NEWS-ANNOUNCEMENTS
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HEALTH COUNCIL PROVIDES SUPPORT TO COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND LOANS THROUGH KIVA – posted December 2011

In celebration of the 2011 holiday season, the Health Council made donations to two agencies in the communities it serves. Working in teams, Council staff members selected their charities and purchased items such as pet toys, pet food, stuffed animals, and small blankets. Staff delivered the gifts to Pet Pal Rescue in Pinellas County and Palm Garden’s Alzheimer Unit in Hillsborough County. In addition $25 loans were made through KIVA.org to support five individuals who need micro-financing to start a small business that will raise them out of poverty. 

Click here to view a description of one KIVA loan recipient

RYAN WHITE CARE COUNCIL PARTNER RECOGNIZED AT HILLSBOROUGH LUNCH AND LEARN – posted December 2011

On December 6th the Health Council of West Central Florida held a Lunch and Learn event to share information about its Hillsborough activities and opportunities to meet the needs of County residents.  Invited guests included representatives from American Red Cross, Brandon Outreach Clinic, Children’s Board of Hillsborough, Children’s Medical Services, Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s District Office, Greater Riverview Chamber of Commerce, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Hillsborough Health Department, Hillsborough School Board, Hispanic Services Council, Keiser University, Mosaic, Tampa Family Health Centers, and Tampa Surgery Center. The Health Council presented a partner award to Janet Kitchen for her contribution to the Ryan White Care Council.

INSURANCE SERVICES CONTRACTS AWARDED – posted December 2011

The Health Council was the successful bidder for $706,500 in Ryan White funding for the Insurance Services Program (ISP) for the 2012-13 contract year.  ISP pays the health insurance premiums and prescription drug co-pays for People Living with HIV/AIDS in an eight county area. The Council has operated the program since 2008.  For additional information please click on Current Programs- Community Projects.

SUNCOAST HEALTH COUNCIL PARTNERS WITH ASAP ON FRONT PORCH PROJECT – posted December 2011

The Suncoast Health Council will partner with ASAP on a new project targeting the residents of the Front Porch community in south Pinellas County.  The Council will conduct a community assessment gathering data from multiple sources on demographic and health status indicators including chronic diseases, leading causes of death, and communicable diseases. The Council will conduct nine focus groups to gather information on health care issues and barriers facing residents and their service providers.  The report will be used to identify health care needs and develop intervention priorities.

RYAN WHITE FUNDS AWARDED TO ADDRESS URGENT NEED FOR HIV/AIDS MEDICATIONS – posted December 2011

The Health Council was the successful bidder for $100,000 in 2012-13 Ryan White funding to provide MedNet services to HIV/AIDS clients.  The program will secure free medications for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A) in Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas and Polk counties.  MedNet will work with county health departments, community-based HIV/AIDS service organizations, and primary care clinics serving the special needs of PLWH/A. Creating a network of specially-trained HIV/AIDS medication patient advocates will increase access to prescription drug services for HIV/AIDS patients unable to access care through the statewide AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).  For additional information about MedNet click on Current Programs - Community Services.

MEDNET EXPANDS TO MANATEE COUNTY - posted August 2011

The pharmaceutical staff at the One Stop Clinic in Manatee County has been trained by the Health Council to provide MedNet services to outpatients at its Bradenton site. This new collaboration will expand access to free prescription medications for uninsured and underinsured individual in Manatee County starting in September.  Dr. Alejandro Vazquez, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at LECOM School of Pharmacy will coordinate MedNet services at the Clinic.  Click on Current Programs – Service Delivery to learn more about MedNet.  

NEW INITIATIVE ANNOUNCED AT MANATEE LUNCH AND LEARN – posted August 2011

On August 3rd Board members from the Health Council of West Central Florida shared information about the Council’s planning, education and service delivery activities in Manatee County.  Invited guests included representatives of county government, Gulfcoast South AHEC, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Manatee County Health Department, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Manatee Rural Health Services, One Stop Clinic, Strategic Policy Solutions, West Central Florida Area Agency on Aging, and more.  The Council announced it is funding a new initiative, Hunger Free Manatee, which will include the establishment of a Food Policy Council.  The Manatee Health Department is the implementing partner for the new project.  Additional information will be announced in the upcoming months.

