San Luis Obispo County’s Community Health Improvement Plan Focuses on Mental Health and Substance Use for the First Time

The Public Health Department in San Luis Obispo County collaborates with Community Partners and gathers feedback from thousands of residents to develop a Community Health Improvement Plan every five years. This plan serves as a roadmap for how the department and its partners will work together to improve the overall health of the county. This year, the plan focuses on three specific priorities, which is a reduction from the eight priorities implemented over the past five years.

One of the key areas identified in this year’s plan is mental health and substance use. Dr. Penny Borenstein, SLO County Public Health Officer, emphasized the importance of families being able to identify and address substance abuse and mental health issues early on to prevent further challenges. Additionally, creating safe spaces like parks and ensuring access to various healthcare professionals are also critical priority areas identified in the plan. Whether it’s creating accessible green spaces or providing more healthcare resources, the plan aims to address the unique needs and strengths of San Luis Obispo County.

The Community Health Improvement Plan was developed based on data from a community health assessment conducted in August 2023, which received responses from nearly 4,000 individuals in the county. The assessment was created by SLO Health Counts, a collaboration of community members, nonprofits, and government agencies across the county. Adyan Nazmi, a member of the collaboration and a professor at Cal Poly, highlighted the significance of health and