History and Capabilities

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Medicaid Reform Evaluation

The University of Florida (UF) was contracted by the Agency for Healthcare Administration Florida’s health policy and planning state agency, to conduct a five-year evaluation study of the state’s “Medicaid Reform Initiative.” The study examined whether the reform was capable of delivering quality healthcare service through improved health outcomes and enrollee satisfaction at a lower cost. The Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida served as a local evaluation liaison in Duval, Baker, Clay, and Nassau Counties.

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.

Diabetes Disease Management Program Evaluation, St. Johns River Rural Health Network

The St. Johns River Rural Health Network (SJRRHN) Low Income Pool Program was designed to assist persons who are living with diabetes in better managing their disease. The program represents a partnership among the Baker, Bradford, Clay, Nassau and Union county health departments and the SJRRHN. The program is funded under Florida’s Agency for Healthcare Administration through Federal, State, and local contributions. The Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida retained the assistance of a University of North Florida Master of Public Health student intern during 2009 to evaluate the program to evaluate the program regarding its overall effectiveness in improving specific clinical outcomes among enrolled clients. The evaluation findings included convincing evidence that the program has been successful to date in reducing certain key risk factors among clients with chronic diabetes. These and similar findings further indicate that a multidisciplinary diabetes disease management strategy can be effective in improving clinical diabetes management. Further administrative evaluation also revealed that the program provided a calculated estimate of at least $2.3 Million in patient care services during the 2008-2009 fiscal cycle, at a cost to the State of only $650,000. Additionally, emergency room diversion estimates from 2008-2009 suggest that a total of $340,000 was saved collectively among the five rural hospitals in the program’s coverage area from ER visits that were prevented as a result of better ongoing disease management. Results like these may provide some useful guidelines for policymaking groups or health-related organizations

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 and the St. Johns County Health Department.

World Café Community Dialog and Assessment

The Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida was contracted to help the Department of Children and Families, Circuit 4 (Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties) review their strategic plan for the long term future and success of the Circuit. Using the respected World Café community dialog model, over 70 community stakeholders participated in a total of three World Café conversation forums. Stakeholders had the opportunity to share their thoughts on the effectiveness of the system of care (infrastructure and service delivery) within the substance abuse and mental health services, offer ideas for integrating our services, and assist the Circuit prioritize substance abuse and mental health services.