Health Educator Taela Cintron places a floor sticker at the Eglin
Air Force Base Commissary.

The Department of Health in Okaloosa County's Reducing Infant Mortality Community Health Improvement Plan group is working to promote safe sleep practices after several sleep-related infant deaths occurred. The group utilized census tract-level data to determine which areas were most at-risk for sleep-related deaths. They partnered with stores, post offices, clinics, daycare centers, and salons in the areas to place educational floor stickers and brochures. By targeting the at-risk locations, the group hopes to maximize their impact.

The City of Palatka was designated as new trail town by the Florida Greenways and Trails Council on January 23, 2019. Palatka is an emerging trail hub, situated along long-distance paved multi-use trails, the St. Johns River Blueway and historic Bartram Trail in Putnam County. The town's interactive St. Johns River Center provides trail information and maps and the Palatka Bicycle Weekender draws hundreds of participants each year. Two new trail segments were recently added to the Palatka-to-Lake Butler State Trail and Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail.

In partnership with the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation, DOH-Collier representatives took a lead role in corroborating findings from the foundation's 2017 Collier County Community Needs and Assets Assessment. Facilitated by the DOH-Collier Community Health Promotions team, these focus groups, including community members and health care experts, provided beneficial information to validate and enhance the Schulze Foundation needs assessment and contribute to the Collier County Community Health Assessment scheduled for publication in July 2019.

The Florida Department of Health in Marion County is leading the charge to develop the next Community Health Needs Assessment for Marion County, bringing together more than 20 partner agencies representing government, health care, social services, and others. The department is asking Marion County residents to share what they see as their most pressing health needs in a 2019 Marion County Community Health Survey. The local health department will use the survey results to develop the assessment, slated for completion in summer 2019, followed by a five-year community improvement plan.