San Luis Obispo County’s New Community Health Improvement Plan Tackles Mental Health, Substance Use and Access to Care

The Public Health Department in San Luis Obispo County has recently released its latest Community Health Improvement Plan. This document is a collaborative effort with community partners and is based on feedback from thousands of local residents. Unlike previous years, this plan has narrowed down its focus to just three key priorities: mental health and substance use, healthy neighborhoods, and access to care.

Dr. Penny Borenstein, the SLO County Public Health Officer, highlighted the importance of families recognizing mental health issues in their children and taking steps to prevent substance abuse at home. She believes that by working together, the community can create a safer and healthier environment for everyone. Other priority areas include creating safe bicycle traffic, building parks, and ensuring access to a variety of healthcare professionals beyond just physicians.

The Community Health Improvement Plan was developed by SLO Health Counts, a collaboration of community members, nonprofits, and government agencies. Adyan Nazmi, a participant in SLO Health Counts and a professor at Cal Poly, believes that health is fundamental and wants to leverage the plan to empower students to contribute to the community’s health priorities.

Dr. Borenstein hopes for accountability and community engagement in the implementation of the plan. She emphasizes the importance of ongoing conversations with community members about how to achieve health improvements collectively. The Community Health Improvement Plan serves as a strategic guide for the Public Health Department and its partners to work towards building a healthier county.