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Annual Health Summary

Whitman County Public Health (WCPH) is pleased to present our fourth annual Annual Health Summary. Whitman County and the health status of the community are constantly in flux. Health needs change from year to year.

Health Snapshot

Understanding Whitman County’s Progress

The Health Snapshot compares key health measures from Whitman County and national targets set by Healthy People 2030, a federal initiative focused on improving the health and well-being of all Americans.

Health Snapshot

All Ages

Previous Year

Current Year

Reduce homicides

3

2.5

How is Whitman County Doing?

We have consistently met the target.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Homicides per 100,000 people

Source — National Vital Statistics System

Note: 2025 data is represented from August 2024 to July 2025

Target - 5 per 100,000 or lower ↓

Reduce drug overdose deaths

25

19.1

How is Whitman County Doing?

We have met the target

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people

Source — National Vital Statistics System

Note: 2025 data is represented from June 2024 to May 2025

Target - 20 per 100,000 or lower ↓

Reduce the suicide rate

19.4

25

How is Whitman County Doing?

Our death by suicide rates are higher than the target, and we are not improving in this area.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Suicides per 100,000 people

Source — National Vital Statistics System

Note: 2025 data is represented from August 2024 to July 2025

Target - 12 per 100,000 or lower ↓

Increase people who get the flu vaccine every year

45.6%

49.7%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We've improved since 2018, but our progress is inconsistent. We have not met the target.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percent of persons (over 6 months) were vaccinated against seasonal influenza for the flu season

Source — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Target - 70% or higher ↑

Reduce household food insecurity and hunger

13.8%

15.6%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We have not met the target, and are not improving.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percent of households were food insecure

Source — Feeding America

Target - 6% or lower ↓

Increase people with health insurance

94.5%

97.1%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We’ve been improving in this area since 2020, and have met the target.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percent of persons (under 65 years) that had medical insurance

Source — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Target - 92% or higher ↑

Increase use of dental care

76%

66.2%

How is Whitman County Doing?

While we met the target, we got worse in this area between 2020 and 2022.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percent of children, adolescents, and adults who use the oral health care system

WCPH Measure

Percentage of adults (18+ years) indicating that they had a dental visit in the last year

Source — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Target - 45% or higher ↑

Infants, Children & Adolescents

Previous Year

Current Year

Decrease infant deaths

5.3

2.6

How is Whitman County Doing?

We have inconsistently met the target in this area.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Infant deaths per 1,000 within the first year of life

Source — Infant Mortality Module

Target - 5 per 1,000 or lower ↓

Decrease youth who use tobacco

13.3%

2.5%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We’ve improved a lot in this area and have met the target.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percent of students in grades 6-12 used smoking and vaping products in the past 30 days

WCPH Measure

Percentage of 10th grade youth who used an electronic cigarette product in the past 30 days

Source — Healthy Youth Survey

Target - 11% or lower ↓

Increase treated adolescents with diagnosed depression

69%

70%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We have met the target.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percent of adolescents (12-17 years) with Major Depressive Episodes who received treatment

WCPH Measure

Percentage of Medicaid clients (6-17 years) with mental health needs who received care

Source — Healthier Washington Dashboard

Target - 46% or higher ↑

Increase 4th-grader reading skills

63.5%

58.1%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We have met the target, but have not recovered after a large drop after 2019.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Increase the proportion of 4th-graders with reading skills at or above the proficient level

Source — Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Note: Districts with fewer than ten 4th grade students excluded to protect individual privacy.

