What Are We Doing With the Landscape Assessment Findings?

The recent SWACH Landscape Assessment gave us a clear, data-informed picture of the challenges and strengths within our region — and it’s already helping shape our work. But this isn’t just a report for our files. It’s a tool we’re using to take action, grounded in our commitment to serve the community and advance health equity.

First, the assessment helps us identify where our efforts can have the most impact. We’ve used it to confirm and refine our priority populations — the groups who face the biggest barriers to health and well-being in Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania counties.

Next, we’re designing interventions that our programs, partners, and community-based workforce can put into practice. These strategies are intended to be practical, actionable, and adaptable for real-world use — not just policy on paper.

As we roll out short-term and long-term projects, the assessment will guide our evaluation process. We’ll be asking: Are we reaching the people who need support the most? Are we making measurable progress toward our goals? Are we addressing the root causes of inequity?

Finally, we’re integrating the Landscape Assessment into our theory of change — our roadmap for how SWACH creates impact. This means the findings will be part of every stage of our work, from planning to implementation to measuring results.

Most importantly, we approach this work with humility. We are not public health. We work to better community health — and our role is to listen, partner, and act alongside the people we serve. The Landscape Assessment is one more way to ensure that the community’s voice shapes our priorities, our actions, and the change we create together.

Looking ahead, we’ll be taking the next step in this process by hosting community listening sessions this fall. These sessions will give residents, partners, and stakeholders an opportunity to share feedback, ask questions, and help guide how we put the assessment findings into action. Details on dates, locations, and virtual options will be shared soon — and we hope to see you there.