Making Connections was the Annie E. Casey Foundation's signature place-based, community-change initiative of the 2000s. It sought to build on previous work and launch an effort focused firmly on the framework of family strengthening. The Foundation started Making Connections in 22 places, focusing eventually on first 10, then seven sites. It…

The Florida Association of Professional Health Educators (FAPHE) has been instrumental in developing a voluntary registration/certification process to upgrade professional standards, identify health educators, and establish a network for the purpose of continuing education. Eight basic steps have been identified as necessary for the development of…

The Zero Exposure Project is a public awareness campaign in Hillsborough County, Florida, designed to educate the public on the dangers of combining substance use with pregnancy. The authors describe the process of building the campaign from its original conception and share the challenges and successes of their collaborations with community…

This article describes the use of assessment in the design and implementation stages of launching online courses and programs. While use of assessment for improving student engagement in both face-to-face and online courses has been commonly used, the authors augmented the strategic planning of programs to include assessment as a tool for…

In the mid-70's mental health programs in Florida underwent a major change with the implementation of a Unit Treatment Rehabilitation (UTR) model of patient care, which emphasizes the re-socialization of patients and a team approach to mental health care. In response to this change, an innovative program was developed through coordination between…

This vocational program guide is intended to assist in the organization, operation, and evaluation of a program in health services occupations in school districts, area vocational centers, and community colleges. The following topics are covered: program content (job duties of physical therapy aides and orderlies and curriculum framework and…

These three papers discuss the role of Florida's community colleges in developing training programs for mental health service employees in the state. Following introductory material, Robert Ashburn presents an overview of the Unit Treatment Rehabilitation (UTR) training program, which was designed to improve the quality of mental health care in…

The importance of specific competencies for bachelor's level and master's level school health educators in Florida is examined in this article. A survey instrument utilizing a five-point scale was administered to respondents to ascertain the importance of various competencies. Data analysis and implications for professional preparation programs…

This program guide identifies primary considerations in the organization, operation, and evaluation of a patient care assistant program. An occupational description and program content are presented. A curriculum framework specifies the exact course title, course number, levels of instruction, major course content, laboratory activities, special…

This article describes a health promotion demonstration project which addressed the health problem of hypertension, as related to variables of excercise, weight, blood pressure measurement and reduction, medication compliance, and nutritional practices. Participants (N=18) were senior citizens who were associated with a small, rural, predominantly…

To survey and analyze nursing resources and nursing education in Florida in order to make recommendations for future educational planning, data were gathered from the literature, state agencies, and a stratified random sampling by questionnaire of 1,921 licensed nurses within the State. The findings indicated that unmet needs for nursing services…

This article describes the development of a mechanism to organize a network in Florida for individuals who are at risk for diabetic retinopathy. The task force comprised representatives from governmental, academic, professional, and voluntary organizations. It worked to educate professionals, patients, and the public through brochures, resource…

Schools can no longer act alone as surrogate parents. First appearing in Florida's innovative legislation, the full-service school concept is catching on in several other states. Full-service schools integrate education, medical, social, and/or human services to meet families' needs in easily accessible locations. Primary health centers are key…

This document contains the proceedings of a conference on articulation in the allied health care field in Florida. The following presentations are included: "Welcome and Program Overview" (Laurey Stryker); "Health Care Challenges and Choices: Alternate Pathways to the 21st Century" (Robert E. Kinsinger); "Findings and…

The Board of the State of Florida attempts to discharge their obligations and meet the challenge of the decade by: (1) insuring planning diversity through development of a new master plan called CODE (COmprehensive DEvelopment Plan), follow-up professional studies, and by planning for economy and equality; (2) expanding and improving educational…