2026 Missoula County Community Health Assessment
Project Background:
Missoula Public Health and partners are in the process of updating the Community Health Assessment (CHA), a document compiled every few years that provides a clear, reliable picture of local health issues and needs of individuals and communities.
To gather data for the Community Health Assessment, staff and volunteers conducted a short in-person survey Oct. 13-16, in select neighborhoods across the county.
In addition to the surveys, the Community Health Assessment will include a review and analysis of MPH, state and federal public health data. MPH hopes to have a draft report available for public review in the next few months.
Completing the Community Health Assessment will allow MPH and healthcare partners to more effectively secure funding, allocate resources and plan strategically. For example, previous versions of the health assessment identified substance use disorder as a priority. This information helped MPH secure opioid abatement funding and prompted Community Medical Center to open a hospital-based acute withdrawal management service.
What is a Community Health Assessment?
A Community Health Assessment is a required document to maintain accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving and protecting public health. Although accreditation is voluntary, an accredited health department means that programs are held to a higher level of effectiveness, transparency, and accountability. A Community Health Assessment must be done every three years. The last year MPH completed a Community Health Assessment was in 2023.
Who are the other partners for the Community Health Assessment?
Missoula Public Health is collaborating with All Nations Health Center, Community Medical Center, Partnership Health Center, Providence St. Patrick and the University of Montana to update the assessment for 2026.
How do I get involved?
Residents are invited to volunteer with community outreach and data collection Oct. 13 -16. Volunteers must be at least 18. Click here to sign-up.
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MG
Phone 406-258-3391 Email mgarder@missoulacounty.us -
Phone 406-258-4996
Though l believe the work you’re doing is extremely important, l think food safety at eating establishments is particularly crucial to ensure public health. I was in food service in this town since 1982 and have recently noticed how lax you have become on ServSafe certifications. People cooking daily at Forest Lounge, night cooks at Marvin’s, Alcan, Larry’s Six Mile just to name a few are sadly lacking in their certifications and consistently allowed to keep working. I have seen all these places fall short in safe food standards. I was never allowed to work very long without being certified and l don’t know why this acceptable now.
I live in Seeley Lake. I am deeply concerned about the impending closure of the Seeley Lake medical center that serves residents and visitors to Seeley and also the Seeley-Swan corridor north of us.
We are a rural community that is 50+ miles from Missoula. There is a definite need for basic medical care that is local. I know that there have been difficult discussions. I urge you and your partners to support ongoing services and also planning for solutions to help our community maintain accessible care.
I live in Condon, MT. Although we are in Missoula County, we live 78 miles from the city, so health care is not at all convenient. My primary care provider has been Lynne Rogers at the Seeley Lake Health Clinic (and doctors employed there before her). The Clinic is closing October 30, 2026, so I don't know where I will go for my annual physical and health care in the future. I would appreciate Missoula County Health realizing that there are elderly taxpayers like me who are in need of real health care opportunities closer to home.
Thanks.
Robin Hall