Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP)

Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership (MAPP) is a community-driven strategic planning process for improving community health. Facilitated by public health leaders, this framework helps communities apply strategic thinking to prioritize public health issues and identify resources to address them. MAPP is not an agency-focused assessment process; rather, it is an interactive process that can improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and ultimately the performance of local public health systems.  More information about MAPP, including the availability of consultation and technical assistance, is available online and through the Health Department.

On June 1, 2008, Loudoun County embarked on its first major community public health needs assessment. Since then, the county has completed four community assessments, utilizing the National Association for County & City Health Official’s  MAPP planning tool, to identify what our community sees as the key determinants of health and wellness, how Loudoun stacks up in those areas, and outline a course of action to best meet the needs of all our residents.

The first and essential part in this process was to hear from you. Over 5,000 Loudoun residents completed a survey that asked their views on the health of Loudoun County. This survey closed on November 8, 2008, and initial results from that survey were presented to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors on December 17, 2008. The other three assessments included those of our local public health system, our community’s health status, and forces of change in Loudoun County. Copies of the assessment results and of the presentation to the Board of Supervisors are available at NPHPSP, Community Health Status, Forces of Change, and Health Check Survey.The Community Health Improvement Plan is also available online along with the 2012 update.

Surveys were categorized by age, sex, race/ethnicity, income, and education to identify differences in responses by these factors and to account for areas where those who responded to the survey differed from what would be expected from recent census data.  Key overall findings include:

• Low crime rates, a clean and healthy environment, excellent school systems, and the ability to safely walk or bicycle to work, school, stores or recreation were viewed as the most important factors in creating and maintaining a healthy environment.
• Healthcare cost and availability in Loudoun County, access to outdoor space for exercise and fresh air, and emergency preparedness were viewed as the top health concerns for our community to address.
• Gang involvement, drug use/abuse, childhood obesity and lack of exercise were viewed as the greatest concerns to our community’s well-being.
• Survey respondents strongly agreed that the quality of life in Loudoun County is good, that it is a good place to raise children, and that children receive a high quality education in Loudoun.
• Survey respondents agreed that Loudoun is a healthy and safe community, that they are able to get the healthcare they need, that healthcare is of good quality, and that the county provides good job opportunities.
• Respondents disagreed that they were prepared for a public health emergency or that housing was affordable in Loudoun County.
• Overall, respondents’ health status was viewed as being very good, with a high percentage receiving timely preventive services.
• Black and Hispanic respondents and those with lower incomes tended to have increased concerns about access to healthcare and were less inclined to view the quality of life in Loudoun as good or safe, or as good a place to raise children.
• Western Loudoun residents tended to have greater concerns about healthcare and housing affordability, the environment, jobs, and Lyme disease.

Please contact us at if you have any questions or comments about this process or if you would like more detailed information about any specific part of the assessment results.