Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade
Super Bowl XLI Kickoff to Better Health
The Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade, an initiative of the
Miami-Dade County Health Department, will participate as an alliance
partner in the Super Bowl XLI Kickoff to Better Health promotional
campaign. Community agencies of the Consortium’s Health Promotion
and Disease Prevention subcommittee will work collaboratively to
conduct Mission to Health – a chronic disease prevention program
designed especially for the faith-based Pan African community of
Miami-Dade County. Developed by the Florida Heart Research Institute,
the lead agency that will manage the program, Mission to Health
will offer free screenings and a 12-week educational program promoting
fitness, nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices.
The following organizations have also been identified as alliance partners through this initiative: Miami-Dade Area Health Education Center, University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Economic Opportunity Family Health Center, Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, Health Foundation of South Florida and the Dade Community Foundation.
Each year the NFL identifies leading community organizations to team with as part of the Super Bowl multicultural outreach initiative. These Super Bowl programs focus on the education, advancement and leadership of both racial and gender minorities in the host city. One of the primary community focuses for the 2006 season is to help promote the importance of living healthier lifestyles. The partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services allows the NFL to support existing initiatives that directly respond to the immediate health awareness needs of the residents of South Florida.
For more information please call the Florida Heart Research Institute,
(305) 674-3020, Ext. 3253. or the MDCHD Office of Chronic Disease
Prevention (305) -278-1077.
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Mission: To be a major catalyst in Miami-Dade County for
promoting health and preventing chronic disease by prioritizing
needs, identifying opportunities, securing resources and increasing
collaboration.
Vision: “To Enable the Miami-Dade County Community to Adopt Healthy Lifestyles”
ABOUT
In the United States today, seven of ten deaths and the vast majority
of serious illness, disability, and health care cost are caused
by chronic diseases, such as diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease,
and heart disease. Underlying these serious diseases are several
important risk factors that can be modified years before they contribute
to illness and death.
In 2003 the Miami-Dade County Health Department recognized the need for the community to join forces to combat the increasing rates of chronic disease in our community. A meeting of community partners was called in September 2003 and the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade (Consortium) was established.
The guidance for the Consortium comes from Healthy People 2010 (HP 2010) which is the blueprint for health in the United States. It has a comprehensive, nationwide health promotion and prevention of illness, disability, and premature death. The two main goals of HP 2010 are to increase the quality of years of healthy life and eliminate health disparities.
The Consortium works in a committee structure that allows the participants to work within their areas of interest and expertise. Committees meet monthly and each has a strategic plan and goals. General membership meetings are held every other month. During the meetings, we have presentations on current community projects, research findings and committee chair reports.
Consortium members are provided with information on a regular basis.
Information provided includes
• current information on chronic disease prevention and control
along with information on community events;
• opportunities to promote the activities of their organizations;
and
• opportunities to partner with other organizations to better
serve the community.
COMMITTEES
Executive Board
Chair: Ann-Karen Weller, Miami Dade County Health
Department
Co-Chair: Sonya R. Albury, Health Council of South
Florida
The Executive Board provides oversight for the Consortium. Membership
consists of representatives from the Miami-Dade County Health Department,
Health Council of South Florida, Inc. and all committee chairs.
Together the board developed the strategic plan for the consortium.
The three main community goals are:
1. The nutritional status and physical fitness of Miami-Dade County
residents will be among the highest in the State.
2. The Miami-Dade marketplace will embrace a culture of stress management
education, risk reduction and work/life balance.
3. Miami-Dade’s key stakeholders will be well educated and
knowledgeable on both the human benefits and cost savings of health
education, assessment, healthy lifestyles and chronic disease management.
Elder Issues
Chair: Marylin Rey, Office of Mayor Carlos Alvarez
Co-Chair: Vanessa Rodriguez, Alliance for Aging
The committee works to help elder community members live a safe
and healthy lifestyle. Members are currently serving as the planning
body for the Mayor’s Initiative on Aging: To Life! This initiative
is the result of a public and private partnership of organizations
dedicated to the well-being of Miami-Dade County residents 55 and
older.
Health and the Built Environment
Chair: Peter Wood, Health Foundation of South Florida
Co-Chair: Santiago Leon, ACC Insurance Brokers
This committee was established in 2006 to address issues related
to the impact the environment has on health in the community. This
committee will be identifying methods for potential zoning ordinances,
building codes, design principle and/or policies that encourage
active living.
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Chair: Tori Gabriel, Florida Heart Research Institute
Co-Chair: Martha Sanchez, Miami-Dade Area Health
Education Center
This committee addresses chronic disease prevention through the
promotion of healthy lifestyles including good nutrition, regular
physical activity and avoiding tobacco products. Members are currently
working with the Elder Issues committee on the Mayor’s Initiative
on Aging: To Life! As well as Mission to Health, a chronic disease
prevention program targeting faith-based Pan African communities
of Miami-Dade County.
Marketing
Chair: Charles Felix, South Florida Hospital News
This committee works to keep the community informed about Consortium
activities and events. Members are working on the Consortium website
which will go live in the near future.
Oral Health
Chair: Elise Linder, Community Voices
Co-Chair: Barbara Kubilus, Community Smiles
This committee has been formed to review and implement where possible
best practices for programs and policies that improve access to
oral health care services for the uninsured and underserved in Miami-Dade.
School Based Issues
Chair: Martha Sanchez, Miami-Dade Area Health Education
Center
Co-Chair: Jayne Greenberg, Miami-Dade County Public
Schools
This committee promotes health and wellness in the schools by promoting
activities implemented through the Healthy School Initiative and
advocating for creation and/or expansion of policies to promote
greater health and wellness among Miami-Dade County students.
Worksite Wellness
Chair: Santiago Leon, ACC Insurance Brokers
The committee promotes healthy lifestyles through worksite activities
by sharing information on best practices and by creating partnerships
to implement worksite wellness activities. Each month there is a
guest speaker to provide an overview on topics of interest to employers.
The Consortium is open to all who are interested. For additional
information or to participate in the Consortium, please call (305)
278-1077 or e-mail karen_weller@doh.state.fl.us
If you want to download the Community Resource Inventory 2005,
please click here
Consortium
Strategic Plan 2005-08
Community
Resource Directory
Community
Health Survey
