In this ever-changing health care landscape, organizations must not only be resilient but also organic in order to quickly adjust to new health innovation and health policy. In our case, not only do we have to be two steps ahead of change, we have to be able to respond to the unique needs of each of our seven counties when called upon. As an entrepreneurial-driven non-profit, we prioritize time, money and resources each year to ensure we are offering the most innovative, visionary, customized and evidence-based health planning approaches on the market.  

Evidence of this commitment is seen in the newly launched Northeast Florida Counts web-based platform. This University of California, Berkeley inspired health-related quality of life indicator dashboard brings real-time population health status data and best practices to everyone's computer in an instant. Another web-based innovation we possess an interactive mapping platform called Instant Atlas. We recently completed two highly-complex interactive sub-county level data mapping projects for two local health-related coalitions. Innovated in Sweden, Instant Atlas is an easy to use interactive mapping tool to disseminate and compare health indicators and healthcare utilization statistics. Finally, the Health Planning Council recently invested in advance software and computer equipment to allow survey data to be entered electronically right at the point of engagement, saving time, money and trees.  

Our commitment to leveraging technology is just in its infancy. This past June, Nikole Helvey-Rural Health Manager, Valerie Feinberg- Director of Health Assessment and Urban Planning and Dawn Emerick- Executive Director attended the Mobile Health Expo in New York City. Vendors and expert speakers from all over the country showcased the latest innovation in mobile health apps, disease management and support social networking websites, telehealth technology and electronic medical records. The Mobile Health Expo completely inspired us and motivated us to begin developing and launching our own innovative products. In the next couple of months, we will establish an Invitation Only Health Innovation Think Tank to keep our creative juices flowing.

To learn more about these innovative activities, contact Dawn Emerick at Dawn_Emerick@hpcnef.org

Core Focus Areas: Healthy Communities *** Happy and Healthy Places *** Vibrant Partnerships  

One of the Health Planning Council's innovative concepts is on the docket for development and will be cultivated during a 4-day intense Health Impact Assessment (HIA) practitioners training in San Francisco. The Health Planning Council's Director of Health Assessment and Urban Planning, Valerie Feinberg, AICP will be one of a very select group of certified urban planners who possess the rare and distinct ability to conduct HIAs.

Widely recognized as a method to consider "health in all policies", HIA has been used in the United States on land use, transportation, education, criminal justice, labor, agriculture, energy, budgeting, and other decision-making areas to inform policymakers about the health impacts of proposed policies, projects and plans. Conducting HIAs has become a very trendy mantra for many individuals and organizations. Many people and organizations talk about conducting HIAs, but only a handful of planners in Northeast Florida are intensely trained and actually qualified to conduct them-HIAs are complex; they require community participation; they require expertise in both public health and urban planning. We are excited about expanding this business line to the region.

To learn more about Health Impact Assessments, contact Valerie Feinberg at Valerie_Feinberg@hpcnef.org

Core Focus Areas: Healthy Communities *** Happy and Healthy Places      

Over the last several months, the Health Planning Council has received (and completed) several grants and fee-for-service contracts:

• Safe Routes to School Planning Grant- Blue Foundation
• Clay County PACE-EH Assessment and Facilitation- Clay County Health Department
• Safe For Life Planning Grant- River Region Human Services
• Nassau County MAPP Assessment Carve-Out Data Services- Nassau County Health Department
• Caregivers and the Workplace Assessment- Elder Source and United Way of Northeast Florida
• Baker County MAPP Assessment and Facilitation- Baker County Health Department
• Leon County MAPP Assessment and Facilitation- Leon County Health Department
• Flagler County MAPP Assessment and Facilitation- Flagler County Health Department
• Clay County Ryan White Case Management Training- Clay County Health Department

To learn about how you or your organization can work with the Health Planning Council, contact Valerie Feinberg at Valerie_Feinberg@hpcnef.org

Core Focus Areas: Healthy Communities *** Happy and Healthy Places

In conjunction with Heritage Publishing, the Health Planning Council produced its sixth edition of the Guide to Assisted Living Facilities in Northeast Florida 2011-2012. The guide is designed to help individuals and families from the seven-county region make informed decisions on the type of long-term care that is needed by providing information about the different kinds of assisted living facilities available, the services they provide, how to select a facility that meets their needs, as well as additional information on alternatives to long-term care.

