Health Care/Prevention

The main areas of emphasis of the Health Care and Prevention Task Force are health related activities involving advocacy, capacity building, and systemic change activities that result in individuals with developmental disabilities having access to, and use of, coordinated health, dental, mental health, and other human and social services, including prevention activities, in their communities.

(At the discretion of the Council Chair, with the assistance of the Executive Committee, task forces may be appointed to accomplish special assignments required to implement the Council's mission and state plan. Once the Council approves these projects it is the members of the task force who are charged with overseeing and ensuring that the project is implemented and evaluated for effectiveness.)

Task Force Members

The Health Care and Prevention Task Force will be responsible for implementing the following goals and objectives for the 2011-2016 State Plan:

Goal: In partnership with individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, and stakeholders the Council will provide training and technical assistance to health care professionals and stakeholders to assist individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to gain and maintain skills that ensure their health and safety.

Objectives

• Support the development and dissemination of at least two (2) resources to be utilized throughout Florida in trainings and technical assistance, provided by other stakeholders, to facilitate overall health.

• Conduct research and provide training in eight (8) areas of Florida to health care stakeholders to enable individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to effectively communicate with health care professionals and advocate for their health needs.

• Assess the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities, their families and community stakeholders, in two (2) rural and two (2) urban areas in Florida, in order to identify and/or expand their opportunities to access and participate in health and wellness activities in their community.

• Provide technical assistance to key staff of health and wellness entities and stakeholders, in two (2) rural and two (2) urban areas in Florida, to increase opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to access and participate in community health and wellness activities to improve their overall health.

Goal: In partnership with individuals with developmental disabilities, their families, providers and policymakers, the Council will research, train, provide technical assistance, and advocate for accessible health care and early intervention systems.

Objectives

• Provide technical assistance to Early Steps (Part C) to implement sustainability measures to enhance the service delivery system.

• Advocate for and provide technical assistance to develop three system design specifications for Medicaid service delivery that contributes to policy change to create and maintain a more effective system for individuals with developmental disabilities.

• Provide technical assistance to support the development of two (2) training programs that lead to increasing the number of health care providers serving individuals with developmental disabilities.

• Advocate for and provide technical assistance to key stakeholders to develop and implement a statewide coordinated system to improve child development screening that leads to early identification of needed services and supports.

• Provide technical assistance to key stakeholders to implement activities from the state health care transition strategic plan to benefit adolescents and young adults and their families who are transitioning from pediatric to adult health care.

Below are links to some of our recent project activities:

Child Development Screening Initiative

Planning Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and Mental Health Diagnoses 

Florida Health and Transition Services (FloridaHATS)

Florida Fights FASD 

Early Steps Strategic Plan for Sustainability