Name
Threading the Needle: A Strategic Guide to Community Health Needs Assessments
Description

Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs) are essential for understanding evolving community health priorities and for informing integrated care planning. Compass Health Network, an FQHC and Certified Community Behavioral Health Organization (CBHO), also runs a youth psychiatric hospital, and thus develops (at least) two coordinated but distinct CHNAs to meet HRSA and IRS requirements. This presentation shares a practical, replicable framework that integrates quantitative data, qualitative community input, and organizational strategic priorities. Methods include careful data-source selection, stakeholder engagement, focus groups and surveys, and synthesis across medical, dental, behavioral health, and social determinants domains, surfacing needs like access barriers, behavioral health service gaps, housing instability, and rural/underserved disparities. This session will provide insights and actionable knowledge/skills about conducting CHNAs and leveraging findings as strategic assets, with a focus on the implications for integrated healthcare as delivered at Compass and similarly situated organizations.

Speakers
Paul Thomlinson, Ph.D.
Co-Authors
Delaney Adler, MS; Aadin Miller; Dr. Paul Thomlinson
Content Level
All Audience
Tags
Collaborative Care Model of Integrated Care, Population and public health, Research and evaluation
Session Type
Poster
Objective 1
Design a comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) framework tailored to both HRSA and IRS requirements, integrating quantitative data sources and community‑engagement strategies.
Objective 2
Analyze CHNA data to identify core community health concerns and evaluate their implications for organizational planning.
Objective 3
Apply CHNA findings to develop actionable organizational improvements.
Content Reference 1

Ravaghi, H., Guisset, A. L., Elfeky, S., Nasir, N., Khani, S., Ahmadnezhad, E., & Abdi, Z. (2023). A scoping review of community health needs and assets assessment: concepts, rationale, tools and uses. BMC health services research, 23(1), 44. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-022-08983-3

Content Reference 2

Hospital Industry Data Institute. (2025). Missouri Hospital Association. https://hidiadvantage.net/. Retrieved: November 14, 2025.

Content Reference 3

University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute. (2025). Health Data. County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/health-data.

Content Reference 4

Community Health Needs Assessment for Charitable Hospital Organizations - section 501(r)(3). Internal Revenue Service. (2025, July 1). https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/community-health-needs-assessment-for-charitable-hospital-organizations-section-501r3

Content Reference 5

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 16). Community Planning for Health Assessment: CHA & CHIP. Public Health Professionals Gateway. https://www.cdc.gov/public-health-gateway/php/public-health-strategy/public-health-strategies-for-community-health-assessment-health-improvement-planning.html