The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) invites your input into the most comprehensive health needs assessment ever undertaken by the department. The needs assessment process will result in the selection of priority health issues for inclusion in Healthy Iowans: Iowa’s Health Improvement Plan 2017-2021. The plan sets the public health agenda for taking action over the next five years.   Coordinated by IDPH, this statewide effort is designed to help Iowans live longer, healthier, more productive lives. Recommendations may be made through a form available on the IDPH Healthy Iowans website at http://idph.iowa.gov/healthy-iowans. Submissions are due by February 29, 2016.

Besides your input, recommendations will be compiled from IDPH advisory committees and about 170 stakeholder groups. Priority health issues included in every local public health agency’s Community Health Needs Assessments and Health Improvement Plan will form the building blocks for the needs assessment.