Ashland Climate Collaborative seeks community input

Ashland.news staff report

The Oregon Public Health Department is gathering local feedback to decide which health priorities will be included in its newest State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), also known as Healthier Together Oregon (HTO), for 2025-2029.

As written in the 2020-2024 edition, HTO “is a tool for anyone wanting to improve their community’s health. It is meant to inform community health improvement plans and state agency policies, partnerships
and investments.”

This year, the state will be gathering input through community-based organizations like local nonprofit Ashland Climate Collaborative. This spring marks the first of two sessions for community members to provide input to the department.

Survey participants will be asked to rank three of their top health priorities out of seven provided: healthy environments; emergency preparedness and response; health across the lifespan; disease prevention and health promotion; physical, mental, and community safety; mental well-being and behavioral health; and equitable social conditions.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to have your voice heard at the state level,’’ said Erin O’Kelley Muck , executive director of the Ashland Climate Collaborative.

To share input with health authorities, field workers will be at local events like the Tuesday Growers Market to speak with, available by email at [email protected], and online surveys can be submitted here. The first feedback section will close on April 26 and the second will occur in the early summer and close July 30.

For more information about Ashland Climate Collaborative’s role in gathering feedback for this project, please email [email protected].

Source: Ashland Climate Collaborative news release. Email Ashland.news at [email protected].