/ en Sun, 15 Jun 2025 02:42:17 -0500 Mon, 09 Jun 25 07:00:00 -0500 /center/community-health-improvement-week Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0500 Community Health Improvement Week (CHIWeek) /center/community-health-improvement-week/archive/2024 Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:00:00 -0600 Community Health Improvement Week (CHIWeek) /center/hcc/curriculum Wed, 26 Jun 2024 15:00:00 -0500 Community Health Improvement Week (CHIWeek) /news/headline/2024-06-13-infographic-highlights-hospitals-valuable-role-communities <p>The AHA June 13 released an <a href="/infographics/2024-06-13-hospitals-are-cornerstones-their-communities-infographic">infographic</a> highlighting the many ways hospitals and health systems advance health and support their communities. Among other topics, the infographic includes data on the number of patients treated in hospital emergency departments, number of babies delivered and number of surgeries performed. It also states that 6.4 million people were directly employed by hospitals in the U.S. in 2022, and hospitals supported nearly one in six jobs across the nation. Hospitals also purchased $1.3 trillion in goods and services from other businesses and supported $4.4 trillion in total economic activity. This week is Community Health Improvement Week. For more ways hospitals and health systems support their communities, visit AHA’s <a href="/center/community-health-improvement-week">CHI Week webpage</a>.</p> Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:07:23 -0500 Community Health Improvement Week (CHIWeek) /news/headline/2024-06-12-aha-video-iu-health-brings-health-care-barbershop-help-address-disparities <p>As part of <a href="/center/community-health-improvement-week">Community Health Improvement Week</a> June 10-14, the AHA released a video showcasing the impact Indiana University Health's iHEART collaborative has had on barbershops and other community spaces to address health disparities in Indianapolis. The video shares the experiences of Marvin Taylor's All in the Wrists Barbershop, where he discusses how he met with IU Health and partnered with them to provide free community health screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and social determinants of health, all while residents could look and feel their very best. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYGawZ34n9s&t=328s">WATCH NOW</a> </p> Wed, 12 Jun 2024 15:30:37 -0500 Community Health Improvement Week (CHIWeek) /news/headline/2024-06-11-case-studies-hospitals-demonstrate-practical-application-community-health-assessment-tool <p>AHA’s Community Health Assessment <a href="https://www.healthycommunities.org/resources/community-health-assessment-toolkit">toolkit</a> provides step-by-step instructions for conducting community health assessments and improvement plans. In celebration of Community Health Improvement Week June 10-14, see AHA’s new case studies highlighting how hospitals have used the toolkit to engage with their communities — including how <a href="https://www.healthycommunities.org/system/files/media/file/2024/04/AHA-CHA-BJC-HealthCare-Case-Study.pdf">BJC HealthCare</a> uses an innovative collaborative approach to inspire their community to prioritize health every day through financial health and well-being, school health and wellness, infant and maternal health, and diabetes and healthy food access. <a href="https://www.healthycommunities.org/resources/toolkit/files/case-studies">LEARN MORE</a> </p> Tue, 11 Jun 2024 15:48:00 -0500 Community Health Improvement Week (CHIWeek) /news/chairpersons-file/2024-06-10-chair-file-together-we-can-do-so-much-improve-community-health <p>This week is <a href="/center/community-health-improvement-week" target="_blank" title="Community Health Improvement Week Website">Community Health Improvement Week</a>, a time to celebrate people and organizations working to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities and accelerate health equity.</p><p>Collaboration and partnership are key to successful efforts to improve community health. Hospitals, health systems and a variety of community organizations across the country are partnering to develop creative solutions and innovative programs in this critical work.</p><ul><li>IU Health’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYGawZ34n9s&t=328s" target="_blank" title="iHEART collaborative">iHEART collaborative</a> embeds health resources in Indianapolis barbershops and other community spaces. The collaborative’s goal is to reduce disparities in cardiovascular disease and improve health in historically marginalized communities.</li><li>Stormont Vail Health in Topeka, Kan., created a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcOScn1am4s&t=128s" target="_blank" title="Prescription Food Pantry">prescriptive food pantry</a> that addresses food insecurity in the community and also helps patients manage diabetes. The care team works to develop a trusting relationship with these patients and provides guidance.</li><li>Dartmouth Health, the health system I lead, is supporting efforts to provide <a href="https://www.dartmouth-health.org/about/news/article/dartmouth-health-becomes-nhs-largest-state-investor-support-community-loan-fund-more" target="_blank" title="Safe Affordable Housing">safe, affordable housing</a> — an important driver of individual and community health — as part of the New Hampshire Community Loan Fund. We are the largest in-state investor in the fund and proud of the investment that we are making in our communities and our people.