Target - 41% or higher ↑

Adults & Older Adults

Previous Year

Current Year

Increase adults (ages 50–75) screened for colorectal cancer

39%

34%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We have not met the target, and we have a long way to go.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percent of adults (50-75 years) received a colorectal cancer screening based on the most recent guidelines

WCPH Measure

Percentage of Medicaid clients (50-75 years) who had appropriate screening for colorectal cancer

Source — Healthier Washington Dashboard

Target - 75% or higher ↑

Reduce current cigarette smoking in adults

5.9%

12.5%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We did not meet the target, and we are not improving consistently over time.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percent of adults (18+ years) that were current cigarette smokers

Source — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Target - 6% or lower ↓

Increase aerobic and muscle-strengthening activity in adults

17.1%

16.5%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We met the target.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percent of adults (18+ years) meeting physical activity and muscle-strengthening guidelines

WCPH Measure

Percentage of adults (20+ years) who are physically inactive

Source — US Diabetes Surveillance System

Target - 29% or lower ↓

Increase employment in working-age people

96.4%

95.9%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We met the target and are consistently strong in this area.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percent of the working-age population (ages 16-64) that were employed

Source — United States Department of Labor: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Note: Students are not considered to be in the labor market and are not included in this measure.

Target - 75% or higher ↑

Reduce adults (21+ years) engaging in binge drinking

17.5%

22%

How is Whitman County Doing?

Although we met the target, we are getting worse in this area over time.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Adults (21+ years) engaging in binge drinking of alcoholic beverages during the past 30 days

Source — Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Target - 25% or lower ↓

Reduce adults diagnosed with diabetes

6.9

6.4

How is Whitman County Doing?

We have not met the target, and we have a ways to go.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

New cases of diabetes per 1,000 adults aged (18-84 years) occurred in the past 12 months

Source — US Diabetes Surveillance System

Target - 4 per 1,000 or lower ↓

Health Priority Data

Our Community’s Health Priorities

The 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) identified three key health priorities for Whitman County: Mental & Behavioral Health, Standard of Living, and Preventive Care. We’re sharing updated data and highlighting inspiring community initiatives that are making a difference in addressing these needs.

Health Priority Data

Mental & Behavioral Health

Mental and behavioral health is a top community health need. Find updated data below to see how we are doing as a community in meeting this need.

Mental & Behavioral Health

Previous Year

Current Year

Suicide Rate

19.4

25

How is Whitman County Doing?

We have a higher rate of suicides than the state.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Suicides per 100,000 people

Source — National Vital Statistics System

Target - per 100,000 or lower ↓

Mental Illness Hospitalizations

81.1

112.9

How is Whitman County Doing?

Our hospitalizations due to mental illness are consistently well below the state.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Hospitalizations due to mental illness per 100,000 people

Source — Comprehensive Hospitalization Abstract Reporting System

Target - per 100,000 or lower ↓

People receiving mental health care (through Medicaid)

59%

60%

How is Whitman County Doing?

Getting mental health treatment for those who need it is consistently better than the state.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of Medicaid clients with a mental health need receiving treatment

Source — Washington Health Care Authority

Target - % or higher ↑

People receiving treatment from substance use disorder (through Medicaid)

32%

32%

How is Whitman County Doing?

Slightly more people with substance use disorder are receiving treatment, but still less than the state.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries with substance use disorder treated

Source — Washington Health Care Authority

Target - % or higher ↑

People prescribed opioids with sedatives (through Medicaid)

7.4%

7.1%

How is Whitman County Doing?

Risky prescribing in Whitman County is consistently worse than the state, but gradually improving.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of Medicaid clients prescribed opioids with sedatives

Source — Washington Health Care Authority

Target - % or lower ↓

People on chronic opioid therapy ≥50mg morphine (through Medicaid)

4.9%

4.2%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We have worse percentages of high-dose chronic opioid therapy than the state, but improving.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of Medicaid beneficiaries on chronic opioid therapy ≥50mg morphine

Source — Washington Health Care Authority

Target - % or lower ↓

Community Priority Needs

Spotlight on Community Initiatives

Whitman Recovery Community Center

This spring, the Whitman Recovery Community Center (WRCC) opened in downtown Pullman, creating a much-needed hub for support and connection.

Learn More

Resilient: A Whitman County Taskforce

Resilient operates the Community Response Team (CRT), a volunteer-led, community-based program serving Whitman County that is trained in suicide prevention, intervention, and crisis response.

Learn More

Health Priority Data

Standard of Living

Standard of living is another top community health need. Find updated data below to see how we are doing as a community in meeting this need.

