DPHHS is committed to transparency, cooperation, and a shared determination to create lasting change. We are excited to embark on this journey with you, united in our vision of a healthier, stronger, and more vibrant Brookline.

We invite you – the residents, advocates, leaders, and visionaries of Brookline – to be active participants in this journey. Your insights, experiences, and aspirations are invaluable as we craft a roadmap for a healthier tomorrow. 

COMMUNITY HEALTH EQUITY SURVEY

Take the Community Survey Opens in new windowYou have the opportunity to be a part of this process by taking part in the Community Health Equity Survey. Your input will play a crucial role in shaping the Community Health Assessment. Your voice matters – be a part of our efforts to create a healthier Brookline community.

The survey will be open from July 31, 2023 through early Fall 2023. Anyone aged 14 and older can take the survey. It takes approximately 15-30 minutes to complete and is available in 11 languages: Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese (simplified or traditional), English, Haitian Creole, Khmer, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The survey will also be available in ASL later this summer. 

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! The Community Health Survey Promotion Toolkit  provides you with customizable materials to share with your neighbors, friends, and other community members to boost participation in this important health survey. Spread the word effectively using posters, flyers, and social media. This toolkit guides you in reaching diverse demographics and leveraging local networks to gather essential health data and amplify community voices.

  1. PHASE 1: Assessment
  2. PHASE 2: Planning
  3. PHASE 3: Evaluation

PHASE 1: COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT

Current Focus: This section highlights our current area of focus.

SECONDARY DATA REVIEW

  • Review of secondary data relating to health outcomes and upstream factors, including systemic racism 

QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION

  • Interviews with key stakeholders
  • Resident discussions (focus groups)

COMMUNITY SURVEY

Current Focus


  • The Community Health Equity Survey is live! 
  • The survey was developed in collaboration with community members and partners across Massachusetts, and it reflects what residents want to know about how their communities experience housing, mental health, safety, and other drivers of health. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and our partners will use CHEI data to allocate funding, improve programming, and develop policies that address health inequities. 
  • Brookline DPHHS is integrating the Community Health Equity Survey into the Community Health Assessment and Improvement Planning process. This strategy aims to streamline efforts and avoid redundant surveys. 
  • Results will be publicly available on the MA DPH website soon after the survey closes in Fall 2023, and they will provide the data to addresses barriers to health in Brookline.   
  • By participating, you will assist us in gathering the necessary data to guide upcoming health initiatives.

FINAL CHA REPORT

  • Draft and final assessment report
  • Presentation of key themes and priority areas
  • Infographics 


COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT (CHA) & IMPROVEMENT PLAN (CHIP)

The Community Health Assessment and Improvement Plan process will:

  • Center health equity and community engagement.
  • Assess the health status of Brookline residents, needs for or barriers to improvement.
  • Assess the prevalence and trends in health conditions (i.e., cancer, heart disease, and mental health).
  • Explore social and structural determinants of health impacting these trends.
  • Inform the planning process to identify gaps, address health disparities and establish the need for or promote programs to benefit the health of the community.

Steering Committee

  • Miriam Aschkenasy, Select Board
  • Chris Chanyasulkit, BAAFN Steering Committee
  • Ruthann Dobek, Council on Aging
  • Len Jokubaitis, Advisory Council on Public Health (ACPH)
  • Annabelle Lane, Brookline Police Department
  • Ian Lang, The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health
  • Alec Lebovitz, Town Meeting
  • Kate Leslie, Brookline High School Gender and Sexuality Alliance
  • Pat Maher, Climate Action Brookline
  • Donelle O'Neal, Sr., Town Meeting
  • Sasha Palmer, Public Schools of Brookline
  • Jen Paster, Brookline Police Department
  • James Perrin, Advisory Council on Public Health (ACPH)
  • Kimberley Richardson, Brookline for Racial Justic and Equity
  • Caitlin Starr, Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Community Relations
  • Aba Taylor, Brookline Community Foundation
  • Carlyn Uyenoyama, Public Schools of Brookline
  • Sigalle Reiss, Department of Public Health
  • Lesley Archabal, Department of Public Health
  • Lynne Karsten, Department of Public Health
  • John Kleschinsky, Department of Public Health
  • Donna Burke, Health Resources in Action
  • Hannah Carliner, Health Resources in Action
  • Kim Sudderth, Health Resources in Action
  • Victoria Tran, Health Resources in Action

Additional information

  1. Phases of CHA-CHIP

Press Releases

Town of Brookline Launching Community Health Assessment and Improvement Planning Process

BROOKLINE — Commissioner of Public Health Sigalle Reiss announces that the Brookline Department of Public Health & Human Services has recently launched a Community Health Assessment (CHA) and Community Health Improvement Planning (CHIP) process.

The CHA-CHIP process will center health equity and community engagement in evaluating the health status of Brookline residents, as well as identifying community needs and barriers to improvement.

This comprehensive assessment goes beyond examining the prevalence and trends of health conditions, such as cancer, heart disease, mental health disorders, substance use, infectious diseases, and environmental health. It also explores the social and structural determinants of health that influence these trends. Full press release.