Mobilizing for Health through Planning and Partnerships

The Mobilizing for action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) process applies strategic thinking, community input and data analysis to prioritize health issues and begin identifying ways to address them.

Learn More About our MAPP Process

Norfolk Local Public Health System Assessment (PDF)

The Norfolk Local Public Health System Assessment (PDF) was a discussion-based analysis of how well service providers and community organizations worked together to provide key public health services in Norfolk. On Tuesday, December 8, we hosted a community dialogue about Norfolk's public health system. Over 80 participants attended representing 45 organizations.

Some of the services that we discussed included monitoring health, mobilizing community partnerships, and linking vulnerable populations to care.

Community Themes & Strengths Assessment

To conduct the Community Themes and Strengths Assessment (PDF), we circulated a survey across all of Norfolk to better understand how residents and partners felt about health and quality of life issues in Norfolk.

Community Health Status Assessment

The Community Health Status Assessment (PDF) was an analysis of the secondary data that investigates the health of Norfolk residents and related issues that impact their health.

Forces of Change Assessment

The Forces of Change Assessment (PDF) investigated the policy, environmental, and community forces that affect the health of our community. In January 2016, the NDPH hosted a Forces of Change brainstorming session. Over 26 community leaders and service providers participated, representing 19 organizations.

Norfolk Community Health Assessment Final Report (PDF)

Photovoice

Youth speak about health through their words and pictures. The Norfolk Department of Public Health and Norfolk Recreation, Parks and Open Space collaborated together on a special project to capture our community through the eyes of our youth with the Norfolk Photovoice project. Photovoice was a documentary photography initiative and a creative way to allow youth to share with key stakeholders some of the strengths and health challenges within their community. Through facilitated discussions youth shared and documented on the good things, health problems and risky behaviors in their neighborhoods through the art of photography and written captions.

See the Photovoice Project with Youth Presentation

Through MAPP, we identified several significant issues that impact the health of our community. After receiving feedback from the Community Advisory Board (CAB) and diverse community members, we decided to work and develop plans to address safe communities, chronic disease and sexual health.

Safe communities

High rates of crime and violence impact how safe residents feel in their neighborhoods and prevents them from accessing outdoor physical activity opportunities, taking care of their neighborhoods, and creates a lack of community feeling. 

Chronic Disease Prevention

Chronic illnesses, including obesity, heart disease, and cancer, impact the health of the community. 

Sexual Health

Norfolk has high rates of teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections that particularly affect the health of black residents. 

Smoking, Drugs, & Alcohol

Smoking, drugs and alcohol are unhealthy behaviors that affect individual health and contribute to residents' feelings of safety within their neighborhoods. 

Workforce & Economic Development

Residents want jobs that support healthful living. At the same time, there is low job creation, pay compression, and talent flight.

Mental Health

Residents and community partners express strong concern for mental health issues, as well as the inability to access mental health services and medications.

Communication & Collaboration Among Partners & the Public

The strength of multiple complex resources and many partners working on connected issues can create challenges related to information, data, communication, and resource sharing. Ultimately, this dynamic can affect the successful execution of programs as well as the coordination, communication and accountability among partners. This is a problem for local and regional efforts. 

Accessing Places & Services to Stay Healthy

While there are places to exercise and seek care, community members report having trouble accessing these places for a variety of reasons, including affordability, accessibility, location, and safety. 

Next Steps

NDPH and the CAB plan to develop a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) to address priority health issues, as well as to continue their work in engaging community members and partners in planning and implementing the CHIP. The CHIP will include a description of the prioritized health issues affecting the Norfolk community, supporting data, strategies to address the issue, and an implementation plan. The implementation plan will include objectives, performance measures, and a list of action steps to improve the community's health in key areas.

If you have questions or would like to learn more about how you can get involved, please email us at Norfolk Department of Public Health.