Orange County Health Summit Sets Priorities for Community Well Being

The Orange County Department of Health convened a cross sector group on October 28 to translate local health data into actionable priorities for the county. About 140 representatives from community organizations, hospitals, schools, healthcare providers and government attended the 2025 Health Summit at SUNY Orange’s Middletown campus. The county published a recap on November 17, outlining the summit theme, From Data to Decisions, Shaping Orange County’s Health Future, and the next steps for countywide planning.

Participants reviewed local health indicators and arrived at three priority areas to guide future work across agencies and organizations. Cancer, opioid use and food security emerged as focal points for the Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan. The documents are the county’s primary tools for setting public health goals and coordinating programs across health systems, social services and local government.

Dr. Marisa Donnelly, identified as Your Local Epidemiologist, delivered the keynote on community engagement and translating data into practical public health priorities. Summit organizers emphasized that bringing together a diverse set of stakeholders helps align resources, inform grant strategies and target interventions where they are most needed.

The choices reflect longstanding and interconnected challenges in Orange County. Cancer control relies on screening, early detection and equitable access to diagnostic and treatment services. Addressing opioid use requires expanding prevention, harm reduction and treatment options while confronting the social drivers of substance use. Food security links directly to chronic disease management, childhood development and economic stability. Together these priorities point to the need for coordinated approaches that address both clinical care and the structural factors that shape health, such as poverty, housing instability and transportation access.

For residents, the summit’s outcomes could influence where the county directs funding and program development in the coming years. Schools, community based providers and health systems that participated may use the CHA and CHIP to pursue partnerships and apply for state or federal resources tied to the identified priorities. The collaborative process also opens pathways for community input as initiatives move from planning to implementation.

The county directs readers to its health summit page and the Orange County Department of Health resources for the full recap and additional information. As local leaders and service providers build plans around the summit findings, translating data into targeted action will be essential to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes across Orange County.