Community Engagement
Broad and inclusive community engagement was a central commitment of this CHNA. Engagement strategies were designed to reach a diverse cross-section of Washoe County residents, with intentional outreach to populations that have historically been underrepresented in health needs assessments, including Hispanic / Latino residents, American Indian / Alaska Native communities, low-income households, and rural residents.
The focus group recruitment strategy was developed in collaboration with the CHNA Steering Committee, which provided leadership, coordination, and oversight throughout the assessment process. The Steering Committee played a central role in identifying key populations and communities requiring intentional outreach to ensure inclusive and representative participation.
To reach community members representing diverse identities and lived experiences, additional recruitment strategies were implemented in partnership with local organizations serving specific populations, including LGBTQIA + individuals, youth, faith-based communities, and individuals in recovery from substance use. Outreach strategies included bilingual( English and Spanish) flyers and a media toolkit distributed by Renown Health and Northern Nevada Public Health to community partners, patients, and the steering committee’ s broad network of crosssector organizations and community representatives.
Data Collection
Primary data were collected from September-November through four complementary methods: a community health survey( n = 694), focus groups( 15 sessions, n = 110 participants), key informant interviews( 19 sessions, n = 42), and stakeholder conversations. Secondary data were compiled from more than 60 sources encompassing demographic, health status, quality of life, and environmental health indicators. Focus group sessions were hosted in community centers, libraries, and partner organization spaces serving diverse neighborhoods and populations, including The Eddy House( supporting homeless and at-risk youth), The Empowerment Center( serving individuals in recovery), the Cold Springs Community Center( capturing input from rural Washoe County), and Latino Arte( a session conducted entirely in Spanish to engage Spanish-speaking participants).
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