Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)

The CHIP is a long-term, community-driven strategic plan for the Orange County Health Care Agency (the HCA) and county stakeholders to collectively improve the health of all community members and to address public health problems based on the results of community health assessment (CHA) activities and the community health improvement process. A plan is typically updated every three to five years. This plan is used by health and other governmental education and human service agencies, in collaboration with community partners, to set priorities and coordinate and target resources. A community health improvement plan is critical for developing policies and defining actions to target efforts that promote health. Developed by the HCA in partnership with many stakeholders in 2019, the plan was informed by a year-long community health assessment.

What are the Health Priorities of Orange County?

Assessing the health status of the community is a core public health function of the HCA. The data and information contained in the most recent CHIP is used to help better educate health department staff, government officials, and the community about local health priorities and needs of the County. Similarly, the CHIP also helps to develop policy and operational priorities, allocate community resources, and plan for action to improve health.

The latest CHIP identified that improving health in Orange County requires a close look at the conditions that create health inequities. Two of the six focus areas previously identified as priority areas in the CHIP revolved around addressing overall system issues: Social Determinants of Health and Access and System Navigation. The four remaining priority areas highlighted health topics as the most pressing to work on in the next three years: Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Mental Health and Substance Use; Older Adult Health; and Sexual Health. To learn more about the six priority areas identified in Orange County’s most recent CHIP, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the area of interest.

How Long We Live

Ultimately, the job of public health is to improve how long we live, and the quality of life we experience throughout our lives. One key measure of the health of our community is life expectancy, which tells us how long a typical person is expected to live when they are born. Communities that have more opportunities for health access and resources will generally have a longer life expectancy.

 

  • Life Expectancy at Birth

    82.1
    Years
    Orange County, CA
  • 79.0
    Years
    California
  • 76.1
    Years
    United States of America

Life Expectancy at Birth in Orange County by Race/Ethnicity

Health Status of Orange County Residents

Good health is not only about living longer. Good health is about having a high quality of life, free from chronic illness or mental health concern. One way to measure the health status of Orange County residents is to look at the state of physical and mental health in the County.

Physical Health

Overweight or Obese, Adults, Ages 20 and Older

  Orange County California
Overweight (BMI 25.0-29.99) 31.3% 32.4%
Obese (BMI 30 or over) 20.9% 27.3%
Overweight or Obese (BMI 25 or over) 52.2% 59.7%

Overweight or Obese, Adults, by Race/Ethnicity

  Orange County California
Black/African American 44.1%* 65.9%
White 56.8% 57.6%
Latino 61.8% 72.8%
Asian 26.1% 36.5%
Total Adult Population 52.2% 59.6%
* Statistically unstable

Mental Health

Mental Health Indicators, Adults, Ages 18 and Older

  Orange County California
Adults who likely had serious psychological distress during past year 12.1% 12.6%
Adults who needed help for emotional-mental and/or alcohol-drug issues in past year 19.5% 21.7%
Adults who sought/needed help but did not receive treatment 46.9% 45.6%

What factors impact health in our community?

The role of public health is no longer limited to preventing acute and chronic illnesses. Prevention and management of conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and social determinants of health are key to decreasing illness, and death due to these conditions. To learn more about these factors, please click on the area(s) at the bottom of the page.