Sioux Falls Officials Launched Health Assessment Survey
Residents are invited to provide input on local health priorities through the end of November.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Nutrition
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Do you trust that city health assessments lead to meaningful improvements in your community?
The Sioux Falls Health Department has initiated a public survey to shape the city's Community Health Assessment for the 2025-2028 cycle. Local healthcare systems and municipal officials are collaborating on the effort to determine regional health needs.
Why it matters
Federal mandates require local hospital systems to complete a community health needs assessment every three years to guide public health initiatives. This collaborative effort ensures that community feedback directly informs local strategy and resource allocation.
The current assessment cycle covers a three-year period from 2025 through 2028. Officials are focusing on three primary health priorities: healthy living, adolescent mental health, and access to care.
The players
Sioux Falls Health Department
This local agency oversees public health initiatives and is coordinating the survey collection for the community.
Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center
This institution is one of the primary healthcare systems partnering with the city to complete the mandatory health assessment.
Sanford USD Medical Center
This medical provider is collaborating on the joint report to address community health needs in the Sioux Falls region.
Sioux Falls Veterans Affairs Health Care System
This federal facility is contributing to the assessment to ensure veteran health concerns are integrated into the city's public health goals.
The details
The initiative consolidates input from resident surveys, community organizations, and various levels of government data into one joint report. The Sioux Falls Health Department is working alongside major medical centers and the local VA healthcare system to finalize the data.
Timeline
The current assessment covers the 2025-2028 period.
Residents have until Nov. 30, 2026, to complete the survey.
The partners expect to announce the next set of priorities in early 2028.
Health Landscape
This project aligns with the triennial community health needs assessment requirements mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The initiative mirrors a national trend where local health systems pool resources to identify population-level health trends.
Residents can influence the direction of local health services by sharing their perspectives on current needs like mental health and care access. Participation ensures that the resulting 2025-2028 health priorities accurately reflect the community's most pressing concerns.
The takeaway
Engaging in this assessment helps ensure that hospital and municipal resources are directed toward the most relevant community challenges. Residents are encouraged to provide their input before the late November deadline to help shape future health outcomes.
What happens next
The city expects to announce the final set of community health priorities in early 2028.
Further reading
For broader context on local health initiatives and wellness resources, visit Nutrition.
More information
To share your feedback or view the assessment framework, visit the city community health assessment survey.
Live Poll
Do you trust that city health assessments lead to meaningful improvements in your community?
