FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2015

Florida Department of Health in Seminole County Honored for Excellence in Public Health
DOH-Seminole School Health Program is One of 19 Nationwide to Receive “Model Practice Award” in 2015

SANFORD, FL - The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County (DOH-Seminole) was honored with the Model Practice Award at the 2015 Annual Conference of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). The award celebrates local health departments for developing programs that demonstrate exemplary and replicable best practices in response to a critical local public health need. Screening Process and Data Collection Improvements Lead to Increased Efficiencies for School Health Program was one of 19 local health department programs to receive NACCHO’s prestigious Model Practice Award.

The DOH-Seminole School Health program, in partnership with Seminole County Public Schools, developed a user-friendly electronic data collection system and implemented a label generating system that significantly reduced errors, increased automation of service data collection and reduced costs. The efficiencies represent an estimated cost savings of $14,200 annually. The School Health Program in collaboration with Seminole County Public Schools, provides health services to over 65,000 students in grades KG-12 in 64 schools.

“We are honored to receive NACCHO’s Model Practice Award. The award is evidence of our commitment to work with our community partners in developing responsive and innovative public health programs that improve the health of local residents,” said Dr. Swannie Jett, health officer for the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County.

Since 2003, NACCHO’s Model Practice Awards have honored programs, resources, and tools that demonstrate how local health departments and their community partners can effectively collaborate to address local public health challenges. Each innovative project receiving the Model Practice Award was peer-reviewed and selected from a competitive group of 69 applicants.

"This award puts the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County in special company with a select group of health departments that exemplify a forward-thinking, proactive approach toward protecting and promoting the health of communities nationwide,” said NACCHO Executive Director Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck.

Screening Process and Data Collection Improvements Lead to Increased Efficiencies for School Health Program is now part of an online, searchable database of successful public health practices in areas that range from immunization and maternal and child health, to infectious diseases and emergency preparedness. The NACCHO Model Practice database allows local health departments, public health partners, and other important stakeholders to learn about the good work being done by local health departments across the country. The database also provides users an opportunity to learn from best practices and what resources are needed to implement comparable programs in other jurisdictions that produce results.

Read more about these award-winning programs at http://www.naccho.org/topics/modelpractices/.

About the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County
The Florida Department of Health in Seminole County is the leading agency to assess, bring together partners, and assure the health of Seminole County. Founded in 1941, the Florida Department of Health in Seminole County has initiated, advanced, and sustained programs and policies dedicated to preventing the spread of disease, promoting healthy living, ensuring access to care, and protecting the health of the population. With over 150 employees, the staff is vital to the community by providing specialty health care services, disaster response, and health education. The workforce assures the quality and accessibility of health services for the residents and visitors of Seminole County. Learn more at www.seminolecohealth.com .

About the National Association of County and City Health Officials The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the nation's 2,800 local governmental health departments. These city, county, metropolitan, district and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities.