The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County Inc. was the first runner-up for a Healthy Communities Achievement Award, which honors organizations that form partnerships to carry out health improvement strategies for positive outcomes in their communities.
Healthy Communities Institute announced the winners of its annual awards at the Association for Community Health Improvement 2014 National Conference in Orlando, Fla., this month. Children's National Health System/ D.C. Health Matters in Washington, D.C., and Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services in New Albany, Ind., received top recognition, according to a Partnership news release.
"The submissions we received this year illustrate how rapidly our clients are transitioning to support population health initiatives through their community-based programs," said Deryk Van Brunt, DrPH, president of Healthy Communities Institute, in the release. "Our winners represent the forefront of innovative approaches for integrating data-driven planning, collaborative partnerships and evidence-based programs to make measurable community health improvements."
The Partnership was honored for effectively using data in planning to improve the delivery of mental health services in Carroll County. The Carroll County Local Health Improvement Coalition identified Addictions and Behavioral Health as the highest priorities to be addressed in the Fiscal Year 2012 through Fiscal Year 2014 Local Health Improvement Plan.
With leadership from the Bureau of Prevention, Wellness and Recovery, a bureau of the Carroll County Health Department, an innovative model to increase urgent care capacity was implemented. An existing Outpatient Mental Health Center was expanded in 2013 and now provides an alternative to the use of the emergency department for individuals seeking care for an urgent behavioral health condition, according to the release.
Headquartered in Berkeley, Calif., the Healthy Communities Institute provides the leading web-based platform to support health departments, community collaborations, hospitals and health systems with community health improvement strategies.
The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County Inc., an affiliate of Carroll Hospital Center and the Carroll County Health Department, is a private nonprofit working to improve health by connecting people, inspiring action and strengthening community.
