The Mission of the Centre County Partnership For Community
Health is to support an inclusive, caring community that promotes healthy
people and enhances quality of life through collaborative relationships.
The Centre County Partnership For Community Health exists to assess the health
needs of Centre County residents and to develop data-driven outreach and partnering efforts
that will bridge gaps in service and eliminate barriers to holistic health.
The Partnership originally identified county needs through community forums
and incorporated the voiced concerns into a strategic plan, which in 2001
enabled the Partnership to be formally recognized by the Pennsylvania Department
of Health (DOH) as a State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) partner.
The DOH fosters the development of community partnerships across the state
with the intent of empowering community collaboratives to create a shared
vision of their community's health and to pursue health improvement priorities
through local planning and coordination of resources. The Partnership is
autonomous, but is involved in the Northcentral Health District's Local
Advisory Council, which allows the Partnership to be linked with a regional
and statewide support system of SHIP partnerships.
The Centre County Partnership for Community Health strives to positively
impact the health and welfare of Centre County residents by creating teamwork
between local organizations and agencies to address local priorities. Planning
and project implementation is directed by a volunteer board of directors
elected by the general membership. Individuals and organizations throughout
the county, as general members, are invited to engage in collaborative initiatives
to promote healthy people and to enhance the quality of life in Centre County.
The ultimate and guiding objective of the Partnership is for all Centre
County residents to have access to quality health care and the knowledge
and supports needed to engage in healthy lifestyles. The following focus
areas serve as the motivations behind the Partnership's strategic direction
and outcome planning:
- Build and enhance collaborative relationships among county organizations
- Increase access to quality health care
- Promote health education and healthy lifestyles
To learn more about the PA Department of Health's State Health Improvement
Plan or SHIP Partnerships access:
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/view.asp?a=169&Q=201421
