Hill Country Health Priorities Identified in Create Healthy’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment

Create Healthy’s 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) provides a comprehensive look at the health priorities, challenges, and opportunities across the Hill Country.

The report, now available online and presented at the Create Healthy Community Summit last month, reflects the collective insight, collaboration, and commitment of local partners, healthcare providers, and residents. Their insights and feedback were collected by Create Healthy partner Community Information Now (CINow) throughout the summer of 2025 through surveys, focus groups, and interviews to identify the health priorities and gaps that lead to wellness disparities in the community. CINow regularly conducts community health assessments through data collection and analysis on behalf of a variety of organizations.

Create Healthy’s 2025 Community Summit brought together civic and church leaders, healthcare providers, educators, social service organizations, Create Healthy Board and Council Members, and community residents to provide direction for Create Healthy’s philanthropy. In addition to reviewing findings from the triennial CHNA, participants shared opportunities for partnership and areas where philanthropic support can make the greatest impact. One of the main areas of discussion was instances and causes of food insecurity and potential solutions as well as the growing need for reliable access to nutritious foods across the Hill Country.

“Our region is growing, and with that growth comes new pressures on access, affordability, and wellbeing,” said Jayne Pope, RN, MBA, president & CEO of Create Healthy. “The community health needs assessment gives us a clear, data-driven understanding of the challenges our neighbors face. In addition, the insights and feedback from the Community Summit help ensure our strategies and investments align with what matters most to local families.”

Together, these insights shape Create Healthy’s grants and partnerships across Gillespie, Llano, Mason, and Blanco Counties, and Comfort.

The full Community Health Needs Assessment is available at CreateHealthy.org/CHNA. All area public agencies, nonprofits, businesses, and residents alike are invited to use the CHNA as a tool for planning.