News Release

For Immediate Release                 Contact:  Irene G. Warren, Director of Development

July 14, 2004                                         (937) 374-5626  or 1-866-858-3588

NACCHO 2004 Model Practices Award
Greene County Combined Health District Honored
 for Excellence in Public Health Public Health Program is
One of 29 Nationwide to Receive “Model Practices Award”

(Xenia, OH) –The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) honored Greene County Combined Health District today for implementing a program that demonstrates exemplary and replicable qualities in response to a local public health need.  A Grassroots Funding Model that Created a Public Health Foundation Operating within a Public Health Agency: The Greene Community Health Foundation is one of 29 local public health programs selected from across the nation to receive NACCHO’s Model Practices Award.

Irene G. Warren, Director of Development for the health district, submitted the model abstract of the Greene Community Health Foundation, which could be duplicated in public health agencies across the country. In 1991, GCCHD created The Greene Community Health Foundation and its mission is to: (1) to help assist underserved GCCHD clients/residents (children, adults and seniors) with funding for medical needs; (2) to find avenues of funding for clients/residents medical needs; (3) to develop partnerships with providers for reduced costs/charges for clients; (4) to develop community partnerships to strengthen programs and projects at GCCHD; and (5) to develop state and national partnerships to strengthen the programs and projects at GCCHD.

 “We are proud to receive NACCHO’s Model Practices Award. The award is evidence of our commitment to develop responsive and innovative public health programs which improve the health of Greene County citizens,” said Mark A. McDonnell. Health Commissioner of Greene County Combined Health District.  McDonnell received the Model Practice Award  for the health district at the annual conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 15, 2004

A committee of peers selected Greene County Combined Health District from a group of 79 local public health agency applicants. The Model Practices Awards program honors initiatives – including programs, resources and tools – that demonstrate how local public health agencies and their community partners can effectively collaborate to address local public health concerns. A Grassroots Funding Model that Created a Public Health Foundation Operating within a Public Health Agency: The Greene Community Health Foundation will become part of an online, searchable database of successful public health practices in areas ranging from immunization and maternal and child health to infectious diseases and emergency preparedness. The database will allow NACCHO to share information about what is working across the country in local public health.

“By creating the A Grassroots Funding Model that Created a Public Health Foundation Operating within a Public Health Agency: The Greene Community Health Foundation, Greene County Combined Health District joins a special group of public health agencies that exemplify the forward thinking, proactive attitude of our nation’s public health system,” said NACCHO President Michael C. Caldwell, MD, MPH.  “NACCHO congratulates Greene County Combined Health District on this important recognition.”

For additional information regarding the Greene Community Health Foundation, contact Irene G. Warren, Director of Development at 937-374-5600 or 1-866-858-3588 or visit the website www.gcchd.org.  For more information about the NACCHO Model Practices Awards, go to www.naccho.org.

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