February 28, 2019
Contact: Doug Bolnick, Public Information Officer, 636-949-7408
St. Charles County, Missouri – St. Charles County consistently ranks at the top of the list of Missouri’s healthiest counties. To ensure the county continues to maintain this healthy status, the St. Charles County Department of Public Health is leading community-wide effort called Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP).
Comprised of community leaders from schools, non-profit support organizations, healthcare entities, private business and government agencies, the MAPP team seeks help in identifying health needs and evaluating available resources. To collect this information, the program offers an online survey available at sccmo.org/MAPP that is open for St. Charles County residents to complete through March 31. Questions asked by the survey pertain to factors and behaviors that influence health and factors that affect the quality of life in St. Charles County.
“As evidenced by the support we’ve received thus far in the MAPP process, good health is a priority for the residents, businesses and community leaders in St. Charles County,” says Director of the Department of Public Health Hope Woodson. “We are certain that through this collaborative effort, we will be able to outline strategic actions that help individuals, and the community as a whole, live healthier. And, that’s exciting.”
Next steps
Developed on a national level by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Association for County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the MAPP process strives to build a community consensus toward the health needs of residents. Over the course of the project, several stages are involved that assess the community’s current status, identify priorities, develop goals and take actions to meet those needs.
The St. Charles County MAPP coalition developed and approved a Vision Statement for the project, aiming to create, “A healthy life for everyone driven by a unified St. Charles County that is committed to a culture of health in which everybody thrives across all phases of life.” To achieve that vision, monthly planning meetings discuss:
- Defining roles in the public health system
- Mapping locations of key health assets and community resources
- Analyzing strengths and weaknesses to determine opportunities in the community
- Identifying strategies to improve community health and taking ownership to make positive changes
The strategic plan outlined through the process will be introduced later this year. For more information on St. Charles County MAPP, please visit sccmo.org/MAPP or call 636-949-7400.
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About the St. Charles County Division of Health Services
The Division of Health Services promotes healthy choices and improves the health of St. Charles County. To achieve these goals, program services include an Immunization Clinic for children and adults; nutrition education and supplemental food services for women, infants and children; chronic disease screening and prevention; communicable disease reporting and investigation; the collection and distribution of birth and death records; assistance in U.S. passport applications; traveler health services and more. For information on programs offered, visit sccmo.org/HealthServices or call 636-949-7400.
About the St. Charles County Department of Public Health
Through the efforts of its three divisions — Environmental Health and Protection, Health Services and Humane Services — the St. Charles County Department of Public Health provides a wide range of services that enhance the well-being of the community. To learn how the department assists this region or to find out about volunteer opportunities with any of the divisions, visit sccmo.org/PublicHealth or call 636-949-7400.
About St. Charles County
Founded in 1812, St. Charles County is one of the fastest growing counties in Missouri, and the state’s third largest county in both population and economic share. It is home to 15 scenic county parks, encompassing more than 3,643 acres with additional land under development and more in reserve for future development.
With a population of 395,504, St. Charles County is home to large employers including General Motors, Citi, MasterCard Worldwide and Boeing. It is ranked among the top 25 counties in the nation in high-tech job growth by the Progressive Policy Institute and consistently has the lowest unemployment rate in the Metropolitan St. Louis area.
St. Charles County employs more than 1,100 in more than 30 departments and offices, who work to make the county an excellent place to live, work and shop. For more information, please visit sccmo.org.