Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, the DeKalb County Board of Health and Grady Health System have joined with the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and other community groups to design a plan to improve the health status of people who live, work and play in DeKalb County. Part of the strategy to improve community health is to involve volunteers in four assessments, providing critical insights into challenges and opportunities throughout the community.

The results of the four assessments will be presented on Tuesday, October 22, 6 pm till 8:30 pm at a community meeting called "MAPPing a Healthier DeKalb." The public is invited to hear and discuss the results, and share input and recommendations. The event will be held at Maloof Auditorium, 1300 Commerce Drive, Decatur, GA. Refreshments will be served.

The meeting is a part of an ongoing process called Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships (MAPP). MAPP is a national program developed by the National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve public health by involving communities in the decision-making process.

"MAPP is an innovative, community-wide strategic planning process for improving community health," says Mr. Ed Renford, president and chief executive officer of Grady Health System. "Facilitated through public health leadership, the process helps communities to prioritize health issues and identify resources for addressing them."

Organizers have engaged more than 200 community members from all walks of life in the MAPP process. According to Yvonne Isaac, MAPP steering council co-chair and Senior Vice President of Bovis Lend Lease, "Everyone in DeKalb County has something to contribute to the MAPP process. It is truly a community-run initiative that will provide real health benefits because the community is involved in the decision-making."

"Given these times, community decision-making is a critical component in making sure we have the fiscal and human capacity to respond to emerging public health needs," says Paul J. Wiesner, M.D, director of the DeKalb County Board of Health. "Community input, involvement and review is critical for making sure local public health agencies fully understand the issues, assets and challenges in our community and the best way to address those needs."

"MAPP represents the first time a national tool has been adopted by three leading health agencies and the community to assess the local community health needs and to measure performance of those who serve those needs," says Mr. Jeff Poltawsky, director of Community Health Development & Advocacy for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "The results from the MAPP assessments will help guide our collaboration toward more effective ways to improve health status and to work together."

To get involved with the MAPP process, call Avian Wynn, DeKalb County Board of Health at (404) 294-3803.

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