Sara Cole

This document serves as the final report for the 2023-2025 Flathead County Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which is a community-based approach to address public health challenges. The plan focuses on three core priorities: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention, Social Determinants of Health, and Community Connection and Resilience. It aims to set community health priorities, coordinate resources, and define actions to promote health within the Flathead County community.

This Community Health Improvement Plan for Flathead County outlines a community-based systems approach to address public health issues and improve residents' health. Developed from a Community Health Needs Assessment, it aims to enhance health status, extend life spans, elevate overall quality of life, reduce health disparities, and increase accessibility to preventive services. The plan focuses on three key priorities: Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention, Social Determinants of Health, and Community Connection and Resilience, with specific objectives and strategies to achieve a healthier community.

The meetings covered several key operational and planning discussions across the noted dates. Key topics included the election/retention of the TAC Chair and Vice-chairperson, updates on ridership for Fiscal Year 2025, and staffing changes, including retirements and the pursuit of new hires. Discussions focused heavily on capital projects, noting the delay of a parking lot project and the expected arrival of back-ordered vehicles. Intercity transportation was reviewed, leading to a motion to explore expansion, though budget shortfalls paused this initiative. The committee extensively discussed implementing a ZOOM option for future meetings, although the preference leaned toward in-person attendance. Other significant items included the process for addressing TAC bylaw violations resulting in member removal, planning for the Annual Public Meeting schedule in late 2025, initiating the Transportation Coordination Plan (TCP) review, exploring alternative funding sources including local municipalities and major businesses like Logan Health, and the reclassification of an employee's job title from Driver to Fleet and Facilities Coordinator. The January 2026 meeting specifically addressed the February 2026 grant filing deadline, leading to a cancelled February meeting and the scheduling of special meetings in January 2026 to finalize the TCP.

This Transportation Coordination Plan summarizes current and anticipated coordination efforts in Flathead County, aiming to provide effective public transportation solutions, improve access to employment, reduce congestion, and enhance service efficiency. It is driven by the goals of identifying industry best practices, conducting needs assessments, and ensuring robust public outreach. Key challenges addressed include managing traffic, parking, workforce mobility, housing, aging population needs, healthcare access, and visitor management. The plan's priorities include ongoing strategic visioning to efficiently serve core riders and expand services, enhancing public and organizational support for a well-funded transit system, fostering partnerships to expand commuter services, increasing ridership through targeted efforts and improved customer experience, and considering the needs of smaller communities.

The Flathead County Community Health Report provides a data-driven assessment of the health status, behaviors, and needs of its residents to inform future community health improvement planning. It identifies key areas of opportunity including addressing chronic diseases, improving access to care, and tackling substance use issues. The report highlights community-identified priorities such as access to primary care, behavioral health services, support for older adults, transportation, food security, and housing, with the overarching goals of improving resident health status, increasing life spans, reducing health disparities, and enhancing accessibility to preventive services.