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In 2022, the Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD), Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital (SMJH), and UVA Health conducted the District’s Community Health Assessment called MAPP2Health. The MAPP2Health results were published last September in the 2022 MAPP2Health Report. Now, the report’s recommendations are being put into action as part of a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) The CHIP covers the entire District – Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson.
This week marks the launch of the CHIP – a three-year process uniting agencies and organizations districtwide to make positive change in Transportation, the Healthcare Workforce, Digital Access + Literacy, and Mental + Behavioral Health. Community partners have already begun collaborating in workgroups – setting objectives and identifying conveners – to achieve the CHIP’s goals by the end of 2025.
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Transportation - Partners in the Transportation workgroup include CAT, Jaunt, Albemarle Board of Supervisors, UTS, Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, Charlottesville Area Alliance, and Piedmont Mobility Alliance. Work is planned in areas such as GPS app expansion, microtransit, rideshare, transportation support to and from District hospitals, and bus shelter improvements. In fact, some efforts are already underway: Jaunt approved its Transit Development Plan in February and is actively implementing improvements in its scheduling system and phone service throughout the spring.
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Healthcare Workforce - The Healthcare Workforce workgroup is a diverse set of clinical providers, government agencies, educators, Network2Work@PVCC, non-profit organizations, community health workers, school advocates, and community and diversity leaders from UVA Health and SMJH. They are working toward two goals: 1) Ensuring providers and staff reflect the diverse patient population; and 2) Expanding the provision of health services in rural or underserved communities. Objectives include upstream initiatives from diversifying the pool of patient actors in clinical simulations to expanding clinical career pathways for high school students. Already underway is a Community Health Worker (CHW) network, connecting CHWs districtwide to training and programs that enhance their skills. An exciting objective to increase the number of qualified medical interpreters aims to connect multi-lingual community members with careers critical to improving patient care. Finally, to expand health services, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, and Nelson Counties have reviewed the CHIP’s goals in the context of their Comprehensive Planning and Economic Development.
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Digital Access & Literacy - This workgroup is still forming, with organizations like Albemarle’s Broadband Accessibility and Affordability Office, Jefferson Madison Regional Library, TJACE@PVCC, JABA, and the Louisa Commission on Aging exploring how to get broadband, hardware, software, digital navigators, or online support to all the District’s residents – particularly its rural, older, and non-native speakers.
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Mental Health + Behavioral Health - Virginia has long been impacted by historic underfunding and a behavioral health workforce shortage. No organization knows this more than the Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition, the lead convener of the CHIP's Mental Health Workgroup. Partners include leadership from both health systems, behavioral health organizations, criminal justice organizations, and other groups. The workgroup had a planning session to identify priorities and next steps for tackling the CHIP's goals – like increasing access to care, and promoting policies, systems, and environments that improve behavioral health and wellness.
A lot of people and organizations have contributed and continue to contribute to these extensive CHIP initiatives! You can follow their progress at the CHIP page on our website.
There are several remaining objectives that cannot advance for lack of a convening organization. To review those objectives or recommend an agency or organization that can help, please complete this form. To read the MAPP2Health Report and/or follow along with our CHIP process, visit our website's CHIP page.
BRHD has led the MAPP2Health CHA/CHIP process since 2009, in partnership with Core Group members Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital and UVA Health. The CHA/CHIP Program Officer is currently housed at Blue Ridge Health District, co-funded by BRHD and soon Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital through the support of the Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation. “Sentara is financially committed to the CHIP process to ensure the successful continuation of this important community health initiative,” said Kimberly Skelly, President and Executive Director, Martha Jefferson Hospital Foundation.
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