Big Bend Health Council
Currently growing at a moderate rate, the Big Bend's population includes four percent of the State's population. Younger than the state as a whole, the highest growth rates are among those 45-65 years.
Although unemployment rates are below the state average, a large segment of household income is in the service sector; approximately 18.6 percent live in poverty and 80,000 are Medicaid eligible.
Regional challenges include:
• an increasingly elderly population
• coastal development
• the effect of environmental changes
• the need for economic diversification and development
• overcrowded schools
• scarce resources to meet the need for public services
Residents health is similar to that of people statewide. However, the same major causes of death--heart disease, cancer, stroke, lung disease--prevail at higher rates throughout the district and exceed Healthy People 2000 objectives.
In some counties, for example, Leon, Holmes, Bay, Gulf and Franklin, citizens' health task forces have mobilized to improve community health. Other counties are in the early stages of such efforts.
Our ongoing projects include:
• Environmental component of health plan regarding food safety
• Technical assistance and support of health promotion and wellness projects, provide the Tobacco Free Coalition school-based SWAT Program in Bay District schools; Healthy Kids; and Gulf, Bay and Franklin Counties' health issue prioritization projects
• Five year trend analysis of nursing home utilization
• Concise county profile
• Assessment of primary care and emergency room utilization
• Assessment of the impact of migrant workers on rural health care delivery and financing
• Health and wellness newsletter and consumer brochures
• HIV/AIDS projects including conference planning and sponsorship; grant writing; Title II peer review; and implementation of Ryan White Title III program to plan comprehensive care for persons living with HIV/AIDS; and HIV prevention planning and needs assessment.