Fort Walton Beach, Florida– The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County (DOH-Ocaloosa) is encouraging anyone who lives or works in Okaloosa County to participate in the 1st Annual Okaloosa County Community Health Improvement Partnership (OCHIP) on September 27. ) are inviting you to attend the meeting. The meeting will start at 9:30. Until 11:30 a.m. at the Okaloosa County Emergency Operations Center in Niceville – 90 E. College Blvd. on the campus of Northwest Florida State University. The meeting will also be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.

At the September 8 Okaloosa Health Summit, attendees selected priority public health areas that will address specific issues in Okaloosa County and form regional working groups. The workgroups selected were Healthy Behaviors, Healthy Children, Healthy Community, and Healthy Moms & Babies.

The workgroup plans to address issues such as infant mortality, drug use, mental health and social support. OCHIP’s new workgroup will mobilize organizations and individuals throughout the county.

DOH-Ocaloosa Health Officer Elizabeth Smith said: “Anyone who wants to make a difference is welcome to join one or more workgroups.”

At OCHIP meetings, participants develop goals and objectives on how to improve health in selected priority areas. These groups will meet bimonthly over the next three years to work together to improve health issues.

For those who would like to participate virtually, please email [email protected].

For more information, please visit www.HealthyOkaloosa.com.

About the Florida Department of Health

Nationally accredited by the Board of Public Health Accreditation, the department works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts. increase.

Follow us on Twitter. @HealthyFla and on facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.

###