History and Capabilities

Clay County Health Care Summit I and II

Clay County recently completed and released the 2010 Community Needs Assessment report. One of the Call to Action goals was to hold a summit to address both the assets and deficits of the safety net services in Clay County. As a means to address these issues, the Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida received a grant from The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida to organize a one-day Health Care Summit for leaders and decision makers in Clay County. Over 50 stakeholders convened at the Thrasher Horne Center in Middleburg for a full day of education, networking and developing community solutions for addressing Clay County’s uninsured.

The Health Planning Council reconvened with the group on Thursday, January 20, 2011. At this event, Dr. Dawn Emerick released the White Paper – Establishing a Clay County Safety-Net System for the Uninsured: One Community’s Call to Action

New Town Success Zone

Health indicators and utilization data are often available to community-benefit professionals, public health practitioners, hospital planners and foundation leaders. However in most cases, health indicators stop at the county level leaving many health professionals to guess the specific health needs of neighborhoods located within a county. In larger counties, like Duval County, absence of neighborhood-level data can cause inappropriate programming and funding allocations which can exasperate the lack of trust often present in poor communities. One of the fastest growing methodologies for assessing the specific health needs of a neighborhood; segmenting neighborhood perceptions, values and beliefs; and building trust is a framework known as Community-Based Participatory Research or CBPR. CBPR is a unique, long-term commitment between the “healthcare establishment” and the residents of a targeted community. As this framework grows in popularity, it’s important that health professionals clearly understand the theory behind the framework, the benefits of its success, and irreversible implications if done incorrectly.

In 2007, initial extrapolated county-level data revealed health disparity and inappropriate ER usage among residents living in Duval County’s (Jacksonville, Fl) 32209 zip code. Normally, zip code level data provides adequate information for sound health planning. But, in this case, zip code 32209 is too large to accurately reflect all of the neighborhoods within zip code 32209. More questions surfaced— “Which NEIGHBORHOODS in 32209 were suffering from the most severe health disparities and why was this occurring?” Over the next two years, Jacksonville leaders came together to determine which neighborhoods within 32209 needed further assessment around health, public safety, education, child care, and economic development. A 90 block, 1600 residential household census track, known as New Town, was selected.

Baptist Medical Center received a grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund to conduct a health assessment in the New Town community. The Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida, Inc (HPC) was contracted to plan and execute the CBPR health assessment.

From November 2009-May 2010, the HPC trained and partnered with 25 New Town residents (AKA “Health Builders”). Health Builders conducted 10 focus groups and collected 665 porch-to-porch health surveys. Health Builders were partners in every step of the CBPR process including communicating the results to Baptist’s Advisory Board and members of duPont’s Board of Directors. Further proof of our long-term commitment to the community, Health Builders recently canvassed the community again and signed up 25 uninsured children for KidCare— a key finding in the New Town Health Assessment.

HIV Transmission Among Substance-Abusing Black Women

River Region Human Services (River Region) received a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grant (SAMHSA) grant to conduct community assessment and planning around the issues of substance abuse and HIV transmission among black women in Jacksonville. The Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida was contracted by River Region to plan and execute a community needs assessment, identify the community’s capacity and readiness to change, and develop a strategic plan using the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) as a guide.

Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP)

MAPP is a strategic approach to community health improvement. This tool helps communities improve health and quality of life through community-wide strategic planning. Using MAPP, communities seek to achieve optimal health by identifying and using their resources wisely, taking into account their unique circumstances and needs, and forming effective partnerships for strategic action. The HPC facilitated MAPP strategic planning sessions with the Baker County Health Department, Clay County Health Department, Flagler County Health Department, St. Johns County Health Department, Nassau County Health Department and Leon County Health Department.

Community Conversation about Healthcare – Florida State Representative Janet Adkins

The Health Planning Council and Florida State Representative Janet Adkins hosted a Community Health Conversation panel discussion at the Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Betty P. Cook Nassau Center in the “Red” Bean Training Center in Nassau County. The Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida moderated this event which focused on discussions surrounding three primary topics: Medicaid Reform, Cover Florida Healthcare Access Program and Federal Healthcare Reform. Seventy people from diverse backgrounds and from the opposite ends of the political spectrum were in attendance to voice their opinions regarding Healthcare, access and reform.

National Healthcare Reform Town Hall Meeting – Florida State Representative Janet Adkins

The Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida moderated a National Healthcare Reform Town Hall Meeting in Nassau County. Hosted by Florida State Representative Janet Adkins and invited healthcare reform panelists, the event focused on discussions around the proposed federal healthcare reform legislation and the impact on Florida residents. 100 people were in attendance.