The Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership launched a community-wide survey April 6, 2026, seeking input from residents and others connected to St. Mary’s County for the 2026 Community Health Assessment.
The assessment occurs every six years to identify local health needs, concerns and priorities. A mid-cycle review at the three-year point tracks progress and new issues. Survey responses will combine with local data to help set action priorities for health improvement efforts.
Previous assessments elevated key topics including behavioral health, chronic disease, environmental health, and violence, injury and trauma. These areas formed the foundation for the current Healthy St. Mary’s 2026 Community Health Improvement Plan, a blueprint guiding local efforts through 2026.
Anyone who lives, works, studies or spends time in St. Mary’s County can participate. The short survey is available online in both English and Spanish at healthystmarys.com/cha2026. Organizers emphasize that community voices ensure health strategies reflect real experiences and challenges facing county residents.
The Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership serves as a coalition of local organizations, agencies and residents working together on health improvement. Membership is free and open to all. Participants can join monthly virtual meetings to stay involved in ongoing initiatives.
Those interested in membership can visit healthystmarys.com/membership or email stmaryspartnership@gmail.com for details.
St. Mary’s County Health Department supports the partnership as part of broader public health coordination in Southern Maryland. The 2026 assessment process will help update priorities as the county grows and health needs evolve.
Officials encourage broad participation to make the assessment representative of the entire community, including diverse populations across the county’s rural and waterfront areas. Input from the survey will directly inform the next phase of the community health improvement plan.
The partnership’s four action teams focus on behavioral health, chronic disease, environmental health, and violence, injury and trauma. These teams mobilize resources and programs based on assessment findings.
Completion of the survey takes only a few minutes and provides an accessible way for residents to shape future health services and prevention efforts in St. Mary’s County.
