The COMPASS initiative utilizes the National Association of County and City Health Officials’ (NACCHO) Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP) planning model as the framework for the development of tools and processes. Through the COMPASS initiative, county health departments and the communities they serve will have access to data via the Community Health Assessment Resource Tool Set (CHARTS), web-based training for skills enhancement, reference materials for community health assessment including field guides and web-based templates and tools, marketing and public information materials for raising awareness of the benefits and impact of assessment, performance benchmarks and quality improvement standards for county health departments, and quantitative and qualitative evaluation reports on processes and outcomes.

The MAPP project was developed through a cooperative agreement between NACCHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additional support was provided by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The development of MAPP would not have been possible without the time and commitment of the APEX PH Work Group, which included local health officials, community representatives, academicians, and federal representatives. Members include: Paul J. Wiesner (Chair), Paul Campbell Erwin, Art Chen, Joan Ellison, Joyce Essien, Patricia Gadow, Paul K. Halverson, Deane Johnson, Patrick Lenihan, Linda McElwee, Jane Nelson, and Lucille Webb. NACCHO also extends its gratitude to the 45 Review Sites and 40 Advisory Committee members who provided vital input for strengthening and improving the tool. The following Advisory Committee members devoted extensive time at in-person meetings and through individual work: Ron Bialek, William Dyal, Colleen Hughes, Laura Landrum, Daniel Martin, Erica Salem, James Studnicki, Bernard Turnock, Vaughn Upshaw, and Leonadi Ward. NACCHO also thanks Charles Bacon, CDC, for his ongoing assistance. Finally, this project would not have been possible without the dedication of NACCHO staff members: Liza Corso, Carol K. Brown, and Scott Fisher. This document was developed by Liza Corso with Jill Conley and Kim Sharp of Collage Creative.

The COMPASS Initiative s supported in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Cooperative Agreement to Support State Assessment Initiatives, Award Number HK07-702.