Standard of Living

Previous Year

Current Year

Families with children in poverty

11.7%

12.9%

How is Whitman County Doing?

Our number of families in poverty is consistently higher than the state.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of families with children in poverty

Source — United States Census Bureau

Target - % or lower ↓

Seniors (65+ years) in poverty

9.7%

11%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We have a growing percentage of seniors in poverty.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of older adults (65+ years) in poverty

Source — United States Census Bureau

Target - % or lower ↓

Households using Food Stamps in last year

9.2%

10.1%

How is Whitman County Doing?

The number of Whitman County households receiving food stamps is steadily increasing.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of households receiving Food Stamps/SNAP in last 12 months

Source — United States Census Bureau

Target - % or lower ↓

Children who are homeless

1.6%

1.5%

How is Whitman County Doing?

After 2019, child homelessness increased, but remains lower than the state.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of children in public schools who are homeless

Source — WA Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Target - % or lower ↓

Child care costs for toddlers as a percentage of income

28%

24%

How is Whitman County Doing?

Child care costs are significantly higher in Whitman County compared to the state.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of median income spent on child care

Source — Child Care Aware of WA

Target - % or lower ↓

Community Priority Needs

Spotlight on Community Initiatives

Community Child Care Centers

Community Child Care Center (CCCC) supports early childhood development through high-quality education, care, and family partnerships.

Learn More

WCPH Palouse Resource Guide

The Palouse Resource Guide connects individuals and families with community resource navigators who provide one-on-one support in finding and accessing services.

Learn More

Health Priority Data

Preventative Care

Preventative care is another top community health need. Find updated data below to see how we are doing as a community in meeting this need.

Preventative Care

Previous Year

Current Year

Colorectal Cancer Screenings (50 - 75 years) (through Medicaid)

39%

34%

How is Whitman County Doing?

We saw improvements in screening rates for colorectal cancer and out perform the state.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of Medicaid clients (50-75 years) screened for colorectal cancer

Source — Washington Health Care Authority

Target - % or higher ↑

Breast Cancer Screening (Females 50-74 years) (through Medicaid)

50%

45%

How is Whitman County Doing?

Whitman County has seen recent gains in mammograms.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of Medicaid females (50-74 years) who had a mammogram

Source — Washington Health Care Authority

Target - % or higher ↑

Cervical Cancer Screening (Females 21-64 years) (through Medicaid)

36%

39%

How is Whitman County Doing?

Rates of cervical cancer screenings in Whitman County are consistently lower than the state.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of Medicaid women (21-64 years) screened for cervical cancer

Source — Washington Health Care Authority

Target - % or higher ↑

Routine Checkups for Youth (3-21 years) (through Medicaid)

39%

25%

How is Whitman County Doing?

Youth receiving annual checkups in Whitman County dropped sharply in 2024.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of Medicaid clients (3-21 years) with at least one well-care visit

Source — Washington Health Care Authority

Target - % or higher ↑

Routine Checkups for Older Adults (through Medicaid)

32%

33%

How is Whitman County Doing?

As of 2020, Whitman County lags behind the state in annual checkups for older adults.

Healthy People 2030 Measure

Percentage of Medicare clients with an annual wellness visit

Source — Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Target - % or higher ↑

Community Priority Needs

Spotlight on Community Initiatives

Family Medicine Residency Center

This year, Whitman County Public Health partnered with the Family Medicine Residency Center to expand access to sports physicals in Colfax, Colton, Endicott, and Pullman.

Learn More

Sid’s Pharmacy

Wil Edwards, owner and head pharmacist of Sid’s Pharmacy has played a key role in increasing vaccine access across Whitman County, particularly in rural and underserved areas, through walk-in services and long-running mobile vaccination clinics.

Learn More

The Purpose Of This Report Is To:

Inform

Serve as a data resource for community-based organizations, health care systems, and agencies make plans to meet health needs in Whitman County;

Highlight

Highlight great work community members are doing to respond to identified health needs;

Identify

Identify any new Whitman County health needs the data show are emerging when compared with Healthy People 2030 targets.