In order to accomplish this, BCCHC strategies and activities include:
The Sandoval County Health Council and its predecessor organizations have been in existence since 1991. Since its inception, the Council’s goal has been to improve the health and health services of the County. Today, the 15-member council continues its mission to develop, support and maintain healthy communities.
Sandoval County encompasses 3,716 square miles of diverse geography and is home to more 130,000 people. At present, Sandoval County residents live in a mix of incorporated municipalities, unincorporated places and charted communities, including, Bernalillo, Cuba, Corrales, Jemez Springs, Rio Rancho, San Ysidro, and Cochiti Lake. The County is also home to all or portions of nine Indian pueblos, three Navajo Chapters, and part of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation. Sandoval County’s changing geographic and population diversity highlight the importance of the Council’s ongoing commitment to continue assessment, planning, and implementation of health policies, services, and programs that benefit County residents.
A major outcome of the Health Council’s work is creation of the County Health Commons in Bernalillo. The Commons delivers direct services to low-income residents with a special focus on expectant families and families with young children. In partnership with the community, the Council will continue to promote healthy lifestyle, coordinate health care resources, and recommend strategies to increase access to quality health services for the residents of Sandoval County
To learn more about the Sandoval County Health Council, please visit its website at:
http://www.sandovalcounty.com/healthcouncil.The Partnership for a Healthy Torrance County has identified as its priorities as (1) Access to community-based resources, (2) Teen pregnancy and births to single parents, (3) Substance abuse, and (4) Domestic and community violence. The Partnership completed a Torrance County Community Health Profile in 2009, as well as a 2011-2014 Community Health Improvement Plan. The Partnership leveraged $97,000 in state funding into $670,499 in additional programs and services to support priorities, and secured the McIntosh Community Center for a radio studio and transportation hub. It also significantly expanded transportation services for medical and other trips, completing 14,553 passenger trips in FY2009.
Programs initiated by the Partnership for a Healthy Torrance County include:
The Partnership also spearheaded the establishment of a community public radio station, KXNM, by establishing the KXNM Community Foundation to provide multimedia communication broadcast signals to the citizens of Torrance County ,and making available local emergency and educational broadcasting, promoting personal development, and quality of life enrichment.
The Partnership has recently spearheaded a Health Impact Assessment for a proposed carbon dioxide pipeline through Torrance County and other counties.
Partnership meetings are open to the public:
For information contact Patricia A. Lincoln, Executive Director, plincoln@lobo.net, or Billie R. Clark, CHC Coordinator, bclark@lobo.net.
History of Council
The Community Wellness Council originated in 1993 as the Valencia County Coalition for Families, Children and Community (VCC-FCC), and was “dedicated to helping build better futures for children and families in Valencia County.” The Valencia Maternal Child Health (MCH) Council served in an advisory capacity to the VCC-FCC. In 1999 the VCC-FCC was reorganized as the Valencia Community Partnership, transitioning from a service organization to a focused health assessment and planning organization. In 2010 the council once again reorganized to become the Community Wellness Council with the mission to promote community collaboration through a framework of coordination, assessment and solutions.
Through its many transitions and iterations, the Council has retained its 501©3 status, and an active and dedicated leadership team that is passionate about community wellness, health and safety. Currently, CWC is working to become an information hub in which a framework is used to assess the on-going needs in Valencia County, to meet identified needs through the promotion of collaboration between agencies, coalitions, and action groups. The council has sponsored a number of training sessions in recent months in such areas as community health improvement, results-based accountability, collective impact, and health data.
Measuring Success
The Council focuses its work on a wide variety of issues including wellness, health equity, injury prevention, and health promotion. On-going council-sponsored assessments will provide county stakeholders and other residents with data on both community problems and how collaboration and cooperation are effectively addressing them.
For More information visit: http://www.communitywellnesscouncil.org/default.html