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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

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Okaloosa County Health Improvement Partnership

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OCHIP 

The Okaloosa County Health Improvement Partnership (OCHIP) works to improve the health of residents, mobilizing organizations and individuals throughout the county. These individuals form OCHIP workgroups.

Priority health areas were identified from the Community Health Assessment (CHA) leadership team and community feedback via town hall meetings, online surveys, and in-person meetings. These areas were presented to the community in September 2022 at the Okaloosa Health Summit where attendees selected four priority health areas. The workgroups plan to tackle issues like infant mortality, drug use, mental health, and social support.

Selected priority areas were:
  1. Healthy Behaviors 
  2. Healthy Children
  3. Healthy Communities
  4. Healthy Moms & Babies

Anyone is invited to join one or more workgroups. If interested, please contact HealthyOkaloosa@FLhealth.gov.

Meeting Minutes 

OCHIP Champions 

OCHIP champions serve as leaders for the group and are charged with keeping the group on track. This group engages in open discussion of work in their OCHIP group to collaborate and move the toward reaching health improvement goals for residents and visitors. 

Meeting Minutes  

OCHIP Celebration  

The first OCHIP celebration was held on February 22, 2024. Each OCHIP group presented awards to dedicated members and shared accomplishments from the past year.

DOH-Okaloosa presented the OCHIP Champion of the Year Award to Chief Robert Bage of the Fort Walton Beach Police Department.

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2023 OCHIP Champion of the Year
Robert Bage

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Healthy Moms and Babies Awardees
Rising Star in Maternal and Child Health, Amarylis Emrick
Alliance for Maternal and Child Health Excellence, Christina Schaefer

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Healthy Children Community Partner of the Year
Jim Bay, Emerald Coast Social Sports

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Outstanding Leadership in Injury Prevention
Jason Fulghum, Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office

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Public Information Officer Recognition Pedestrian Safety Video

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Healthy Communities Outstanding Leadership in Opioid Prevention
JB Whitten, City of Crestview

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Healthy Communities Member of the Year
Greg Cain, Okaloosa County EMS

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Healthy Behaviors Awardees
Member of the Year 2023, Jenna McElyea, Bridgeway Center
Organization of the Year Freedom Life Compass, Stephanie Wedel

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