Frequently Asked Questions
About CHNA, CHIP &
Cost to the Community™
Ascendant Healthcare Partners™ makes public health planning make sense — and make impact.We help county and city health departments complete PHAB-standard, audit-ready Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs), Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs), and our proprietary Cost to the Community™ ROI reports — faster and more efficiently than any firm in the nation.
If your team needs to meet accreditation standards, satisfy board requirements, or demonstrate the fiscal value of your work, the answers below will help you understand how AHP delivers clarity, compliance, and measurable community impact.
(Sources: Public Health Accreditation Board – Standards & Measures, Version 2022; CDC Healthy People 2030 Framework.)
Who is Ascendant Healthcare Partners™?
Ascendant Healthcare Partners™ is a national public health consulting firm that helps local leaders complete complex planning requirements with confidence and speed.
We specialize in:
-
CHNA Express™ — a 45-day PHAB-compliant Community Health Needs Assessment
-
CHIP Implementation Plans — actionable, measurable roadmaps for improvement
-
Cost to the Community™ — our proprietary ROI model that quantifies the dollar impact of public health gaps
Our mission is simple:
To demonstrate the economic value of public health — and help counties lead with integrity, not overwhelm.
What is a Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA)?
A Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) identifies the top health priorities in a community through a combination of data analysis, stakeholder input, and public feedback.
It’s required by both the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for health departments and nonprofit hospitals.
Our CHNA Express™ model delivers a full PHAB-standard CHNA in just 45 days — audit-ready, data-driven, and written for decision-makers.
Each report includes:
-
Census-tract-level data on health outcomes and social determinants
-
Equity and access indicators
-
Comparative benchmarking against state and national metrics
-
Priority ranking and fiscal context
Learn more about CHNA Express™ →
What is a Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP)?
A Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) turns your CHNA data into measurable action.
It defines strategies, partnerships, and outcomes that align with PHAB Domains 1–5 and the Healthy People 2030 objectives.
AHP’s CHIP services emphasize clarity over complexity — each plan is implementation-ready and built to demonstrate progress to both boards and accreditation reviewers.
We focus on:
-
Measurable, data-informed goals
-
Cross-sector partnership alignment
-
Simple, trackable metrics
-
Fiscal implications and resource mapping
What is the Cost to the Community™ report?
Cost to the Community™ isn’t just a financial report — it’s a compliance and accountability tool that aligns directly with PHAB Domains 5 and 9, helping health departments connect fiscal outcomes to public health performance.
PHAB Domain 5: Develop and Implement Policies and Plans
The report demonstrates how community health strategies are linked to measurable fiscal outcomes, strengthening your documentation for Standards 5.2 and 5.3 — particularly the requirement to “implement and monitor health improvement plans in collaboration with partners.”
PHAB Domain 9: Evaluate and Continuously Improve Processes
By quantifying the return on prevention investments, Cost to the Community™ supports the evaluation and performance management criteria in Standard 9.1. It transforms impact into measurable value — exactly what accreditation reviewers want to see.
Health departments use Cost to the Community™ to:
-
Justify funding requests during budget cycles
-
Provide evidence of impact for PHAB reaccreditation
-
Support Domain 5 & 9 documentation crosswalks
-
Strengthen grant and ARPA proposals with ROI data
-
Educate boards and commissioners on measurable return
It’s not only a tool for funding — it’s proof of fiscal stewardship and PHAB compliance.
See PHAB Alignment →
How does CHNA Express™ work?
Our process was designed to simplify compliance and accelerate results — without cutting corners.
Step 1: Kickoff & Alignment
We confirm your service area, partners, and PHAB documentation requirements.
Step 2: Community Input
We design and analyze surveys, focus groups, or stakeholder interviews.
Step 3: Data Modeling
We combine public and proprietary datasets (including mySidewalk™ integrations) to create a complete picture of local health.
Step 4: Draft & Review
We deliver a PHAB-ready report in 45 days — fully formatted for audit submission or public release.
