Spanish translation available here. Traducción al español disponible aquí.
The Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department invites county residents to give important input on the strengths and weaknesses of our health in Thurston County by completing a short, anonymous assessment. The department’s online survey takes just five to 10 minutes and provides vital information on the well-being of Thurston County individuals. The assessment seeks local voices who will share their wide range of experiences, including those often underrepresented in public health data. The assessment is available in English and Spanish and is open now through late October.
“The community health assessment provides a big picture report to help us understand how the county is doing on their health, well-being, and quality of life,” says Senior Epidemiologist Sandy Salivaras. “It tells us what we are doing well and where we need to place resources for improvement.”
Thurston County Community Health Assessment is Quick, Easy, and Anonymous
The survey is available online. People wishing to fill out a paper form can contact the Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department by emailing phss_data@co.thurston.wa.us or can pick up a form at an outreach event or at the front counter at 412 Lilly Road. The assessment takes only a few minutes to complete and asks easy questions on public health topics where you simply check boxes to respond. You can skip questions you don’t want to answer. The form also offers blank fields if people want to give input on other health topics.
The survey is entirely anonymous. The county is not tracking internet protocol (IP) addresses or collecting names or other personally identifying information from people completing the assessment.
Wide Range of Thurston County Voices Sought to Provide Robust Health Needs Data
Salivaras says the survey is driven by the voices, needs, and experiences of county residents. “It’s all about building and developing relationships, not just with key leaders, but also with everyday residents,” she explains. “We want to hear what they have to say.”
Many counties and hospitals nationally use this approach in seeking community public health input from residents in a strategic process called MAPP, which stands for Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships. The county’s goal for its 2025 assessment process is to receive at least 1,500 completed responses. Forms submitted and reviewed so far indicate women are more likely to complete the survey. Salivaras encourages all residents to participate, including men, populations who may be less represented, such as Hispanic and Latino voices, and residents in communities outside Olympia, like Rainier, Rochester, Bucoda, and others.
Salivaras says the more voices the county hears, the stronger the data will be in defining the vision for the community’s health.
Community-Driven Data Will Help Guide Future Public Health & Social Services Programs
The county’s epidemiology team will dig into the data once surveys are completed to see where the public health agency is meeting residents’ needs and where there are challenges. “The data will help lay the foundation for the Community Health Improvement Plan, or ‘CHIP,’ which we will work on in 2026,” says Salivaras.
In past years, the county collaborated with the local hospital systems to produce a report, obtaining information through key community partners. For 2025, the county is also actively seeking information from county residents, and the assessment data will be compiled into a report that will be included in the CHIP. “It’s not a top-down plan. It’s community-driven,” Salivaras says.
Free Incentives with Surveys Completed at September Outreach Events in Thurston County
Residents completing the assessment at local events can receive free incentives like water bottles, first aid kits, power banks and chargers, cooling towels, tote bags, and clips with magnets. These incentives will be available at:
- Thurston County Emergency Preparedness Expo on September 20 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Steamboat Community Health Fair on September 20 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. ROOF Community Food Bank on September 22 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Chehalis Tribal Wellness Center Health Fair on September 23 from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
- ROOF Community Food Bank on September 25 from 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Nisqually Indian Tribe Housing Fair on September 26 from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Paper surveys will be available at these events. Salivaras says County Board of Health members will also be helping with outreach at some events, including walking around with an iPad-based survey that can be filled out on the spot.
For More Information, Contact Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department
Contact PHSS_Data@co.thurston.wa.us if you have any questions about the Thurston County Community Health Assessment. For more information on the Thurston County Public Health & Social Services Department, visit its website.
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