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February 2008 |
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Visit the
CHIP website
for more
news
and
information
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CHIP is made possible
because of the generous support of these
community partners:
Community Foundation
of Sarasota
County
Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice
The William G. and Marie Selby
Foundation
Florida
Department
of Health
Sarasota County Health Department
Sarasota County
Charlotte County
Health Department
Charlotte Regional Medical Center
DeSoto County Health Department
DeSoto Memorial Hospital
Doctor's Hospital
Englewood Community Hospital
Fawcett Memorial
Hospital
Peace River Regional
Medical Center
Sarasota Memorial
Healthcare System
Venice Regional
Medical Center
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The Community Health Improvement Partnership,
or CHIP, brings together a dynamic collaboration of
individuals,
organizations, hospitals, and others to build better health
and wellness for Sarasota County.
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| Getting Health
on the Menu in Local Neighborhoods |
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Over the past several months, CHIP has been working with
Sarasota County Neighborhood Services to develop materials which
underscore the role that neighborhoods play in shaping health. We’ve
created a “menu” of ideas to inspire healthy changes at the
neighborhood-level. And we’ve also developed a companion website -- dubbed the
Neighborhood Cafe --complete with local tools for creating a healthy
neighborhood. The website also includes a storybank to showcase local
activities. Check out the Neighborhood Café at www.chip4health.org/neighborhoods.
And don't
forget to share your story!
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Grant from
Selby Foundation Helps CHIP Centers Evolve |
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CHIP Centers
are a free public service providing local health and wellness
information. For the past few years, the Centers have been
conveniently located throughout South Sarasota County in places like
libraries, community centers, and the YMCA.
In 2008, CHIP Centers
will adopt an updated approach to delivering health and wellness
information and connecting people with tools to create a healthier
community. This exciting project is made possible by the Selby
Foundation, which awarded the Sarasota Coun! ty Library
System a grant to place interactive health information
kiosks in all of the County’s libraries. This grant, a coordinated
effort between the County and CHIP, also provides for kiosks in each
Sarasota County Health Department clinic.
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Hospitals, Health
Departments, Foundation Support CHIP |
In 2007, 8 regional hospitals and the
Sarasota and DeSoto County Health Departments gave contributions to
CHIP which were generously matched, dollar-for-dollar, by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of
Venice.
The Foundation has also established an
account which allows individuals to make contributions to CHIP's efforts.
If you would like to invest in the health of your community, you can now
donate online at www.gulfcoastcf.org/page27421.cfm; select the Community Health Improvement
Partnership from the drop-down list.
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Save the
Date: Community Health Interactive
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CHIP
’s Health
System Collaboration Committee is interested in fostering community
collaborations to promote health. Over the past several months, the
committee joined with members of the Community Alliance to identify three
key health priority areas – areas which need more community attention,
more action. These priorities focus on increasing access
to healthcare, encouraging healthy, active lifestyles, and improving
chronic disease management.
 Now we’re prepared to help make that action happen by
hosting an energetic event – the Community Health Interactive – to
encourage creative collaborations around these key priority issues. At the
end of the half-day event, participants will have created a web of
innovative ideas and existing resources. This will be a starting point to
help us understand how to best connect like-minded groups and encourage
collaborative efforts to create a healthier Sarasota County.
Save the date: Wednesday, April 16th, 9:00 – 1:00
p.m. And click here
for more information.
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Diabetes Resource
Guide Now Available |
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A diagnosis of
diabetes can be confusing, frightening and isolating. To add to this
stress, many diabetics aren’t aware of all of existing diabetes-related
resources. With support from Doctor’s Hospital of Sarasota
, CHIP has produced the Sarasota County Diabetes Resource Guide to
help connect diabetics with local resources. To request a free copy
of the Guide, contact Gail at 861.2969 or download a copy at www.chip4health.org.
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| New CHIP
Research Publications |
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Over the past
several months, CHIP has released several new research publications. Two
new reports on the uninsured – one for Sarasota County and one for Charlotte County – have been produced. A short summary
on the impact of drug use in Sarasota County
has also been produced. Check out the CHIP website to
access a complete list of CHIP publications.
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| CHIP to be Present at National
Conference |
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In March, CHIP
will be presenting at the Association for Community
Health Improvement’s Spring Training for Health
Champions in Atlanta . CHIP’s presentation will
focus on harnessing data for health improvement, specifically the lessons
learned from designing and implementing two large-scale community health
surveys. This will be a great opportunity to share CHIP's work and learn
about other great health improvement efforts happening around the country.
Atlanta , here we come!
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News from the CHATS (Community Health
Action Teams) |
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Englewood CHAT
In 2008, the
Englewood CHAT will focus on a walkability project and will be creating
their first resource directory. The CHAT continues to explore ways to help
address the barriers created in a dual-county community with regard to
transportation.
In the fall,
the LOVN CHAT hosted successful community forums related to Home Health
Care and Addiction. Both involved great partnerships with other
community groups and providers.
North Port CHAT
The North Port
CHAT continues to work on a project to support building a strong,
connected community, and find ways to promote and support the Mobile
Health Unit services in North
Port. They
worked with the YMCA to organize a committee of groups and providers for
youth, and continue to work on developing further resources for education
and awareness on substance abuse and mental health.
The Newtown
CHAT is meeting regularly now, with several projects in the works.
They are working on a community walk, community garden and a community
calendar which can be accessed online at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewtownCHAT/ .
In recent
months, CHIP intern, Heather Schaefer, has been assisting the Greater
Newtown Community Redevelopment Corp. with efforts to launch the Newtown
Open Air Market. The market is expected to begin on Feb. 22nd and run
until June 28.
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Upcoming Meetings
& Events |
February 13
4:00 pm
North Port CHAT
Meeting
Tri-County Counseling
February 18
9:00-10:30 am
Health Systems Collaboration
Committee
Gulf Coast Community Foundation of
Venice
February 22
Winter
Forum on Aging
February 23
First day of Newtown Open Air Market
Fredd Atkins Park
February
26
6:00
Newtown CHAT
Goodwill, MLK Way, Sarasota
February 29
Summit for Environmental Action
Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
The Summit will be a day-long event that draws
together representatives of diverse community groups & organizations –
from members of faith-based groups to business, municipal, educational and
civic organization leaders. Summit participants will collectively identify
actions that can affect positive outcomes for the natural
environment.Check out SCOPE for
more details: www.scopexcel.org.
March 6
3:00 pm
North Port
Health Promotions Committee Meeting
Warm Mineral Springs
March 12
4:00
pm
North Port CHAT Meeting
Tri-County Counseling
March 14
8:30 am
LOVN CHAT
Meeting
Venice Community Center
March 15
11:00 am - 5:00 pm
2nd
Annual Celebration of the Cultural Richness of North
Port
Warm Mineral Springs, North Port
Sponsored by the North Port CHAT with special thanks to
business partner, Warm Mineral Springs Spa. To enter the cook-off/bake-off
competition, call Diane at 650-4856.
March 17
9:00
am
Health Systems
Collaboration Committee
Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice
March 18
1:30 pm
LOVN
CHAT Senior Focus Subcommittee
Meeting Room A,
Venice Library
March 20
8:30
am
Englewood CHAT
Englewood
United Methodist Church
March 25
6:00
pm
Newtown CHAT
Goodwill, MLK
Way,
Sarasota
See the CHIP
website to keep up-to-date on CHIP events.
top
Questions
about the Community Health Improvement Partnership?
Click
here to email
CHIP staff or reach us by phone at
941.861.2969
www.chip4health.org
CHIP
2200
Ringling Blvd.
Sarasota,
FL 34237 |
