DOH-Manatee credits community partners for model practice award
Resources at https://manateecountyflorida.now.site/home
Bradenton, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Manatee County (DOH-Manatee) has received an award for its efforts in the fight against opioid addiction.
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) has selected the Department’s project, headlined “The Power of Partnerships to Address the Opioid Epidemic in Manatee County,” for a model practice award.
The spirit of partnership in the fight against opioid addiction is reflected in the online landing page developed out of the project. The landing page offers linkage to care for those who are at risk of addiction, already addicted or in crisis in Manatee County. Visit https://manateecountyflorida.now.site/home .
“The award is especially important because so many people reach out to me constantly to ask about best practices on how to work with community partners,” said Runa Badal, DOH-Manatee’s Community Health Division director. “I always advise about the power of creating partnerships to engage community members. These partnerships can thrive beyond a grant or project and create opportunities for sustainability.”
The project, which ran from January to July 2019, was funded through NACCHO and carried out in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Key goals included increasing DOH-Manatee’s ability to reduce fatal and nonfatal opioid overdoses and improve community response to the opioid epidemic, especially through a community action plan focused on prevention, harm reduction and linkage to care.
Key strategies and partners included:
- Educating health care and health professions students on alternative pain management strategies and prescribing practices (Gulf Coast AHEC)
- Evaluating the opioid-focused peer coach program ( Sandra Stone, USF)
- Distributing the Alternatives to Opioid Toolkit to hospitals statewide (Manatee Memorial Hospital)
- Raising awareness across Manatee County to the Rx Campaign (CDC)
DOH-Manatee credits collaboration and assistance received from more than 60 local, state, national and federal partner-agencies, especially Manatee Health Care Alliance partners, as well.
“The designation of your program as a Model Practice demonstrates exemplary and replicable qualities in response to a local public health need,” writes NACCHO. “Your program reflects a strong local health department role, collaboration, innovation, and has demonstrated its value through evaluation.”
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About the Florida Department of Health
The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.
Contact:
Christopher Tittel, Communication Director, DOH-Manatee
(941) 720-6145
