Public Health

Public Health provides service to promote health, prevent disease and sustain healthier living for county residents. Public Health staff include registered nurses, a registered dietician, and health educators who provide assessment, education, support, and referrals to residents of Aitkin County.

• The assessment and monitoring of the health of communities and populations at risk to identify health problems and priorities;
• The formulation of public policies designed to solve identified local and national health problems and priorities;
• To assure that all populations have access to appropriate and cost-effective care, including health promotion and disease prevention services, and evaluation of the effectiveness of that care.

Aitkin Itasca Koochiching Community Health Assessment and Plan

All Minnesota community health boards are required to participate in assessment and planning, to determine local public health priorities and focus local resources on the greatest community and organizational needs. The requirement to engage in a community health improvement process, beginning with a community health assessment, has been in place since the Local Public Health Act was I passed in 1976.

COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT

A community health assessment provides a picture of the health of the jurisdiction. It identifies and describes factors that affect the health of a community, and the available resources to address those factors. A community health board, or another lead organization, in partnership with the community, collects, analyzes, and begins to use data to determine health priorities and make decisions about action to improve health for the population. The community health assessment is the foundation for determining health priorities.

COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN

The community health improvement plan and strategic plan guides the community health board's work internally, and externally alongside community partners. The community health board can use these plans to advocate for resources, work toward measurable results, and demonstrate efficiency and accountability.

2025-2029 AITKIN-ITASCA-KOOCHICHING COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN