From Assessments to Action: Tackling CHIP Challenges with Metopio
For community health teams, the journey from community health assessment (CHA) to a completed, actionable Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is both essential and daunting. After months of gathering data, engaging stakeholders, and documenting findings, teams can feel like they hit a wall when it's time to move from insight to action.
During a recent webinar, we heard directly from leaders on the ground about the real challenges of CHIP development — and how Metopio is helping transform overwhelming processes into energized, collaborative momentum.
The post-assessment fatigue is real
Rebecca Mixon, Manager of Community Impact for the Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System, described the CHIP process perfectly: “It can be like staring at a blank slate.”
Even after a comprehensive CHA, community health teams are often left wondering: Where do we start? How do we prioritize programs? How do we prove impact to leadership? That blank page can be paralyzing — especially when there’s pressure to create a dynamic, actionable plan that ladders up to system-wide strategic priorities.
Add in community partner coordination, program selection, impact metrics, and reporting needs, and it’s easy to see how teams burn out before they even begin.
The top CHIP challenges we heard
Here’s what leaders like Rebecca and many webinar attendees said were their biggest hurdles:
Starting from scratch: Translating CHA findings into a measurable, action-oriented CHIP.
Maintaining momentum: Stakeholder energy fading after a long assessment phase.
Program paralysis: So many ideas, but not enough structure to evaluate and select the right ones.
Measurement anxiety: Difficulty identifying relevant, feasible metrics — especially for long-term outcomes like quality of life.
Fragmented collaboration: Community partners often pursue siloed plans, losing the opportunity for collective impact.
Reporting burdens: Leadership wants clear dashboards and progress updates, but manually creating them can be time-consuming.
How Metopio is helping public health teams move from “planning” to “action”
Metopio was built to meet these exact challenges head-on. As Sarah Vanausdall, our Director of Community Health (and former Metopio super user), put it: “We’ve seen what doesn’t work, and we’re building what public health teams actually need.” Here’s how:
We launched an evidence-based program library
Our curated library includes nearly 600 evidence-based programs, organized in logic model format. You can browse by priority area, enter your own programs manually, or get AI-enabled recommendations. Need something for mental health in a rural setting? Or food security with limited FTEs? You’re not starting from scratch.
We offer a reliable logic model framework
CHIPs need a solid structure. Metopio makes it simple with a built-in logic model framework — so you can map inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes for each strategy. No more juggling multiple documents or frameworks.
We’re designed around impact tracking and dashboards
One of the hardest parts of CHIP development is identifying and tracking relevant metrics over time. With Metopio, you can define custom indicators, track partner contributions, and view everything in dynamic dashboards that are easy to export, present, or share. Whether it’s a 3-year hospital cycle or a 5-year health department cycle, you’ll have what you need to adapt and measure progress over time.
We value shared ownership and collaboration — and it’s built into every element of our platform
Metopio makes it easy to engage teams across facilities and departments. Rebecca described a complete mindset shift in her organization after implementing: “Usually, it feels like dragging people through the mud to do CHIPs. But with Metopio, I am sensing this level of excitement among them that I have never felt. It’s a first.”
We speed up the process with automation and one-click reporting
No more scrambling to compile updates. Metopio exports your CHIP, including program details, logic models, and dashboards, into a clean, easy-to-share format — ready for boards, partners, or funders.
Wherever you are in the cycle — We’re with you
We’re continuing to expand our platform based on what you’ve told us you need: Indicators for staffing requirements, budget estimates, geographic considerations, and more. Whether you’re a health system or health department, our goal is to help you move from assessment to impact — without losing steam along the way.
As Sarah reminded us in the webinar: “Leadership often asks questions like, ‘Can you do something about food security?’ Now, you can say: ‘Yes — here are the programs, the partners we need, and the projected impact.’ That’s powerful.”
Whether you’re starting your next CHA or knee-deep in CHIP planning, Metopio is here to plug in and support your team with the tools, data, and structure to create a meaningful impact. Learn more or request a free, no-obligation consultation here.