Oct. 5, 2015

DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO MOVE HEALTH FORWARD 

Contact:
Communications Office
NewsMedia@flhealth.gov
(850) 245-4111

Tallahassee, Fla.—The Florida Department of Health continues to make great progress toward making the Sunshine State the healthiest state in the nation. In the newly released 2014-2015 Year in Review, major department accomplishments are highlighted to demonstrate the many areas health is improving across the state. The improvements range from expedited licensure for veterans to the historically low teen birth rate.  

“Florida continues to see inspiring achievements in health, and this year is no exception,” said State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong. “Thanks to the collaboration between our dedicated public health professionals, state agencies and local organizations, Florida is moving closer to becoming the healthiest state in the nation.”

The department has had great success in the past year with the Healthiest Weight Florida initiative. With more than 550 partnerships with state and local organizations, we are making great strides to ensure all Floridians can achieve a healthy weight by maintaining an active lifestyle and practicing good eating habits.

Other successes from this past year highlighted in the Year in Review include:

• More than 126,000 Floridians have successfully quit smoking thanks to Tobacco Free Florida’s 3 Free & Easy Ways to Quit;
• The first ever Cancer Center of Excellence awards were granted to organizations committed to providing outstanding patient-centered care for those undergoing cancer treatment;
• In response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak, the department provided constant disease surveillance and was able to rule out more than 150 cases of suspected Ebola Virus Disease (EVD);
• Hundreds of health professional veterans have been honored through the VALOR program with expedited licensure easing their transition to civilian life;
• The Florida Health Online Summer Camp was launched and 28,000 participants learned about healthy activities and food choices, emergency planning and disease prevention;
• Florida’s teen birth rate is at a historic low; and
• The Public Health Dental Program increased the number of school-based sealant programs, which offers a low-cost option for protecting Florida’s children from cavities and tooth decay.

Read about these and other department accomplishments online at http://issuu.com/floridahealth/docs/impact_report_2014-2015.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health, please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.