Like the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, members of the Healthy Children OCHIP group believe that “children and families deserve a community free from the negative impact of substance misuse and drug activity” (2022). The group’s priority areas include Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), exposure to alcohol and drugs, mental health, childcare cost, and availability, resiliency, child abuse, and food insecurity.

Community Champions

Jessica Trimboli, Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
Danielle Wilson, Emerald Coast Children's Advocacy Center

Goals, Objectives, and Strategies

Goal 1: To reduce the negative impact of substance use on children and communities.

• Objective 1.1: By December 31, 2027, decrease the number of Okaloosa County students who report having four or more ACEs from 26.8% to 25.8%.
  • Strategy 1.1.1: Host community events to raise awareness.
  • Strategy 1.1.2: Hold Train-the-Trainer event to increase number of National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children instructors.
  • Strategy 1.1.3: Distribute student survey to assess student exposures and needs.
  • Strategy 1.1.4: Increase opportunity for student social engagement and support.
  • Strategy 1.1.5: Expand the Handle with Care initiative to include additional law enforcement agencies, EMS, fire and early childhood education.
  • Strategy 1.1.6: Increase awareness of link between DEC and human trafficking.
• Objective 1.2.: By December 31, 2025, decrease the rate of school environmental safety incidents from 18.6 per 1,000 to 17.8 per 1,000 for K-12 students.
  • Strategy 1.2.1: Increase awareness of Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office lock-down and lock-out procedures.
  • Strategy 1.2.2: Hold Train-the-Trainer event to increase the number of partners training on lockdown and lock-out procedures.
  • Strategy 1.2.3: Coordinate training and promote alert system with non-Okaloosa County School District facilities serving children.

Goal 2: To reduce food insecurity among Okaloosa children.

• Objective 2.1: By December 31, 2025, increase the number of Okaloosans aware of food distribution services by 100 people.
  • Strategy 2.1.1: To increase community knowledge and coordination of food distribution services.
  • Strategy 2.1.2: To determine needs and expand food pantry services within Okaloosa County.

 Goal 3: To improve access to healthcare for children.

•  Objective 3.1: By December 31, 2025, decrease the percent of overall students who, in the past year, felt sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row and stopped doing usual activities from 30.2% to 29.7%.
  • Strategy 3.2.1: Foster student engagement in mental health promotion.
  • Strategy 3.2.2: Increase awareness of mental health and social health status of young children and adolescents.
• Objective 3.2: By December 31, 2025, decrease the percent of female students who, in the past year, felt sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row and stopped doing usual activities from 40.3% to 39.6%. 
  • Strategy 3.2.1: Foster student engagement in mental health promotion.
  • Strategy 3.2.2: Increase awareness of mental health and social health status of young children and adolescents.
• Objective 3.3: By December 31, 2025, increase the number of schools participating in the Florida Heiken from 37 to 41.
  • Strategy 3.3.1: To maintain the number of schools participating in Florida Heiken vision program.

Family Field Day

On November 19, 2022, the Healthy Children OCHIP group hosted Family Field Day to celebrate Family Engagement Month. There were kickball games, activity stations, and a play area for small children. Attendees learned about the Okaloosa County Alliance for Drug Endangered Children and Communities (DEC-C) and ways to get involved.

Run4Health 5k 

On April 20,2024 the Healthy Children OCHIP group hosted the first Run4Health 5K race in observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month, National Minority Health Month, and National Public Health Week. Proceeds from the race benefitted the Early Learning Coalition.