MEDNET PARTNER RECOGNIZED AT PASCO LUNCH AND LEARN – posted July 2011

On July 22 Suncoast Health Council held a Lunch and Learn event at the New Port Richey Library to share information about its Pasco activities and explore opportunities to meet the needs of County residents.  Invited guests included representatives of state and county government, Alzheimer’s Family Organization, CARES, Community Hospital, Good Samaritan Health Clinic, Healthy Start Coalition, Pasco County Health Department, Pasco Hernando Community College, Premier Health Care, and United Way.  The Council presented a partner award to Bobbi Lambert of the Pasco County Health Department for her contribution to the Council’s MedNet program for HIV/AIDS clients.

CONTRACT AWARDED FOR HIGHLANDS COUNTY MAPP UPDATE – posted June 2011

The Health Council of West Central Florida was awarded funding by Highlands County Health Department to coordinate its MAPP update.  Over a 15 month period the Health Council will work with community organizations on planning activities resulting in the adoption of a Strategic Plan for Highlands County.  For additional information please click on Current Programs- Planning.

HEALTH COUNCIL TO CONDUCT PINELLAS LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM PERFORMANCE ASSESSEMNT – posted June 2011

The Suncoast Health Council will conduct a Local Public Health System Performance Assessment on behalf of the Pinellas County Health Department.  The Health Council will implement a methodology developed by NACCHO AND CDC to gather community-level input aimed at measuring performance on ten essential services.  The overall goal is to identify strengths and weaknesses in the local public health system.  For additional information please click on Current Programs- Planning.

HEALTH COUNCIL OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBERS – posted April 2011
James Wesley Nall and Carl X. Walters were recently appointed by the Polk County Board of County Commissioners to serve a two year term on the West Central Florida's Board of Directors.

PINELLAS COUNTY APPOINTS SUNCOAST HEALTH COUNCIL BOARD MEMBERS – posted March 2011
The Pinellas Board of County Commissioners appointed Housh Ghovaee and William Harper to serve a two year term on Suncoast’s Board of Directors.  They also reappointed Dr. Glynette Barney, Grant Hurst, Helen King, Dr. David McKalip and Nadine Nickeson for additional two year terms.

MEDNET SITE SELECTED FOR PRUDENTIAL-DAVIS PRODUCTIVITY AWARD – posted March 2011

The MedNet site co-located in the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) office is the recipient of a Prudential-Davis Productivity Award.  The site, a collaborative partnership between the Suncoast Health Council and the Pinellas County Health Department, was selected because of its effectiveness in securing free prescription medications for People Living with HIV/AIDS in Pinellas County.  In 2010, the site secured over $2 million in free prescription medications for HIV/AIDS patients, returning $83 in private pharmacy resources for every $1 in public funds spent to provide program services. We applaud the extraordinary work of our MedNet navigators in expanding access to prescription drug services for vulnerable at-risk residents in our community.

A competitive selection process is used to award Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards to state employees and government work units that work collaboratively with their community partners to increase productivity and promote innovation to improve the delivery of service and save money to Florida taxpayers and businesses.  The selection process is chaired by Florida's Lt. Governor and co-sponsored by Florida TaxWatch, The Florida Council of 100, and the State of Florida.

SUNCOAST HEALTH COUNCIL WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER – posted March 2011
The Pasco Board of County Commissioners has appointed Richard Ferolito to serve a two year term on Suncoast’s Board of Directors. He joins Rob Marlowe, Dr. David Johnson and Kim Schuknecht as the Pasco County appointees to the Board of Directors.

HEALTH COUNCIL OF WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER – posted March 2011
Nancy Callahan was recently appointed by the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners to serve a two year term on the West Central Florida's Board of Directors. She joins Carole Mackey, Melonie Hall, Susan Longo and Russell Patterson as the Hillsborough County appointees to the Board of Directors.