Department Strategic Plan

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The Department’s mission is to:

1. Plan, develop, and implement programs which enhance the overall delivery of human services in Barnstable County and,

2. Promote the health and social well-being of County residents through regional efforts that improve coordination of services.

The Department has a record of organizing regional approaches that promote health and wellness for underserved populations by mobilizing a community response to needs identified through community-based research and evaluation.

Primary Role

The Department’s primary role is to act as: Convener: to provide opportunities for exchange of information. Facilitator: to encourage growth/improvements in our focus areas, not ownership of projects

Underlying Values

The following values guide the Department’s work: Focus on policy, systems and community change rather than on individual behavior Integrated approach to prevent topical and systems silos Asset focused approach building on strengths while addressing needs County-wide approach with attention to local underserved areas Accessible to people with disabilities and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Action is based on qualitative and quantitative data and evidence based practices

Healthy Connected Cape Cod

Healthy Connected Cape Cod is the conceptual framework that ties together the work of the Department. The concept began with planning the Department undertook in 2009 and 2010 with its Health and Human Services Advisory Council. The principal aim is to facilitate connectedness by engaging residents, health and human service organizations, and coalitions and networks throughout Cape Cod in collaborations to plan and implement activities that promote health and well-being through community engagement and social connections.

The underpinnings of the Healthy Connected Cape Cod conceptual framework are to: Strengthen individual, family and community wellness with a community based health promotion and disease prevention focus guided by the Health Impact Pyramid. (The Centers for Disease Control developed the 5-tier Health Impact Pyramid to describe the effect of different types of public health interventions. Interventions with the greatest potential impact are at the base and efforts to address socioeconomic determinants of health are in the first tier, and hence most important.) Identify focus areas based on local qualitative and quantitative data regarding assets and needs. Implement evidence based activities and practices that resonate with community members. Implement activities that are culturally appropriate and accessible to people with disabilities. Incorporate hope and enjoyment.

Drawing from data collected over a five year period in Monitoring the Human Condition, as well as from other reliable data regarding the health and wellbeing of Cape Cod residents, several clear priorities have emerged. The following diagram highlights four main focus areas for Healthy Connected Cape Cod.

See Attachment A for planned projects and aims for each focus area.

Foundation for Planned Work

The foundation for the work described and outlined in this planning document is the work undertaken by the Department over the past three years and builds upon:

HEATHLY HAPPY EATING

The Department:

• Provides project implementation and evaluation support to the Cape Cod Hunger Network project Healthy Foods on Pantry Shelves. The Network leads this project in collaboration with Stop & Shop, several area agencies that provide services for adults with disabilities, and Barnstable County’s Department of Human Services and Cape Cod Cooperative Extension.
• Developed, published, and promoted the Healthy Happy Eating Directory.
• Recognized and promoted achievements by organizations and individuals in Barnstable County that align with “Healthy and Happy Eating.”
• Through a competitive process, was selected by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as a partner in submission of a Community Transformation Grant Proposal to the Centers for Disease Control. DPH’s proposal was accepted and the Department will receive $60,000 per year for five years to implement a Mass In Motion municipal initiative.

REGIONAL NETWORK TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS

The Department, on behalf of the County, acts as the convening agency for the Network. Highlights of FY 11 work are:

• Administered funding for a regional homelessness prevention project.
• Secured funding to continue client funds for the 24/7 Crisis Hotline.
• Funded a part time Network Coordinator.
• Secured funding for Client Coordination Council activities.
• Assisted with the planning and writing of the Regional Plan to Address Homelessness.
• Provided administrative support to the Network.

