Community stakeholders across several sectors in Chautauqua County have joined forces to launch the CHQ Health Collaborative. The Collaborative’s partners share a vision where our community prospers when our neighbors are supported to make informed wellness and healthcare decisions. The Collaborative aims to help inform, promote, and connect community efforts addressing a range of local physical and mental health and wellness priorities. Its overall goal is to increase demand for and access to trustworthy health and wellness information, support, services, and care.

The CHQ Health Collaborative will launch a new website – collaborative.chq.health – and public information campaigns in January 2023 featuring Chautauqua County resident’s testimonials in support of COVID-19 prevention and mitigation efforts, chronic disease prevention, adolescent mental health, veteran’s health, kids summer safety and more. As the Collaborative further develops, follow-up campaigns will address specific health care issues of concern to county residents with the website providing up-to-date educational information about prevention, treatment and access to services provided by our local public health, medical and social service professionals.

Approaching three years into this historic pandemic, COVID-19 vaccination coverage remains lower in rural counties (58.5 percent) than in urban counties (75.4 percent)1, leaving residents of rural communities at increased risk for severe COVID-19-associate morbidity and mortality. Currently, only 61.5 percent of our County’s total population is fully vaccinated2 with young people under the age of 18 having the highest vaccination rates at 69.7 percent, with those ages 5-11 slightly lower at 64.9 percent.

The CHQ Health Collaborative’s current focus includes:

¯ Engaging residents to consider community health as an asset to their own health and the health of their loved ones

¯ Mitigating misinformation on the COVID-19 pandemic

¯ Bringing to life the benefits of informed health promotion and care decisions

Moving forward, the initiative aims to:

¯ Conduct public service campaigns about healthcare issues including diseases, prevention and treatments, and wellness

¯ Connect businesses, organizations, and individuals engaged in promoting a healthier Chautauqua County

The Chautauqua Health Network is the lead, non-profit agency developing the effort joined by support partners including Chautauqua County, City of Jamestown, City of Dunkirk, Chautauqua Integrated Delivery System IPA LLC, Chautauqua County Health Department, Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier, Chautauqua Institution, Tim Horton’s Jamestown – Olean, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Southern Erie County, United Way of Northern Erie County, Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, The Resource Center, Chautauqua Adult Day Services, Meals on Wheels -Dunkirk, Meals on Wheels – Jamestown, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, Chautauqua Opportunities Inc., and the Winifred Crawford Dibert Boys & Girls Club of Jamestown. Partner support is open to all businesses, organizations, non-profits, and individuals throughout the county.

“I would like to thank all members of the Chautauqua Health Collaborative for their efforts to provide advocacy and outreach on critical topics affecting the overall physical and mental health of our residents,” said Chautauqua County Executive Paul J. Wendel.

“The CHQ Health Collaborative is a wonderful example of leaders coming together to strengthen our communities by making them healthier,” said Edward Sundquist, Mayor, City of Jamestown. “Jamestown is the largest population center in the county and faces several challenges regarding healthcare, but by having a concentrated campaign we can use our combined resources to help combat disinformation and encourage our residents to make healthier choices. I pledge that the City of Jamestown will give its full support to education efforts to our most vulnerable populations. I look forward not only to educating our residents on the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine, but also to use this network to push other public health initiatives.”

“I am pleased that the City of Dunkirk has been invited to be a partner in the CHQ Health Collaborative,” said Wilford Rosas, Mayor, City of Dunkirk. “I am fully supportive of the CHQ Health Collaborative initiative of providing programs and resources being made available in Chautauqua County communities, which will assist residents in the City of Dunkirk in making informed health care decisions and promote a healthier Chautauqua County for all.”

“The CHQ Health Collaborative’s partnership with community stakeholders provides a unique strategy in promoting health and wellness throughout Chautauqua County”, says Interim Public Health Director Michael Faulk, M.D. “This initiative is an all hands on deck approach which aims to engage community leaders, build trust, and support our residents with trusted resources and information. The Chautauqua County Health Department supports and applauds the efforts of the Collaborative.”

“People naturally trust people they know, and that’s the beauty of the CHQ Health Collaborative. It’s Chautauqua County people talking and sharing advice with our friends, colleagues, neighbors, and employees about things important to their wellbeing and the overall health of our community,” said Michael E. Hill, President, Chautauqua Institution. “We are proud to be a part of this – something that could well emerge as a model in New York State and beyond.”

“The CHQ Health Collaborative is an important initiative because a healthier community means a healthier workforce for our local businesses,” said Daniel Heitzenrater, President/CEO, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce. “Businesses and organizations understand now more than ever how important a healthy and reliable team is. The Chamber of Commerce is happy to support these critical education efforts to improve the health of our families, neighbors, and in turn our businesses.”

“United Way of Southern Chautauqua County is proud to support the efforts of the CHQ Health Collaborative,” said Amy Rohler, Executive Director, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County. “Many of our not-for-profits are critical partners in increasing the health and well-being of our residents. They are often working with the most vulnerable populations, who need this kind of crucial support. No one organization can solve this kind of problem on their own, and so it’s vitally important that we work together in creating a healthier Chautauqua County.”

“First of all, and most importantly, good health contributes significantly to a high quality of life,” said Todd Tranum, Executive Director, Manufacturers Association of Southern Tier. “Good health also contributes to higher rates of productivity in the workplace, which means more products going out the door contributing to job retention, job growth and economic expansion. We are encouraged by this multi-sector collaborative approach to take on the challenges we have in our community whether it is informing the community about vaccination opportunities, addressing heart disease and diabetes, supporting mental health initiatives, or battling substance abuse and addiction. No one organization can stand alone and take on these complicated issues, it takes a wide range of stakeholders working together on solutions.”

“The Collaborative is an opportunity for developing an ongoing community conversation that identifies priority issues and shared strategies to make positive impacts to health and wellness outcomes,” said James Sherry, MD, PhD, Executive Director, Chautauqua Health Network.