VISION
Polk County will have
a Quality of Life that
encourages diverse
backgrounds to live
in harmony while
developing physically,
spiritually, mentally,
and culturally, within
a healthy and safe
environment.
DID YOU
KNOW?
MIND? WHAT MATTERS?
The October 25, 2016 series The Department of Children and Families is seeing an increasing number of
Marcia Andresen - Co-Chair,
Polk County BoCC introductory session included warning children entering the foster care system not b ecause of abuse or neglect, but
Genet Stewart - Co-Chair,
Heartland for Children signs, crisis intervention, mental health because the child needs intensive mental health services. Polk County Public
first aid, the link between physical and Schools Student Services has observed an increase in the number and severity
mental health, outpatient and in-home of behavioral difficulties. During the last school year, 1,238 Crisis Interventions
therapy. were completed with 110 students Baker Acted directly by Polk County School
Candace Barnes - Peace River
Center
Becky Razaire - Tri-County
Human Services
Resource Officers.
The number of Involuntary Examinations of Children under the age of 18 in
forum topics.
Kirk D. Fasshauer, FT - Peace
River Center
Polk County rose from 727 in 2010/2011 to 1,723 in 2015/2016. Reflecting a
131.18% increase and ranked 3rd highest in the state (Baker Act Data Report,
Margo Fleisher - Central Florida
Behavioral Health Network, Inc.
University of South Florida, Released March 2017).
Taylor Freeman - Florida
Department of Health in Polk
County QUALITY OF LIFE LEAD TEAM
Dr. Daniel O. Haight - Lakeland
Regional Health discipline, individuals and groups may define it differently. Although health is
Cathy Hatch - Polk County BoCC
Susan Hurlburt - Community
Volunteer
The term “quality of life” has meaning for nearly everyone and every academic
aspects — jobs, housing, schools, and built environments. Intangibles such as
Joy Johnson - Polk County BoCC The Quality of Life Team is comprised of representatives from across Polk
Amanda Land - One Hope United
Lauren Lengyel - Polk County
BoCC
Colleen Mangan - Florida
Department of Health in Polk
County
Tim Mitchell - Parker Street
Ministries
Andrea Nikolai - University of
Florida/IFAS
Lauren Parkes - Lakeland
Regional Health
Rob Quam – Lake Wales Care
Center
Risdon N. Slate, Ph.D., Florida
Southern College
Steve Thompson - American
Red Cross
Donn Van Stee - Tri-County
Human Services
Jeff Ware - Winter Haven
Hospital
Robert L. Williams - County
Court Judge, 10th Judicial
Circuit
WHAT’S NORMAL WHAT’S NOT?
culture, values, and spirituality are also key domains of overall quality of life
that add to the complexity of its measurement.
DO YOU KNOW A CHILD IN CRISIS?
Second in the series, this May 11,
2017 session included experts in
youth behavioral health engaged in
County including non-profits, government, health care, education and faith-
conversation regarding warning signs,
based organizations. This diversity affords the opportunity to obtain different
the importance of timely intervention,
perspectives as the Team strategizes on ways to conduct inter-active education
early diagnosis and treatment.
forums on various topics impacting the quality of life of Polk County citizens.
of problems associated with treating mental health disorders. However by
starting the conversation, the Team ‘s goal was to demystify the complexities
that are often associated with mental health, enhance understanding, and
provide information on accessing resources in Polk County.
MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES
PROVIDER RATIO
Polk County
1400 to 1
VS.
State
Addressing behavioral health is a huge and complex undertaking. It can be
daunting to try to dispel the myths, reduce stigma, and solve the myriad
40%
of referrals to state
psychiatric hospitals
were from Circuit
Court 10 – primarily
Polk County
(Central Florida Behavioral
Health Network)
one of the important domains of overall quality of life, there are many other
James R Maxwell - Polk County
Schools
(2015 Community Health
Assessment)
During 2015-2016
*Attendee feedback determined future
Penny Borgia - United Way of
Central Florida
Lack of mental health
services was listed
as a concern by key
informants and focus
group participants.
Next in the series, the Team will be joining forces with the Polk Vision Worksite
Wellness Team. Plans are currently underway for a forum developed specifically
for individuals, employers and co-workers impacted by mental health
750 to 1
(Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation, 2017)
challenges in the workplace.
Mental health plays a major role in people’s ability to maintain good physical
health. Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, affect people’s ability
to participate in health-promoting behaviors. In turn, problems with physical
health, such as chronic diseases, can have a serious impact on mental health
Access to a robust continuum of mental health & substance abuse services is
and decrease a person’s ability to participate in treatment and recovery necessary to enhance overall wellness for Polk County residents. I was honored
(Healthy People 2020.) to serve as Co-Chair of the Quality of Life Team, as we created the opportunity
for public dialogue through the Behavioral Health Community Forums.”
Dr. George Winny - Winter Haven
Hospital
— Genet Stewart, Chief Operating Officer, Heartland for Children
23
Quality of Life
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