Delaying Your Public Health Plan Is Costing More Than You Think
- JoAnn Andrews
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
Introduction — The Human Impact
Imagine it’s mid-July …
You’re the Health Officer in a mid-sized county. The fiscal year has come and gone. Your staff is scrambling to finalize the CHNA before grant deadlines. The CHIP timeline is already pushed, and upcoming auditor reviews are looming. On top of that, there's a measles alert in neighboring counties with parents calling daily.
This is not a future scenario—it’s happening right now. Delaying strategic public health plans isn't just inconvenient; it's expensive, compromising, and risk-heavy.
At Ascendant Healthcare Partners, we’ve supported over 100 health departments nationwide to avoid these crises. We’ve seen firsthand how timing your public health planning can protect budgets, secure funding, and strengthen community trust.
In this post, I’ll show you the hidden costs of delay, the real-time public health emergencies that demand attention, and how a July 1 plan can anchor your team’s performance—without stress.
The Hard Costs of Delay
Misaligned Fiscal Years = Lost Opportunities
Claiming CHNA or CHIP funding tied to state and federal grants requires alignment with the fiscal year. If your plan isn’t under contract by July 1, you might miss entire grant cycles—from CDC workforce grants to ARPA supplemental funding. These aren't small dollars. We're talking tens or hundreds of thousands at stake each cycle.
Increased Staff Burden & Burnout
Teams end up rushing in Q3 and Q4—during heat waves, flu season, or political transitions. Instead of cohesive strategy-building, staff are scrambling with grant writing, stakeholder scheduling, and data updates. Productivity drops, mistakes rise, and morale suffers.
Weakened Narrative + Data Impact
Timeliness enhances credibility. Communities invest in plans that feel current and data-informed. Delays mean stale snapshots, less trust, and weaker buy-in—a disaster when you need community champions to implement solutions.
Real-Time Pressure — Measles, Infrastructure, & Misinformation
Measles Resurgence = Wake-Up Call
Measles cases have affected over 1,000 people across 33 states this year, with deaths already reported. Wastewater tracking even shows rising measles levels in Maryland, Connecticut, and California. This isn't theoretical—it’s a public health emergency. Without a timely CHNA, counties miss actionable response data and outreach structures that support vaccination campaigns.
CDC’s $4 Billion Infrastructure Grant
The CDC’s recent infrastructure initiative provides $4 billion for health workforce expansion, data modernization, and leadership recruitment. This money won’t wait around. Departments with current assessments and plans are first in line for application readiness. Delay your CHNA, and you delay your funding.
Misinformation & Vaccine Hesitancy
Pandemic-era cuts and redirected research funding have left gaps in the public health information ecosystem. Meanwhile, anti-vaccine narratives are spreading faster than our data can correct them. We’re at a pivot point: either empower communities with credible data and strategic action—or let misinformation fester unchecked.
National & Global Context
Americas Measles Epidemic
The World Health Organization has reported over 2,300 measles cases in the Americas this year—an 11-fold increase over last year. Endemic resurgence is not hypothetical—it’s happening. Strategic planning at the local level contributes to global prevention efforts.
850,000 Cases Predicted Over 25 Years
New predictive modeling shows that declining vaccination could lead to over 850,000 measles cases and 170,000 hospitalizations over the next 25 years. Your planning today protects more than your county—it protects entire generations.
How a July 1 Start Solves This
Perfect Timing for Grant & Election Cycles
July 1 syncs with most local budget cycles, offering smooth transitions into grant-funded workflows. Your plan can guide recruitment, data systems, vaccination efforts, and political accountability.
Built-in Data + Community Trust
With your CHNA or CHIP underway in July, you gain access to updated data, stakeholder voices, and resident feedback—all before flu season or school immunization deadlines.
Our Solution—Turnkey, On-Time, On-Target
Why We’re Different
We’ve delivered over 100 plans across 20+ states.
Our team reduces administrative burden by handling everything from community surveys to final documentation.
All deliverables align with PHAB standards and NACCHO’s MAPP 2.0 framework.
How It Works
Onboard by June – Start by July 1
Visualize indicators using mySidewalk + state systems
Facilitate stakeholder meetings with ease
Deliver final report by Q4 with time to spare for implementation
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