The Indian River Community Health Assessment (CHA) revealed a significant need to improve the infant mortality rate. The goal - a reduction of the County’s infant mortality rate from 7.1 to 1.5 per 1,000 live births - was accomplished through the hard work of the county’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) Infant Mortality workgroup. The health department’s community and administrative efforts as well as the different health professionals spread out through the county, including the Nurse Family Partnership, were able to influence the infant mortality significantly through several collaborative & equitable interventions, such as a Doula program.

Staff members from the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County's Community Health Improvement section celebrated the holidays by providing helmet fittings for clients. The staff members provided helmet fittings for four days, allowing dental and WIC clients to receive free helmets and reflective bands as they came in for appointments. In total, the team provided education and helmets to over 100 residents!

DOH-Brevard joined several governmental representatives and non-profit organizations at the Space Coast World AIDS day event hosted by the Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church on December 1st. Over 100 attendees were present. During the candle light vigil DOH-Brevard staff member, Diane Franta, presented the current state of the epidemic in Florida and Brevard County. The names of those who recently died were announced and the Memorial Bell was rung 38 times, once for each year since the official start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Staff from DOH-Putnam postponed their own family gatherings to attend the Interlachen’s Lions Club Thanksgiving Day dinner. Volunteers prepared and served meals for over 600 individuals who otherwise might have gone without a Holiday dinner. The EPI Team was on hand to provide Influenza and Hepatitis A vaccines and commemorated the 21st annual World AIDS Day by providing HIV testing. #LiveWellPutnam #FLHealth

DOH-Santa Rosa was honored to be invited to participate in the 2019 Santa Rosa Creek Pow Wow. The CHD's partnership with the Creek nation has made it possible for DOH-Santa Rosa to be a part of the celebration since 2011. Although the weather was inclement and attendance was not what it has been in the past, CHD staff were still able to share information of interest to the Native American community, including pre-diabetes screening, diabetes prevention and smoking cessation. Hepatitis A shots were also available.