In addition to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, we have recently received other positive updates of plans that are being implemented and teams that are moving ahead to have an impact on their community.
The Gaston County Health Department, Gastonia, North Carolina, is preparing to break ground for their new Highland Health Center. The team participated in the Management Academy 2007-2008 cohort, along with their community partner, Gaston Family Health Services. They recently received $1.3 million thanks to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The team members were Paula Black, Renee Clark, Veronica Feduniec, William (Bill) Gross, and Selenna Moss. The health department director is Colleen Bridger.
Also, we were contacted recently by a team from the Wilkes County Health Department, Wilkesboro, North Carolina. They participated in the Management Academy for Public Health in the 2008-2009 cohort, which just graduated in March, 2009. Their project focused on the issue of childhood obesity prevention for under-served Latino children. The program is a collaboration between the health department, the Wilkes Family YMCA, Wilkes Partnership for Children, and HOLA of Wilkes County. The program is known as "Y on Wheels" and is up and running. The team members were Melissa Black, Rose Marin, Donna Shumate and Judy West. The health director is Beth Lovette.
We look forward to having a new Management Academy for Public Health cohort starting August 2009 and we look forward to the opportunity to share the book, Public Health Business Planning: A Practical Guide with them.