For more information on this project, contact Keith Keene, Environmental Health Director at the DeSoto County Health Department.
DeSOTO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
November Southwest Arcadia Neighborhood PACE-EH Project Report
To: Daniel Parker, M.S.
Assistant Division Director, Division of Environmental Health
Date:
December 14, 2006
From:
Keith Keene
Environmental Health Director
Subject:
Southwest Arcadia Neighborhood
PACE EH Project Report
The DeSoto County Health Department has selected the
Southwest Arcadia Neighborhood to implement our first PACE-EH
project. Recognizing the importance of laying a strong foundation to
ensure the success of our program, the first several months were
spent gathering information and becoming familiar with the PACE
process. Our CHD Administrator and EH Director attended the Southern
Region PACE EH meeting in July. The Statewide PACE EH Liaison,
Samuel Brobbey, Jr., visited us and toured the selected
neighborhood, stating the area was 'ripe for a successful project'.
We met with the City of Arcadia Administrator and several community
leaders from the neighborhood. They expressed great enthusiasm for
the project and a willingness to participate. We have brainstormed
with a respected retired health educator from the community who has
given valuable input and is committed to actively participating in
the process.
We developed a position for our PACE Coordinator and
were not satisfied with the initial applications received. We have
re-posted on People First and in the local paper with a closing on
December 20th. Several of our community partners have identified local
qualified applicants interested in the position. We anticipate having
the new person on board by January 1, 2007 and have a tentative date of
January 19, 2007, for our first community wide meeting.
We and our partners are enthusiastic that we will get
our process underway.
2. Work Plan and Process Update
|
| PACE EH Tasks |
Action |
Outcome |
Target Date |
| Task 1: Determine
Community Capacity |
Specific resources,
skills and capacities needed for the project have been
identified. |
Completed |
|
| New working
relationships with other agencies, businesses and organizations
have been formed. |
On going |
|
| Review State of
Florida PACE-EH projects to use as models. |
Completed |
|
| Current collaboration
possibilities have been broadened. |
On going |
|
| Identify potential
strengths and weaknesses of community |
On going |
|
| Conduct first
community meeting |
Scheduled |
Jan. 19, 2007 |
| Task 2: Define and
Characterize the Community |
Assess community
partners to help determine community involvement |
On going |
|
| Describe the community
characteristics, composition, organization and leadership |
|
Jan. 19, 2007 |
3. Outstanding Issues/Concerns
|
Our greatest concern has been filling our PACE coordinator
position. We have continued to meet with a core group of community
leaders who have identified several persons who may be qualified and
interested in this important position. The position announcement
closes on the 20th and we are optimistic about filling it. Getting
the right person in this position is critical to guiding this
process.
September, 2006
|