</li></ul><p>Visit <a href="/center/community-health-improvement-week" target="_blank" title="AHA Community Health Improvement Week site">AHA.org</a> to read about these and other examples of creative, collaborative work to improve community health. Hospitals and health systems are wholeheartedly devoted to their communities, no matter what. They are cornerstones of their communities — always there, in good times and in bad.</p><p>Most importantly this week, we want to hear from you. Join the national conversation during Community Health Improvement Week by sharing your stories on social media channels — and be sure to use the <strong>#CHIWeek</strong> hashtag. Please encourage your community partners to do the same.</p><p>Helen Keller observed: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” These wise words so aptly describe the power of partnership and collaboration that can transform our communities as we work together to ensure everyone reaches their highest potential for health</p> Mon, 10 Jun 2024 09:26:36 -0500 Community Health Improvement Week (CHIWeek) /center/community-health-improvement-week/digital-tool-kit Mon, 05 Feb 2024 09:32:27 -0600 Community Health Improvement Week (CHIWeek) /news/headline/2023-06-12-aha-podcast-aligning-health-equity-and-community-health-goals <p>At the start of Community Health Improvement Week, the AHA’s Nancy Myers and Chris DeRienzo, M.D., discuss where community health and equity goals are headed and the driving forces behind the movement to align them. <a href="/advancing-health-podcast/2023-06-11-aligning-health-equity-and-community-health-goals?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=aha-today"><strong>LISTEN NOW</strong></a> </p> <p> </p> <p></p> <div><a href="https://soundcloud.com/advancinghealth" target="_blank" title="Advancing Health">Advancing Health</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/advancinghealth/the-convergence-of-equity-and-community-health-goals" target="_blank" title="Aligning Health Equity and Community Health Goals">Aligning Health Equity and Community Health Goals</a></div> Mon, 12 Jun 2023 15:22:10 -0500 Community Health Improvement Week (CHIWeek) /news/chairpersons-file/2023-06-12-chair-file-hospitals-focus-healthy-communities <p>Consider what makes a community “healthy.” Your list may include access to nutritious foods; safe places for all children, youth and adults to live, work and play; access to quality health care; opportunities to receive a good education and get a good job — and more.</p> <p>Children’s Hospital Los Angeles recently asked young people to assess the health of their community. The hospital team, in partnership with local youth-serving organizations, first worked with youth to better understand the concept of social drivers of health and how their community affects their health.</p> <p>Then the young people went out into their neighborhoods to take photos, identifying community health needs and assets. More than 150 young people participated in CHLA’s 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment Youth Photovoice Project, which became an online photo exhibit called “<a href="https://www.chla.org/blog/community-programs/photovoice-seeing-the-community-through-the-eyes-our-youth" target="_blank">Through My Lens: Elevating the Voices of LA County Youth</a>.” Many of these photos were displayed at the AHA Accelerating Health Equity Conference in Minneapolis last month, and you can learn more about this project by visiting <a href="/center/community-health-improvement-week#VideoLayoutHolder" target="_blank">AHA.org</a>.</p> <p><strong>June 12–18 is </strong><a href="/center/community-health-improvement-week"><strong>Community Health Improvement Week</strong></a>. <strong>This annual recognition week focuses on how people at hospitals, health systems, national organizations and community organizations are working together to improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities and advance health equity. This week, AHA is highlighting many community health improvement resources and stories from the AHA Community Health Improvement (ACHI) network, on the web and across social media channels.</strong></p> <p>New this year are “<a href="/center/community-health-improvement-week#VideoLayoutHolder" target="_blank">Community Health Improvement in Action videos</a>” shared by hospitals and health systems that answer the question “what makes a community healthy” and spotlight creative programs and inspiring initiatives, like the one from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. But they’re more than feel-good stories: This work is affecting real change by reducing hospital readmissions, linking patients and families to social services, communicating accurate health information, ensuring equitable access to health care and more.</p> <p>I encourage your organization to share your community health improvement work and its impact as well. Visit <a href="/center/community-health-improvement-week" target="_blank">AHA.org</a> for ideas on ways to celebrate and post your stories on social medial using #CHIWeek.</p> <p>We must continue our work to ensure all individuals and communities are healthy by identifying, assessing and prioritizing community health and social needs; developing and implementing interventions to address unmet needs; and improving data-sharing, research and ongoing education and communication.</p> <p>Most of us, I imagine, would agree that a healthy community is an environment where all people enjoy good health and well-being, with opportunities to grow, learn and make connections that enhance our lives. Join AHA in celebrating Community Health Improvement Week and share how you are helping make your community healthy.</p> Mon, 12 Jun 2023 09:26:52 -0500 Community Health Improvement Week (CHIWeek)