Office of Minority Health

Grantee Information

Florida Department of Health
4052 Bald Cypress Way Bin 20
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850-245-4941 (Phone)
850-245-4124 (Fax)
http://www.doh.state.fl.us

The mission of the Florida Department of Health is to promote, protect and improve the health of all people in Florida.

Grant Project Information

FY 10 State Partnership Grant Program to Improve Minority Health – Empowering Communities through Partnership to Improve Access to Health Care
$420,000
Cynthia Seaborn
850-245-4941
Cynthia_seaborn@doh.state.fl.us

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to improve access to health care for minority populations, particularly African-Americans, Hispanics and American Indians. The program will focus on addressing coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and infant mortality. To this end, the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) will partner with the American Indian Tribal Council, State Department, and Florida State University Medical to implement the Body and Soul intervention from the National Cancer Society. Body and Soul is an evidence-based program that addresses disparities in access to health care by building partnerships between community-based organizations, faith-based organizations and minority health liaisons. The goal of the partnership is to promote healthy lifestyles, as well as create health navigators who assist the community in accessing health care resources. Activities will include providing capacity-building services to faith and community-based organizations, identifying organizations conducive to collaboration across county lines and developing and disseminating local resource directories.

The intended outcomes of this program include increasing access to care in minority communities and increasing cultural and linguistic competency skills of health care providers serving in these communities. In order to measure if these outcomes have been reached, FDOH will survey partner organizations to record the number of resource directories developed and disseminated, number of partnerships established and the overall usability of the developed directories. In addition, partner organizations will contact faith and community-based organizations to obtain baseline information about the resources available in each county.

Objectives

• Improved access to, and appropriate utilization of, health and other community-based services and systems through user-centered design for racial/ethnic minorities (e.g., health IT, culturally/ linguistically appropriate services, service provider education/ training, workforce diversity)
• Strengthened leadership and coordination to leverage resources and enhance effectiveness and efficiency of individual and collective efforts (including, but not limited to, research and data)