A little about...
Carlton County
Founded
1857
Total State Parks
2
Population
36,207
Total Households
13,972
Median Household Income
$80,042
Median Age
41.7
Well Within Reach
Wellbeing is associated with numerous health, job, family, and economically-related benefits. According to the CDC, higher levels of wellbeing are associated with decreased risk of disease, illness, and injury, better immune function, speedier recovery, and increased longevity. It’s even linked to higher work productivity and community involvement.
Easy access to essential services allows county community members to keep wellbeing Well Within Reach. A healthy community is built on connections, so that’s why everything you need is gathered here in one place. Through Carlton County Public Health’s community health assessment, health priorities are chosen based on what the community needs most. When we all thrive, we all succeed.
Well Within Reach was created by Carlton County Public Health & Human Services, in partnership with the Carlton County Family & Initiatives Department, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and United Way of Carlton & Pine County.
How we do it
Always striving to improve
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.
This assessment goes through four phases:
Assessment
This is where Public Health looks at community health data to identify factors that affect the health of the community, and the available resources to address those factors.
Prioritization
Public Health works together with community partners to look at the data collected and assess the highest priority areas according to this data.
Strategy
Next, a strategic plan is created. This is a long-term Community Health Improvement Plan, or CHIP, that outlines what Public Health, in conjunction with our community and partners, will do to improve health in the priority areas.
Implementation
Lastly is the implementation phase. During this phase, Public Health begins implementing the strategies identified in the CHIP with the goal of improving health of residents.
Results of our most recent Community Health Assessment
The top three priority areas identified for Carlton County were:
Mental Health
Substance Misuse
Obesity
Current work includes the identification of programming or resources within these areas and where there may be gaps. Listening sessions have also taken place in some of the priority areas, with community members and partners to brainstorm strategies.
As a result of this initial work, Carlton County Public Health has found that there are many local organizations working within these areas; the community needed a resource to connect to them.
