Health checks “an innovative grass roots community health action plan to build capacity and impact community-driven outcomes

There is a growing public health concern about adequately responding to increased disease burden and emergency preparedness within vulnerable populations (minority, underserved, poor elderly). Increasing economic challenges, political barriers and decreasing governmental resources for public health have impacted the health status of communities. “Health Checks”, previously piloted through a collaborative effort with the county government, Nassau Center for Health Initiatives, local hospitals and community agencies, is an action plan developed to target communities with the poorest health outcomes and most vulnerable populations. The project focuses on developing a capacity building plan to address health disparities and emergency preparedness in communities with the greatest health needs and a willingness and/or ability to participate in an organized effort to promote health and safety. “A Big Picture Model” for replication in building support capacity will be presented. “Health Checks” utilizes health, census and community data to inform and educate leaders and moves them to form a Local Action Committee (LAC), comprised of local stakeholders in the targeted community. The goal of Health Checks is to develop a Local Action Committee (LAC) to work with the leadership team to improve health outcomes and emergency preparedness. This collaboration will provide assessment information which will identify health priorities and support organizational/resource structures to achieve community-driven outcomes. An important outcome of this assessment is to promote advocacy for improved and sustainable community programs and services amongst the local partners and stakeholders. This project is part of a CDC funded National Leadership Academy for Public's Health training program.