SUICIDE PREVENTION

The Department has worked collaboratively with the Department of Public Health, the Department of Mental Health, and the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition on suicide prevention activities. Highlights of 2011 work are:

• Ongoing leadership of the Cape and Islands Suicide Prevention Coalition.
• Ongoing administrative support of the Coalition.
• Co-sponsorship of a three day CONNECT Train the Trainer, and several Community Forums in Falmouth, Barnstable, and Truro in FY 11.
• Secured funding from DPH and hired a Community Organizer.
• Launched Real Men, Real Depression, a countywide public education campaign aimed at reaching middle aged men, a group with the highest rates of suicide.
• Prepared and presented a comprehensive analysis of data on suicide deaths in Barnstable County (and Dukes and Nantucket counties) for the 5-year period 2004 – 2008 completed by the Department’s researcher and continued ongoing monitoring of data for 2009 and 2010.
• Released a case study report authored by the Department’s researcher, A Community Response: Addressing Suicide and Depression Among Men on Cape Cod.
• Upon invitation of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, organized and facilitated a panel presentation at the Statewide Suicide Prevention Coalition’s Annual Meeting in May 2011 regarding the collaborative response to the increase in suicide deaths in the town of Falmouth.
• Coordinated Post Traumatic Crisis Response Team with the DMH to provide postvention services and psychological first aid after a suicide completion. The Department took a lead role in coordinating a comprehensive and coordinated response to an increase in suicides in the Town of Falmouth.

MASS 211 INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SYSTEM

The Department collaborates with the Cape and Islands United Way on the MASS 211 project to increase efficiency, decrease duplication, and create a comprehensive, user friendly web based information and referral database for health and human services. Since the Department began its work with MASS 211 in 2009, there has been a 257% increase in call volume based upon data collected by MASS 211. In FY 11 the Department focused on three areas: populate health and human services data on MASS 211 that will assist residents of Barnstable County; increase visibility of MASS 211; and increase utilization of MASS 211.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CLEARINGHOUSE

The Department’s website www.bchumanservices.net provides a clearinghouse for health and human service information. This clearinghouse:

• Incorporates accessible design in order to be in compliance with the ADA and accessible to people with disabilities.
• Hosts websites for several Community Partners such as CHNA, Regional Network, and CISPC.
• Disseminates a wide range of information through publication of a bi-weekly e-newsletter comprising announcements and information aggregated from submissions by local health and human service organization to over 850 individuals and agencies.
• Is a repository of synthesized local data in key topic areas. This repository presents topic-area data by population variables such as gender, age, race/ethnicity, and town of residence. The Department is redesigning this repository as a series of data dashboards to improve electronic accessibility and utilizes the Human Services Advisory Council to provide guidance on content and presentation.

RESEARCH AND EVALUATION

• The Department provides technical assistance on data acquisition, research and evaluation methodology and strategies for program quality improvement; e.g., the processes for evaluating and enhancing the Healthy Foods On Pantry Shelves project previously referenced.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITES ACT COORDINATION

The Department provides ADA Compliance Coordination for the County. Activities included:

• Reviewed and updated ADA public notices and grievance procedures.
• Drafted a Reasonable Accommodation Policy Statement that was adopted by the County Commissioners.
• Drafted Procedures for Handling Reasonable Accommodation Requests that was adopted by the County Commissioners.
• Printed and disseminated hundreds of handbooks on how to hold an accessible meetings and how to make print publications accessible.
• Provided training materials to all County Department and the Assembly of Delegates on use of the MASS RELAY 711 system for people with hearing impairments and on how to use a TTY/TDD.
• Made available information about properly posting meeting notices to comply with ADA and use of accessibility symbols.

INTERNSHIPS

In 2011, the Department’s researcher supervised the summer internship of an undergraduate student at UMass Amherst studying public health and human services management, and the summer research fellowship of a medical student at UMass Worcester.

SUPPORT SERVICES
The Department provides staffing and resources to develop and maintain the following electronic and web based tools:

• MASS211, regional database of health and human services
• DHS Website, a clearinghouse for human service information, research and statistics.
• DHS e-newsletter, bi-weekly exchange of information to wide distribution

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
In addition, the Department has responsibility to:

• Convene and Chair the Health and Human Services Advisory
• Council Undertake County projects, such as:
• Develop County LEP Guidelines
• Work with Towns and Disability Committees to explore regionalization or sharing of tasks and responsibilities
• Promote NACO Dental and Prescription Drug Programs
• Provide organizational structure and administrative support to the Barnstable County Human Rights Commission
• Address Emerging Issues/Special Projects