Content Information
Health Improvement Strategies Throughout Iowa
A companion to Iowa's 2023-2027 State Health Improvement Plan.
A Message on Sharing
Beg, borrow, steal...don't reinvent the wheel!
This phrase - in addition to being widely popular among public health professionals - emphasizes the importance of sharing thoughts, ideas and actions with each other. In doing so, we are able to leverage existing resources, build partnerships, and have a greater impact on the people we serve.
In Iowa, there are hundreds of organizations dedicated to health improvement efforts. Rather than doing this work in isolation, organizations are encouraged to publicly share their expertise, experience, and lessons learned. This document was created as a way to enhance the visibility of this work.
In reading this document, we hope you draw inspiration from the work of others and potentially establish new partnerships based on common goals.
Background
Over the last few years, the Healthy Iowans Team has been hard at work collecting, analyzing and compiling data on the health of people in our great state. In June of 2022, Iowa HHS officially published the 2021-2022 State Health Assessment. The data within this report clearly outlined seven main health priorities affecting Iowans: Access to Care, Cancer, Economic Stability & Income, Healthy Eating & Active Living, Housing, Mental Health & Mental Disorders, and Substance Use. After assessing available resources and capacity, the Healthy Iowans Steering Commitee selected Access to Care: Behavioral Health and Healthy Eating & Active Living as their focus for the 2023-2027 State Health Improvement Plan. Although their efforts will center around these two priorities, organizations throughout the state will continue vital work in all seven priority areas.
To gain a better understanding of ongoing health improvement efforts, the Healthy Iowans Team created the "Strategies Survey." In the survey, respondents were asked to highlight up to three programs, initiatives, or strategies their organization leads now - or has specific plans to lead before 2027. In total, there were over 100 submissions from more than 75 unique organizations.
These submissions represent the magnitude of work being done throughout the state. The programs, initiatives, and strategies span all seven priority areas and represent efforts by countless different sectors. Additionally, the submissions directly relate to over 200 objectives in Healthy People 2030, a national health improvement plan set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP).
The connections to Healthy People 2030, as well as places to find other evidence-based strategies, are spotlighted throughout this document. Along with exploring these, we encourage you to engage with submitting organizations by clicking on their website link or calling the phone number listed. Please note, organizations' contact information may be subject to change over time.
Moving forward, the Healthy Iowans Team plans to update this document twice a year. If you would like your organization's efforts to be included in a future update, please fill out the Strategies Survey.