The Florida Department of Health in Martin County recognizes the value in measuring health outcomes and today acknowledged the 2017 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps tool released by the University of Wisconsin and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This study highlights the many community factors that influence health and uses established data, much of which is available from the department at www.flhealthcharts.gov.

“Good health is a foundation for a great community and everyone has a role to play in developing and maintaining a healthy community.” said Karlette Peck, Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health in Martin County. “We are so fortunate in Martin County that so many agencies value health and work to support programs and initiatives that improve the wellness of our residents and visitors.”

These rankings are a snapshot of the health of counties across the country and they emphasize that health is not a singular effort but a combined work in progress across all community partners. The department works in collaboration with local governments, non-profit organizations, health care facilities, business groups, schools, faith-based organizations and many other stakeholders to improve the health of all people in Martin County. These rankings use data related to physical environments, social and economic factors, health behaviors and clinical care. County Health Rankings can be found here: www.countyhealthrankings.org 

In Martin County, the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) is designed to address specific opportunities for improved health that have been identified by the community. The department has partnered with many stakeholders to implement the CHIP and collaborates regularly to track progress with the focus areas aimed at raising awareness about existing health and human services, supporting School Health initiatives and programs that tackle obesity.

Last week the Florida Department of Health celebrated a one year milestone as the first integrated department of health in the nation to achieve national accreditation through the Public Health Accreditation Board. Public health departments play a critical role in protecting and improving the health of people and communities. The seal of accreditation signifies that the  Florida Department of Health has been rigorously examined and meets or exceeds national standards that promote continuous quality improvement for public health.