Panama City, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Bay County, in partnership with the Bay County Community Health Assessment steering committee, and Bay County Community Health Assessment partners, met on Wednesday, August 17, to identify the top five (5) health priorities in Bay County for the 2022-2027 Community Health Assessment. The top five health priorities identified were: behavioral health to include mental health and substance use, transportation, housing, access to care, and intentional self-harm to include deaths by suicide.

The next Community Health Assessment Summit will be on Wednesday, September 14, beginning at 10 a.m., hosted by the Florida Department of Health in Bay County, 597 W 11^th Street, Panama City.  Committees for each of these priorities will be established and will begin to develop and implement evidence-based practices to approach each health priority.

“I am proud of the work that my staff and our community partners have put forth so far to improve the health of all Bay County residents. I invite anyone interested in serving on one of the committees to attend this summit,” said Sandon S. Speedling, MHS, CPM, CPH, Florida Department of Health in Bay County, Administrator and Health Officer.

Additional community partners in housing, transportation and parks/recreation are needed as subject matter experts at the next summit.  Please contact Brandy Mankin at brandy.mankin@flhealth.gov for more information on these partnership opportunities. 

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About the Florida Department of Health

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

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