The 2024 Greater Worcester Regional Community Health Assessment (CHA) was developed collectively by the Worcester Division of Public Health - the lead agency of the Central Massachusetts Regional Public Health Alliance (CMRPHA) - UMass Memorial Health, the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester and Fallon Health. Since 2008, these entities have worked collaboratively to plan and conduct a regional assessment effort, aimed at identifying community health issues, barriers to care, disparities in health outcomes, vulnerable populations, gaps in the health service system and opportunities for collaboration.

A primary goal of the CHA is to gather information on the lived experiences of Greater Worcester's diverse populations, specifically those of the four CMRPHA municipalities: Grafton, Shrewsbury, West Boylston, and Worcester. Collecting this information is critical in efforts to center health equity and address needs and barriers in ways that are comprehensive, accessible and culturally competent. The CHA was completed in close partnership with local stakeholders, including health and social service providers, advocates, elected and appointed officials, faith leaders, community organizations, Boards and Commissions and community residents.

The CHA is conducted every three years, and its findings inform the development of the Greater Worcester Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which is facilitated by the Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester. The CHIP serves as a strategic plan for the CHA sponsors and other local stakeholders to deliver health-related services when, where, and how residents need them. The 2024 CHA will be used to update the strategies of the 2021-2026 CHIP, as well as provide an early foundation for the following CHIP.

Data from the CHA will also soon be available on interactive dashboards that are unique to each CMRPHA municipality, and they will be updated periodically with the latest findings.