Adams County Youth Health & Well-Being Assessment Planning

Adams County Health Department recognized a growing need to better understand the health and well-being of youth across its communities. This effort requires a shift beyond individual behaviors to a broader examination of the systems and conditions shaping youth outcomes. The department will launch a comprehensive Youth Health and Well-Being Assessment in 2026 to align and coordinate departmental programs, center youth perspectives in decision-making, and create a roadmap for cross-sector funding and partnerships.

To inform this effort, Adams County partnered with Omni to conduct a series of focus groups and key informant interviews. These conversations engaged youth, school and behavioral health professionals, community resource specialists, and Adams County staff and leadership to explore themes such as safety, engagement, future outlook, and systemic support. Participants also reflected on missing data in traditional assessments, how this effort could be most useful, and what would ensure the findings lead to meaningful decisions (particularly around funding, partnerships, and county-wide initiatives). This report synthesizes those insights and offers recommendations for a grounded, community- and youth-informed approach to the upcoming assessment.