With the creation of the Community Health Policy focus area, the Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF) is realigning the way it views its role in rallying the health of the community.  

After examining the most far-reaching and cost effective work done over the past five years by the group, formerly known as Access to Health Care Work Group, WPHF Trustees and work group members decided they could have the most significant impact by focusing on policies and practices that prevent members of the community from being as healthy and fit as possible.

The new approach was given a new name—Community Health Policy.

This approach is outlined in the book, “Prescription for a Health Nation, A New Approach to Improving Our Lives by Fixing Our Everyday World,” which recognizes how behaviors like overeating and failure to exercise are influenced by the structure of the everyday world, which can either support or stymie a healthy lifestyle. For example, communities with sidewalks and bike paths and stores with visible racks of fresh fruits and vegetables inspire a much healthier lifestyle than communities without them. (For more information about the book and the approach, go to www.Healthscaping.org)

Community Health Policy work group members are in the process of mapping out a plan of action. The geographic focus will be on the communities of Winter Park, Eatonville and Maitland.  Stay tuned for more details.

In the meantime, through its renamed work group, WPHF continues to support the development of electronic medical records through the Central Florida Regional Health Information Organization (CFRHIO); the work of the Florida Health Policy Center; the operation of Florida Health News, an independent, on-line news service; Health Navigators serving the community and the Commonsense Childbirth program.

Grant Spotlight:

Florida Health Policy Center members, including the Winter Park Health Foundation, have agreed to move ahead with a proposed plan to develop a Florida Report Card on Health.

The Florida Association of Health Planning Agencies is being asked to submit a proposal for Phase One of developing the report card. In Phase One, the Association will establish a Statewide Health Leadership Council that will oversee the final design and implementation/communication plan for the report card. The proposal for Phase One is due this week.

The State of Health in Florida: A Report Card would establish a baseline for state health needs assessment and provide measures for tracking progress and benchmarking successes in improving public health. The Healthy People 2010 objectives and Florida Department of Health (DOH) Strategic Goals would serve as a basis for comparison and goal setting for the development of this initiative, coupled with local experience and resource assessments.

Work Group

Beverly Brown

Matthew Davies

Barbara DeVane

Lewis Duncan

Rebecca Gilmer    

Ray Gilley    

Tom Holley

Jay Hughes, MD       

Charlie Pierce (Chair)

Joan Ruffier

For more information

Lisa Portelli
Program Director
407-644-2300