Small Town News

County health agency lists 2014 successes

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Throughout 2014, Yavapai County Community Health Services staff focused on improving the health and well-being of county residents of all ages, according to a press release.

The initiatives outlined in the updated 2014-16 Strategic Plan ensured that the division concentrated on the quality of services provided while paying close attention to customer satisfaction. Last year, YCCHS Public Health Division staff came in contact with, and had interactions with, residents more than 100,000 times.

Below is a sampling of projects and accomplishments during 2014:

Key focus of increasing immunization rates and decreasing exemption rates through community and school-based planning with myriad partners;

Implementation of the Healthy Living with Chronic Pain program; Policy planning and development to increase access to healthy food and physical activity through means such as school gardens, farmer's markets and outdoor recreation;

Enactment and enforcement of House Bill 2436, which seeks to streamline and expand food handler training and certification across Arizona;

Development of an innovative "approved source" program to enable certified kitchens to use locally grown whole vegetables, fruits and nuts;

Implementation of a comprehensive database for the Women, Infants and Children program;

Strengthening preparedness and response infrastructure for Ebola and other infectious disease;

Implementation of CPR training program;

Continuous pursuit of public health accreditation by having formed 12 domain teams, with a majority of requirements completed by the end of 2014.

Looking back on a strong 2014, there was a positive variance in terms of funding losses and gains, according to a statement from the agency. While new funding opportunities were few, the division maintained a solid position with existing programs and services. The number of partnerships continues to grow as well, by way of four public health sections and two community health improvement partners groups. Innovative public health accreditation continues full speed ahead as well, with anticipated documentation submission. Accreditation has already provided a framework and foundation for quality improvement, performance management, workforce development and overall community health improvement.



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