Thurston County Public Health & Social Services has released its 2025 Community Health Assessment report, identifying the issues community members believe most affect health and wellbeing in the county. County staff attended 12 local events from August through November 2025, gathering input from more than 1,800 respondents who ranked their top community health priorities and challenges.
While groups aged 65 and older and female residents participated in higher numbers, county officials stated they “reached enough people in every region of the county and demographic category to make sure everyone’s perspective in the county was counted.” When asked what would most improve their quality of life, respondents overwhelmingly prioritized stable housing, access to care, and behavioral health supports as foundational to improving overall health and wellbeing.
Dr. Jen Freiheit, department director of Thurston County PHSS, noted that the findings provide a clear picture of community priorities: “Residents are telling us that stable housing, access to care, and behavioral health supports are foundational to improving overall health and well-being.” The report will guide county priorities and partnerships in the years ahead through the Community Health Improvement Plan, informing policy development, resource allocation, and collaboration with local partners and service providers.
The assessment aligns with Community Health Needs Assessments from the county’s local hospital systems, which identified the same top concerns: mental and behavioral health, access to care, and social drivers of health including housing and food. Together, these reports provide a foundation for long-term planning and action at the county level.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.yelmonline.com/stories/thurston-county-releases-2025-community-health-assessment-report,402880