For your free copy visit http://www.hpcnef.org/publications/assisted-living-guide/ or contact Dave Malone at Dave_Malone@hpcnef.org  

Core Focus Areas: Smart People

Save the Date

Health Planning Council 2011 Annual Meeting 

Thursday, October 27, 2011

11:00 am until 2:00 pm

Jacksonville Marriott at Southpoint

Keynote Speaker:

Chuck Underwood

Founder of The Generational Imperative, Inc.

For information about sponsorship opportunities and tickets, please contact Amanda Herring at amanda_herring@hpcnef.org 

Core Focus Areas: Smart People  

The Health Planning Council of Northeast Florida (HPC) is the Lead Fiscal Agency for the Ryan White Part B Program and the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program in Volusia and Flagler Counties, commonly referred to as Area 12.

The Health Planning Council's role as the Ryan White Part B lead fiscal agency has the challenging task of funding high quality medical and support services to the most vulnerable populations with a complex, expensive disease at funding levels

one fourth of what is needed. The Health Planning Council, along with the Partnership for Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Planning Body, sets Ryan White funding priorities and allocations based on identified client need, historical spend rate data, projected needs, client surveys, annual updates of the Needs Assessment. Ryan White, funding as payor of last resort, is strictly adhered to and is regularly monitored by the Health Planning Council through the CAREWare database and fiscal accountability audits.  

The Health Planning Council has long been recognized by the State of Florida Bureau of HIV/AIDS as developing quality assessment and programmatic tools that have relevance on a statewide level. Quality assessment tools (Ryan White Needs Assessment and the Consumer Satisfaction Survey) developed by the Health Planning Council in Area 12 are the current standard tools utilized by the Bureau statewide. Programmatic tools developed by the Health Planning Council are the standardized forms utilized by the Bureau of HIV/AIDS and are featured in the current State of Florida Eligibility Guidelines manual and State of Florida Case Management Guidelines manual.

The Health Planning Council also serves as the Case Management provider for the state HOPWA program in Area 12. Responsibilities include managing, monitoring and implementing 1.8 million dollars in Ryan White Part B funding and over a quarter of million dollars in HOPWA funding. The Health Planning Council's HOPWA Case Management program is recognized by the Bureau of HIV/AIDS as the premier program in the state of Florida. In April 2011, the State HOPWA Coordinator requested the Health Planning Council submit a HOPWA program success story to represent the State of Florida to be read into the Congressional Record. The success story submitted to the state is attached. Furthermore, another key component to the success of the Health Planning Council's HOPWA program has been in the ability to leverage funds and support from mainstream housing programs. Leveraging $3.85 for every HOPWA dollar in 2010, translating to a whopping $1,019,644.00, a 14% increase from 2009! More importantly, 90% of HOPWA clients receiving Short Term Rent Mortgage (STRMU) assistance maintained housing stability.

The Health Planning Council continues to provide the highest quality of services to the State of Florida for fiscal and reporting accountability. Only two weeks ago, the Bureau of HIV/AIDS reporting unit recognized the Health Planning Council as the only provider in the state of Florida who was successful in submitting expenditure data in the AIDS Information Management System (AIMS) that matched dollar for dollar to the FLAIR information system. The accuracy of this data is necessary for the state to submit their final expenditure report to HRSA.

Additionally, developing assessment and programmatic standards for the Ryan White and HOPWA Program is second nature to the Health Planning Council. The Bureau of HIV/AIDS frequently refers other areas of the state to contact the Health Planning Council for training and technical assistance. In 2010-2011 the Health Planning Council provided technical assistance to Clay County CHD, Treasure Coast, Lutheran Services Florida, Escambia County Health Department, and Orange County Part A Grantee, just to name a few

The Health Planning Council's level of professional expertise is second to none and nothing short of exceptional. Joyce Case, Program Director for Ryan White Part B and HOPWA programs has been responsible for the oversight, management, and operations of these programs from the beginning. Joyce, her team, and the Health Planning Council's finance department's knowledge of the Ryan White's and HOPWA Administrative Guidelines, attention to detail, efficient reimbursement to members within the provider network and stewardship of the funding has made these two programs models for the state of Florida and for the nation.

Core Focus Areas: Vibrant Partnerships