Community Health Assessment seeks local input as Johnson County Health Department also offers free flu shots October 20
What does a healthier Johnson County look like to you?
Is it easier access to doctors and specialists? More mental health resources? Better transportation for seniors? More opportunities for families to stay active? Or perhaps it’s simply being able to afford the healthcare and medications you need.
Whatever your answer, now is the time to share it.
The Johnson County Health Council, along with health councils throughout Northeast Tennessee, is encouraging residents to participate in the 2026 Community Health Assessment before the October 31 deadline.
The assessment gives residents an opportunity to identify the health challenges they see in their own lives, families, and neighborhoods — and help shape the priorities that will guide community health improvement efforts in the years ahead.
Why Does This Matter?
We hear plenty about the challenges facing healthcare in rural communities. Finding a specialist may mean driving an hour or more. Transportation can be difficult, particularly for older residents. Families may struggle with the cost of prescriptions, insurance, healthy food, or preventive care.
And health isn’t just about what happens in a doctor’s office.
Housing, employment, education, transportation, nutrition, social connections, and access to safe places for physical activity all play a role in our overall health and well-being.
The Community Health Assessment helps turn those individual experiences into a clearer picture of what Johnson County residents need most.
And that information matters when decisions are being made about where to focus resources and how to improve services.
What Happens to the Information?
The assessment is more than a collection of opinions.
Tennessee’s County Health Councils work with local and regional health departments and community partners to conduct a Community Health Assessment and develop a Community Health Improvement Plan.
The process helps communities:
- Identify priorities: Understand which health concerns and barriers residents consider most pressing.
- Develop solutions: Guide programs, partnerships, education, and preventive health initiatives that address identified needs.
- Support funding efforts: Provide local evidence that organizations can use when pursuing grants, partnerships, and other resources.
- Measure progress: Establish priorities and help communities evaluate whether improvement efforts are making a difference.
The goal is to move beyond simply identifying problems and begin developing practical, collaborative solutions.
Of course, completing a survey doesn’t guarantee a new program or additional funding. But it provides something essential to both: a better understanding of the community’s needs, directly from the people who live here.
Every Voice Helps Tell the Story
One of the challenges with any community assessment is making sure the responses reflect the community as a whole.
We need to hear from working parents, young adults, seniors, caregivers, veterans, people managing chronic conditions, and residents who may not regularly use healthcare services.
We also need to hear from those who feel their healthcare needs are being met.
A broad range of responses helps community leaders better understand both our strengths and the areas where improvement is needed.
The survey is anonymous, and participants are specifically instructed not to provide their names.
The deadline to participate is Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Take the 2026 Community Health Assessment:
https://tdhrc.health.tn.gov/redcap/surveys/?s=NHXWLTXM4KDPADD7
The survey is part of the Northeast Tennessee regional assessment effort.
Another Opportunity to Protect Your Health: Free Flu Shots October 20
While the Community Health Assessment focuses on improving our community’s health over the long term, there’s also an opportunity to take an immediate step toward protecting yourself and your family.
The Tennessee Department of Health is offering free flu vaccinations on Tuesday, October 20, at two Mountain City locations.
Johnson County Health Department
715 W. Main Street, Mountain City
- 9:00 a.m. – Noon
- 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Action Coalition
112 Pioneer Village Drive, Mountain City
- Noon – 3:00 p.m.
Annual flu vaccination is an important way to reduce the risk of influenza and its potentially serious complications, particularly for older adults, young children, pregnant women, and people living with certain chronic health conditions.
For additional information about the statewide flu vaccination campaign, visit health.tn.gov/fightflu.
A Healthier Johnson County Starts With Us
Johnson County has something special: neighbors who look out for one another, community organizations willing to step up, and people who genuinely care about the future of this place we call home.
But building a healthier community also requires listening, planning, and working together.
The Community Health Assessment is an opportunity for every resident to be part of that work.
You don’t have to serve on a committee, work in healthcare, or hold public office to make a difference.
You simply have to share your perspective.
Take a few minutes to complete the survey before October 31. Encourage your family, friends, coworkers, and neighbors to do the same.
Because when it comes to the health of Johnson County, every voice matters.
