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Organization:
State of Delaware Division of Public Health What they wanted:The Delaware Division of Public Health has taken an active stance in working to identify clear, actionable plans for health status improvement. One such initiative, Healthy Delaware 2010, is gaining recognition for its commitment to engage stakeholders in the long-term process of meeting health indicator goals. While not generally considered a rural state, Delaware�s most southern county, Sussex County, is sparsely populated and the area faces unique challenges. At approximately 1,000 square miles, it is one of the largest counties east of the Mississippi. With a number of large poultry plants employing migrant Hispanic workers, southern Delaware is increasingly multi-cultural. However, the living and working conditions for these individuals has been reported on by the national media and is likened to third world conditions. The Division of Public Health recognized the need for a strategic plan that addressed the specific health needs of its rural, Sussex County citizens. The plan was envisioned to aggregate multiple sources of data on health needs, compile an inventory of resources, and create a Rural Health Plan that encompasses the unique needs of rural Delawareans, including special populations, such as the Haitians and Hispanics.What we did:This is an active project, and NHG is: completing the assessment of health needs, inventorying resources, and will complete a gap analysis; developing targeted implementation strategies that respond to the most pressing health needs; engaging and facilitating regular meetings of stakeholders to generate buy-in of the plan and its implementation strategies; and drafting a comprehensive Rural Health Plan to drive health status improvement efforts and guide state-level funding to Sussex County. Back to Mid-AtlanticBack to Health Policy |
