What is a Community Health Network Area (CHNA)

 A Community Health Network Area (CHNA) is a local coalition of public, non-profit, and private sectors working together to build healthier communities in Massachusetts through community-based prevention planning and health promotion.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health established the Community Health Network Area (CHNA) effort in 1992. Today this initiative involves all 351 towns and cities through 27 Community Health Networks.

Community Health Network Area - Principles

Community Health Networks are guided by the following principles:

• Community Health Networks are committed to continuous improvement of health.
• Community Health Networks are focused on tracking area health indicators and eliminating identified disparities.
• Community Health Networks are community and resident based.
• Community Health Networks are inclusive of key stakeholders in health improvement: residents, consumers, coalitions, communities of faith, local and state governments, businesses, and providers of community-based health, education, and human services.
• Community Health Networks are reflective of the age, racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, and linguistic diversity of the area.
• Community Health Networks are working partnerships among the Department of Public Health, residents, consumers, coalitions, local service providers, local and state governments.

Each of the 27 Community Health Networks collaboratively identifies local and regional health priorities, designs community-based prevention plans, and track success in achieving healthier communities. CHNAs develop new health improvement projects as initial projects are completed.

Community Health Networks may be guided in selecting health improvement projects by using the following approach:

• Review the CHNA vision: healthier people in healthier communities in Massachusetts through community-based prevention planning and health promotion
• Review the CHNA health status indicators and other health and community data
• Identify, analyze and collectively prioritize health problems in the community. Examples of tools to assist this process include APEX-PH (Assessment Protocol for Excellence in Public Health),PATCH (Planned Approach to Community Health), Together We Can, and Healthy Communities
• Identify current resources
• Design strategies and develop an action plan to reduce leading health disparities
• Establish a set of measurable outcomes to evaluate progress towards improved health
• Work together to implement the action
• Evaluate outcomes
• Go on to the next health issue
   

While each Community Health Network may have a different design and composition, all Networks function as frameworks for the development of partnerships that enhance cooperation in developing a preventive, primary care health model each community.

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For more information contact Margie Henderson at mhenderson@tmfnet.org