FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla– The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Okaloosa) invites anyone who lives or works in Okaloosa County to attend the first Okaloosa County Community Health Improvement Partnership (OCHIP) meeting on Sept. 27. The meeting will be from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Okaloosa County Emergency Operations Center in Niceville located on Northwest Florida State College campus—90 E. College Blvd. The meeting will also be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.

At the Okaloosa Health Summit on Sept. 8 attendees selected priority public health areas to address specific issues in Okaloosa County and form community workgroups. Selected workgroups were Healthy Behaviors, Healthy Children, Healthy Communities and Healthy Moms & Babies.

The workgroups plan to tackle issues like infant mortality, drug use, mental health and social support. The OCHIP’s new workgroups will mobilize organizations and individuals throughout the county.

“It was exciting to see our residents so engaged to tackle these new priority areas during the Okaloosa Health Summit,” said Elizabeth Smith, Health Officer of DOH-Okaloosa. “Everyone is welcome to join one or more workgroups where they want to make a difference.”

During the OCHIP meeting, attendees will develop goals and objectives for how to improve health in the selected priority areas. These groups will meet bi-monthly over the next three years and work to improve health issues together.

Persons who want to participate virtually should email HealthyOkaloosa@flhealth.gov.

For more information visit www.HealthyOkaloosa.com.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

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