The National Association of County and City Health Officials has recognized the Marion County Health Department for developing programs that are models for other local health departments to follow.
Marion was among 39 local health departments in the nation that the association recognized for their innovative programs. The association named two Marion County programs Model Practices and one program a Promising Practice.
“Local health departments nationwide are great sources of innovative ideas and programs,” said Robert M. Pestronk, the association’s executive director. “The beauty of these programs is that they can be replicated or adapted by other local health departments.”
Public Health Preparedness. Marion’s Public Health Preparedness Epidemiology Annex activation was named as a model practice. The department tested its emergency planning process in April 2009 when the epidemiology annex was activated in response to the H1N1 flu strain pandemic. The development and use of the planning document helped the department scale the response to the outbreak in order to best protect and promote the health of the residents of Marion County.
Medical Reserve Corps. The Marion County Medical Reserve Corps strategic planning process was also identified as a model practice. The mission of the medical reserve corps is to engage volunteers to strengthen public health, emergency response and community resiliency. Strategic planning helped the medical reserve corps set long-term goals and identify the best approaches for achieving them.
Dental Clinic Collaborations. The department’s Dental Clinic collaboration with the College of Central Florida and Child Development Services of Ocala was recognized as a promising practice. By collaborating with the college, the dental clinic was able to expand from two cramped stations housed at the main Health Department facility to eight treatment areas, plus room for other services, at the college’s Hampton Center.
This is the third consecutive year that Marion County Health Department programs have been noted as best or promising practices by the national association. In 2011 the association awarded the department one Model Practice and three Promising Practice awards. In 2010 the department earned one Promising Practice award. Marion was also recognized in 2005 with one Model Practice award.
Since 2003, the association’s Model Practice program has honored local initiatives. All model practices are cataloged in an online, searchable database in areas ranging from immunization and maternal and child health to infectious diseases and emergency preparedness.
The National Association of County and City Health Officials represents the nation's 2,800 local governmental health departments. These city, county, metropolitan, district and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities.