Community Health Action Plan
Health Improvement works best with the Community involved. The 2025-2028 Community Health Improvement Plan involves strategies and action steps that are proven to work. The plan pulls together local agencies, organizations, and community members to improve health and wellness in Defiance County.
Strategy 1: Ensure the implementation of Evidence-Based Suicide Prevention Programs with Fidelity across All Defiance County Schools.
Goal: To reduce youth suicide risk by fully implementing the evidence-based prevention program with fidelity across all Defiance County schools, increasing awareness among school personnel and parents/guardians, and expanding mental health education and resources.
Populations most impacted by health issue: youth, parents, guardians, schools
Strategy 2: Train Champions in the Community in Evidence-Based Mental Health Interventions/Programs
Goal: To equip community members who regularly interact with youth with training in evidence-based mental health interventions and programs, in order to enhance their ability to provide support, connect youth to appropriate resources, and increase overall awareness and education around youth mental health.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Youth, school staff, community youth leaders
Strategy 3: Expand Parent/Guardian Based Programs in Mental and Behavioral Health
Goal: To improve youth mental and behavioral health outcomes by expanding and promoting evidence-based parent/guardian education programs throughout Defiance County, with a focus on skill-building, family engagement, and early intervention.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Parents and guardians of youth, particularly in underserved or high-risk communities.
Strategy 4: Develop Targeted Outreach Campaigns for Specific Populations that Link Them to Local, State and Federal Resources
Goal: Increase awareness of digital and local mental health resources available in the community by implementing outreach campaigns to populations most impacted by mental and behavioral health.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Adults and youth experiencing mental health challenges; individuals unaware of available mental health services; caregivers; underserved or rural populations; non-English speaking residents.
Strategy 1: Implement Safety Education Campaigns
Goal: Increase awareness and knowledge of social media and online safety among youth, parents/guardians, and most impacted community members through education campaigns.
Populations most impacted: Youth, Hispanic, Other race, Parents/Guardians
Strategy 2: Safe System Approach Transportation
Goal: Promote safer transportation habits among teens and families through evidence-based education and community-driven safety initiatives, with a focus on reducing risky driving behaviors, increasing helmet use, and improving knowledge around road safety.
Populations most impacted by health issue: teens, parents/guardians, caregivers, mature drivers
Strategy 3: Promote Outreach and Education Initiatives Focused on Building Healthy Relationships
Goal: Promote healthy relationships and reduce the incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among teens, adults, and parents/guardians through inclusive, age-appropriate, and evidence-based education programs.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Teens, Parents/Guardians, Adults (including those in parenting, caregiving, or mentoring roles)
Strategy 4: Substance Use Prevention
Goal: Prevent and reduce youth and adult substance use in the community by engaging local businesses, conducting readiness assessments, and promoting evidence-based prevention strategy.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Youth (especially ages 12–18), Parents/Guardians, Local Employers, and Community Stakeholders
Strategy 1: Expand Access to Health Screenings for Populations Most Impacted
Goal: Increase early detection and management of chronic diseases (e.g., hypertension, diabetes) by implementing accessible, community-based health screenings, informed by focus groups and connected to care navigation.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Low-income adults, racial/ethnic minority groups, uninsured or underinsured individuals, residents of medically underserved areas, adults aged 40+
Strategy 2: Increase Physical Activity
Goal: Improve physical activity levels among all residents by expanding access to free and convenient exercise options, raising awareness of available resources, and promoting inclusive community-wide fitness initiatives.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Low-income families, adults with children, rural residents, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and residents without access to fitness facilities or safe walking spaces
Strategy 3: Increase Nutrition Education
Goal: Improve knowledge and behaviors around healthy eating by delivering culturally appropriate nutrition education, cooking demonstrations, and access to fresh produce to residents facing food insecurity or nutrition-related health disparities.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Low-income families, food pantry users, SNAP recipients, children and seniors, residents of food deserts, Spanish-speaking and non-English speaking residents
Strategy 1: Access to Transportation
Goal: Increase equitable access to transportation for individuals who face barriers reaching healthcare, work, grocery stores, and other essential services by evaluating current systems and exploring community-based solutions.
Populations most impacted by health issue: rural residents, people without a driver’s licenses or access to a personal vehicle, older adults, low to middle income individuals and families.
Strategy 2: Strengthen relationships with schools and available healthcare systems.
Goal: Enhance coordination between schools and local health systems (Nationwide, ProMedica, FQHCs, Mercy) to address gaps in preventive and routine care for students by implementing tailored, evidence-based interventions in partnership with schools.
Populations most impacted by health issue: K-12 students, rural youth
Strategy 3: Strengthen Workplace Health Education and Health Literacy
Goal: Promote healthier behaviors and informed health decisions among working adults by improving access to evidence-based workplace wellness education and creating health-literate work environments.
Populations most impacted by health issue: low to moderate income workers, employees without workplace wellness benefits, workers with limited health literacy
Strategy 4: Increase General Awareness on Health Services
Goal: Enhance public awareness and access to key community health services such as dental care, transportation, and the Children with Medical Handicaps (CMH) Program by implementing coordinated outreach, education, and referral efforts
Populations most impacted by health issue: low-income, children with special healthcare needs, Individuals with limited access to transportation
Strategy 1: Provide Education and Communication on Preventative Health Guidelines
Goal: Increase awareness, access, and uptake of preventive health screenings and vaccinations among underserved and at-risk populations through communication strategies and data-driven outreach.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Adults aged 18–64, seniors (65+), low-income individuals, uninsured/underinsured individuals, racial/ethnic minorities, and communities with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
Strategy 2: Expand Interventions to Decrease Senior Falls
Goal: Reduce the incidence of falls among older adults and other at-risk populations through evidence-based prevention programs, community partnerships, and expanded outreach.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Older Adults (65+), adults with mobility or balance challenges, individuals with chronic conditions, caregivers
Strategy 3: Increase Education in Safe Sleep Practices
Goal: Reduce sleep-related infant deaths by increasing awareness and adoption of safe sleep practices among parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers through education, outreach, and resource access.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Expectant and new parents, caregivers (including grandparents and foster parents), postpartum families, and childcare providers
Strategy 1: Affordable Housing Development and Preservation
Goal: Increase access to safe, affordable, and stable housing to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities for vulnerable populations in Defiance County.
Populations most impacted by health issue: low-income families and individuals, seniors on fixed income, persons with disabilities, single parent households, veterans, individuals experiencing or are risk of homelessness
Strategy 2: Implement Active Transportation Infrastructure
Goal: Improve access to transportation by expanding and promoting safe, accessible active transportation options (e.g., walking, biking) throughout Defiance County.
Populations most impacted by this issue: low-income residents, individuals without access to a personal vehicle, children and youth, older adults, people with disabilities
Strategy 3: Implement Build Environments Interventions (Safe Green Space)
Goal: To increase equitable access to safe, functional, and engaging green spaces in Defiance County by 2028, fostering physical activity, social connection, and mental well-being.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Children, youth, low-income families, residents with limited access to recreational areas
Strategy 4: Increase Opportunities for Cross Community Engagement and Involvement.
Goal: To increase community connectedness, social support, and civic engagement by increasing volunteer opportunities and public awareness.
Populations most impacted by health issue: Residents that feel isolated, older adults