Greetings Southwest Health District,

 As you know, we began a district-wide strategic planning initiative shortly after I arrived over a year ago. I’d like to provide a review as well as an update of the process. Our strategic planning committee began the process with the creation of a new succinct mission statement: To prevent disease, injury, and disability; promote health and well-being; and prepare for disasters. This was quickly followed by the change of our logo to incorporate the three aspects of our mission, prevention, promotion, and preparedness in an effort to brand our image. We have several draft designs, which now contains “Southwest Georgia Public Health”. Hopefully, by now you have seen them and cast your vote for your favorite design. I really don’t think that we could go wrong with any of the choices, although I do have my favorite. 

 I have all of you to thank for the next phase of strategic planning-the completion of the SWOT (Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunity, and Threats) analysis. This task was completed last summer and SWOT meetings followed-starting with the health departments and concluding with the programs. These meetings were very informal-questions, answers, discussion, and sometimes more questions. Despite the traveling, throughout the 6,000 square mile district, I thoroughly enjoyed it - I learned so much and I got to know many of you better.

Prior to these meetings, I didn’t quite know where this process would take us, but I knew that the process would declare itself. And it did.

After reviewing the SWOT analyses with my scribbled notes of your comments, you were overwhelmingly concerned about six issues. It is abundantly clear to me that if we are to greatly enhance our performance and continue to strive towards excellence in our quest to improve the health and wellbeing of Southwest Georgians we must plan our course of action and mobilize with a united district-wide approach to address these issues:

• The lack of communication that is pervasive through the district and the need to communicate more effectively with the general public to bridge knowledge and expectation gaps
• The need for workforce development to improve recruitment, retention, and training
• The need for stronger advocacy from our boards of health, friends of public health, and the consumers of our services-the general public
• The lack of sustainable cohesive collaborations and community outreach which are necessary to increase funding opportunities and measurably improve the health status of Southwest Georgians and reduce urban/rural as well as racial/ethnic disparities
• Decreased revenues, insufficient funding, and the constant threat of budget cuts, threatening our services and the public health infrastructure
• The need to improve clinical processes and outcomes – strengthening the safety net

In response to the issues identified, a new strategic planning committee was established and is composed of six working task forces. Each task force will work to address one of the above-identified issues to establish goals, objectives and /or action steps. In an attempt to limit each task force to no more than seven members, every program and health department do not have representation; however, this message was written in an effort to provide you with the names of the task force chairs and members. As a health department or district program manager, you may request meeting minutes to review and discuss with your staff. It is my desire for each of you to be informed about the process along the way and I encourage you to provide feedback to the task forces via the chair or members. The success of the process can only be assured by the engagement of the entire district.

Revenue Enhancement

Trish Johnson
Darlene Cox
Helen Crain
Carol Williams
Stan Johnson
Andrew Floyd
Vamella Lovett, Chair
Dr. Grant, Chair

Communication

Carolyn Maschke, Chair
Nancy Rumph
Chanel Dixon
Carlton Fletcher
Tony Clark
Jesus Bocanegra          
Shawn McCormick
Betty North

Workforce Development

Carol Williams, Chair
Kitty Bishop
Ansley Johnson
Sue Ewings
Sue Clifton
Gina Connell

Community Outreach & Collaboration

Ann Addison, Chair
Jackie Jenkins
David Cooper
Travis Donnelly
Pam Reynolds
Cheryl Henley
Keisa Hoffpauir
Dennis Epps

Advocacy

Dr. Lucille Wilson, Chair
Dr. Bernie Scoggins
Clifford Porter
Annette Bowling
Gloria Jones
Eleanor Homer
Jody Horne

Clinical Processes & Outcomes

Brenda Greene, Chair
Charlotte Law
Dottie Brown
Gloria Chancy
Peggy Connell
Lynn Burson

All task forces should have their goal and objective statements completed by the first of June. It is my desire to have the strategic planning document written by December. The document will be presented to the boards of health for their approval.  Once adopted, the document will be posted on the district website and will be distributed to board of health members, local legislators, community partners, and philanthropic organizations. Please don’t hesitate to ask questions and address your concerns with me and/or the strategic planning committee. Stay tuned and be engaged!

Jacqueline H. Grant, MD, MPH, MPA

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