Step 5: Publication & Submission
You receive a public-facing version and an audit-ready file for recordkeeping.
The result?
A complete, compliant CHNA — in weeks, not months.
Who works with AHP?
AHP serves leaders who need clarity, speed, and credibility.
Our clients include:
-
County and city health departments
-
Public health administrators and directors
-
Tribal and territorial health agencies
-
Nonprofit health boards and coalitions
-
Hospitals completing federally mandated CHNAs
Our work is trusted by over 100 health departments nationwide — organizations that value efficiency, integrity, and measurable outcomes.
What makes AHP different from other consulting firms?
-
PHAB-standard speed: Audit-ready plans in 45–60 days
-
Transparent pricing: Published, fixed, and fair
-
ROI focus: Only firm offering Cost to the Community™
-
Audit-ready formatting: PHAB Domains 1, 3, 4, and 5 covered
-
Proven results: Trusted by 100+ departments nationwide
We turn compliance into clarity — and strategy into measurable results.
How long does each project take and what does it cost?
How does AHP support PHAB accreditation?
Each deliverable aligns with PHAB’s Standards & Measures Version 2022 and covers key domains:
-
Domain 1: Assess and monitor population health
-
Domain 3: Inform and educate about public health issues
-
Domain 4: Engage with the community
-
Domain 5: Develop and implement plans
-
We provide:
-
PHAB-aligned templates and crosswalks
-
Documentation logs and source citations
-
Formatting for direct accreditation upload
AHP makes accreditation faster, cleaner, and less stressful for your team.
(Reference: Public Health Accreditation Board Standards & Measures, v2022)
How can our county use the Cost to the Community™ report?
Cost to the Community™ isn’t just a report — it’s a fiscal communication tool.
Counties use it to:
-
Present ROI at budget hearings
-
Strengthen grant applications
-
Justify prevention funding
-
Educate boards and elected officials
It reframes public health work from cost to investment, transforming how local leaders advocate for sustainable change
Where does AHP work?
Ascendant Healthcare Partners™ serves public health agencies and coalitions nationwide.
We understand the diverse challenges facing rural, urban, and coastal communities — from capacity constraints to funding audits — and adapt every engagement to local context.
(We no longer list specific state markets here to protect proprietary targeting.)
How do we begin a project or request a proposal?
Getting started is simple:
-
Schedule a Call:
Meet directly with our founder or senior consultant to discuss your goals, timelines, and PHAB alignment.
Schedule a Call → -
Submit a Proposal Request:
Complete our short intake form and receive a proposal within two business days.
Submit a Proposal →
From there, we handle the process — from kickoff through completion.
Ready to Quantify Your County’s ROI?
Don’t let compliance slow down progress.
Ascendant Healthcare Partners™ delivers PHAB-standard CHNAs, CHIPs, and ROI models that turn complex requirements into clear, actionable plans.
Request Cost to the Community™ Report →
What can our county or city health department do during the federal shutdown to protect funding?
Even as the federal government approaches a breakthrough vote to reopen after a 40-day shutdown, local governments cannot afford to wait. You can request and authorize a Cost to the Community™ report using local or previously allocated funds, prepare PHAB 2022-compliant documentation, and queue your CHNA/CHIP work for when funding flows again. Taking action now helps you demonstrate fiscal accountability to commissioners, boards of health, and state oversight agencies — especially as the United States Department of Agriculture and federal agencies signal extended delays and constrained benefit distributions for programs like SNAP. Turnaround from a 40-day shutdown affecting food and health programs. Acting now positions your department at the front of the line when appropriations resume.
Who provides fast, custom public health profiles at the census-tract level?
JoAnn Andrews
Founder, CEO, & Principal Consultant, Ascendant Healthcare Partners™
Recognized by Healthy People 2030 Champions for advancing evidence-based public health planning and fiscal accountability.
“We demonstrate the ROI of your work — so your community can invest where it matters most.”