Shawnee County Community Health Improvement Plan

The CHIP

The 2026 Community Health Improvement Plan is still in development and will be releasing in December of this year. To review the current CHIP please download it from this webpage here.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is a CHIP and why should you care?

    The Community Health Improvement Plan is a strategic plan that guides how we, as a community, address our top health challenges. Based on local data from the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA), the priority areas include: Behavioral Health (Mental Health and Substance Use) Neighborhood Safety and Housing Healthy Eating Options Health Equity (including disparities related to sexually transmitted infections and infant mortality)

  • Why does Shawnee County need a chip?

    Our community data tells a clear story:
    Shawnee County residents report 14% more poor mental health days than the state average—and nearly 19% more than the national average. Alcohol is the most used and abused substance among youth in the U.S. 36.4% of owner-occupied housing is reporting being cost-burdened (spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs). Shawnee County’s infant mortality rate is about 34% higher than the state and national average. These aren’t just numbers—they’re daily realities for thousands in our county. The CHIP helps us respond to those needs with coordinated, community-informed action.

  • What are the priority areas?

    Shawnee County’s CHIP is focused on four priorities chosen through data and community feedback:

    Behavioral Health
    (Mental health and substance use challenges)

    Neighborhood Safety & Housing
    (Because where you live impacts how you live)

    Healthy Eating Options
    (Access to nutritious, affordable food for all)

    Health Equity
    (Addressing disparities in STIs, infant mortality, and more)

  • How does LiveWell use the CHIP?

    We align our strategies and partnerships with the CHIP goals so we can create collective impact. The CHIP helps everyone from nonprofits to businesses move in the same direction.

  • What role does mental health play in the CHIP?

    In Shawnee County, in the 2024 Community Health Needs Survey, nearly 1,000 people named mental health as their top concern, making it the county’s number one priority. The CHIP prioritizes improving access to care, reducing stigma, and strengthening support systems.

  • How does Neighborhood Safety and Housing come into the CHIP?

    Where we are affects how we live. From safe streets to stable housing, our environment plays a major role in health. In Shawnee County, In 2023, Shawnee County had 34 homicides—nearly 1 in 3 victims were under 18, and 60% involved firearms. The CHIP includes community-driven strategies to create safer, more stable neighborhoods for all.

  • How does the CHIP help with healthy food access?

    In Shawnee County the food insecurity rate is 13.3%, which is higher than the state average of 12.7%. The CHIP supports expanding access to affordable, nutritious food through local partnerships and systems change. Every family should be able to put fresh, healthy meals on the table.

  • What does health equity look like in the CHIP?

    Not everyone in Shawnee County has the same opportunity to live a healthy life. Health equity means recognizing and addressing those gaps. For example in Shawnee County, 39% of adults are obese and 24% are physically inactive—both rates are higher than the state average. The CHIP names equity as a cross-cutting priority—because justice needs to be part of every solution.