For more information on this project, contact Keith Keene, Environmental Health Director at the DeSoto County Health Department.
DeSOTO COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
March Southwest Arcadia Neighborhood PACE-EH Project Report
To: Daniel Parker, M.S.
Assistant Division Director, Division of Environmental Health
Date: April 2, 2007
From: Keith Keene
Environmental Health Director
Subject: Southwest Arcadia Neighborhood PACE EH Project Report
The DeSoto County Department has hired Kedesch E. Altidor for the PACE-EH Coordinator position. Since her arrival, things are beginning to progress. She presented the Southwest Arcadia PACE-EH project to the Arcadia City Council.
A community leaders meeting was held on March 22nd. At this meeting, more environmental health concerns were identified. The concerns pertain to addressing health conditions due to a contaminated watershed, unsafe drinking water levels due to several facility plants, deteriorated and unpaved roads, traffic safety, and poor housing standards. Additionally, future community leaders meetings were scheduled. The next community leaders meeting will focus on how to construct the surveys.
Moreover, a pastoral dinner was held on March 29th. The purpose of the dinner was to explain PACE-EH, identify environmental health issues and concerns, and encourage leadership and participation. Several churches have committed to the PACE-EH project.
It was identified at the meetings that attendance would be poorly if a community-wide meeting was held. Therefore, each church in attendance has agreed to host a smaller version of the community-wide meeting in order to reach as many community residents. At some of the meetings, there will be a health screenings while conducting the surveys in order to compile an accurate and efficient background of the community members.
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 |
Always ongoing; we have 10 new organizations that have committed. |
|
| Current collaboration possibilities have been broadened |
Always ongoing; we have 2 new collaboration possibilities. |
|
| Identify potential strengths and weaknesses of community outlined |
Ongoing |
|
| Conduct first community-wide meeting |
Scheduled; there will be several small versions held |
May 15 |
| Task 2: Define and Characterize the Community |
Assess community partners to help determine community involvement |
Completed |
|
| Describe the community characteristics, composition, organization and leadership |
Ongoing |
May 15 |
3. Outstanding Issues/Concerns |
The biggest challenge to date is that there have not been any responses to written invitations; therefore, the best ways to encourage and achieve involvement are through door-to-door outreach and phone calls.
November, 2006
September, 2006
|
