July PHAN Cafe- Engaging Community in the Health Needs Assessment

Learning Objectives

• Participants will gain an understanding of the Mobilizing for Action through Planning & Partnerships (MAPP) process as applied by LLCHD.
• Participants will learn about the methods and strategies used to facilitate community conversations to gather input for the Community Health Needs Assessment.
• Participants will understand the design & execution of community health surveys, including the development of survey questions and the logistics of distribution and data collection.
• Participants will explore how qualitative data from community conversations/surveys and quantitative data from the assessment are integrated to provide a comprehensive assessment of community health.
• Participants will learn about LLCHDs approaches to community engagement that have been successful in LLCHD's assessment and improvement 

Tommy George:  Tommy supervises the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department's Epidemiology program. He has been in local public health for over 10 years, operating in a range of roles from application development and program evaluation to community health assessment. He received his Bachelor of Science from Washington State University in Chemistry & Biochemistry, his Master of Public Health in Epidemiology from Tulane University's School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine and is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Public Health in Epidemiology from UNMC's College of Public Health. His interests are wide-ranging, focusing on applying epidemiologic practice to public health issues of importance to Lincoln and Lancaster County. Tommy has been involved with numerous community health assessments, supporting the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, North Central District Health Department, and West Central District Health Department in Nebraska, as well as the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department in Washington. 

Lata Nawal:  Latal is a public health epidemiologist at Lincoln Lancaster County with 9 years of public health experience, where she has had the opportunity to develop and support various public health programs and initiatives, such as community health assessments and surveys, and the Place Matters project. These programs target specific health issues, including infectious disease outbreaks, chronic disease prevention, and health disparities within the community. She collaborates with public health officials and community organizations to ensure the successful implementation of these programs. Her work is dedicated to making a positive impact on the health and well-being of all members of the community.

Blake Hendrickson:  Blake is a public health epidemiologist at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Department where he has contributed towards many projects including the Community Health Assessment, Minority Health Initiative, COVID-19 vaccination and contact tracing, and Community Conversations. With 12 years of experience in local, state, and academic public health settings, Blake enjoys the collaborative efforts within the field that are enhancing overall wellness and equity.