The Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida, Inc. recently completed our annual meeting, where we provided an overview of our agency, a summary of all services and programs, and some information on their impact on the counties in our area. We also unveiled the 2025 County Health Profiles and discussed how our efforts align with the health priorities of each county. Below is a summary of the annual meeting, along with links to the county health profiles and the impact survey.
Click here to view the presentation that was used during the meeting.
Link to County Health Profiles
Link to HPC Impact Survey
Quick recap
The Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida presented an overview of their programs and initiatives aimed at improving health and wellness across 11 counties in Southwest Florida. Key programs discussed included early intervention services, infant mental health, health planning data collection, ACA navigation, emergency preparedness, and housing assistance for individuals with HIV/AIDS. The council emphasized their commitment to community partnerships and provided insights into their various resources, including county health profiles and strategic planning services.
Summary
Health Planning Council Impact Overview
The Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida, led by CEO Brian Hemmert, provided an overview of their programs and impact on the community. The organization, which has been operating for nearly 50 years, focuses on improving health and wellness, promoting early intervention, and reducing health disparities across 11 counties in Southwest Florida. Key programs discussed included early intervention services, infant mental health, health planning data collection, and ACA navigation, with each program achieving significant outcomes such as assisting over 6,000 families through early intervention and helping over 20,000 individuals with healthcare coverage. The council emphasized their commitment to community partnerships and expressed gratitude for the support of various organizations and board members.
Early Intervention Programs Overview
Trina presented an overview of early intervention programs, focusing on Early Steps, a statewide program funded by federal and state governments, which serves children birth to 3 years old with disabilities or developmental delays across 10 counties. She explained the program’s services, including individualized family support plans, home visits, and a seamless transition to preschool through the Child Inclusion Project. Trina also highlighted the Alternative Augmentative Communication program, which provides devices to nonverbal children, and the community playgroups that promote social interaction. She emphasized the importance of early intervention, citing research showing significant cost savings and improved outcomes for children with developmental delays. Trina discussed a donation request for old iPads and tablets to be converted into loanable devices for children in the AAC program.
Navigator Project
Mokina presented an overview of the Navigator Project, explaining its role in assisting individuals with enrolling in health coverage through the marketplace since 2013. The project provides unbiased information, helps with applications, and conducts community education, with services available in multiple languages and through various outreach efforts.
Early Childhood Mental Health Programs
Jessica Stone, a licensed mental health counselor and Infant Mental Health Coordinator, presented on the importance of early childhood development and the impact of early intervention programs. She discussed her work with the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, where she provides consultation visits and coaching support to preschools to enhance educators’ capacities in supporting children’s social and emotional needs. Jessica also highlighted her role as Chapter Chair of the Southwest chapter of the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health and mentioned the association’s endorsement program for various professionals working with young children. Brian, who previously ran psychiatric hospitals, emphasized the significance of infant mental health programs in preventing future mental health issues and their potential to make a substantial impact on the community.
Southwest Florida Healthcare Coalition and HOPWA
Peggy Brown, the director of planning at the Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida, discussed various programs and initiatives, including the Southwest Florida Healthcare Coalition, which focuses on emergency preparedness and response. She highlighted the coalition’s efforts in training, exercises, resource management, and communication, and mentioned the launch of health profiles. Brown also talked about the Pediatric Emergency Preparedness Initiative (PEPI), which includes distributing sensory kits to ambulances and training EMS agencies to handle pediatric emergencies. Additionally, she explained the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) program, which provides housing assistance to individuals and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
Health Planning Program Overview
Peggy Brown presented an overview of the Health Planning Council’s programs, including the Health Planning program, community health assessments, and strategic planning services. She highlighted an ongoing assessment in Collier County and mentioned that the council offers various fact sheets and educational resources on topics such as youth substance abuse and disaster preparedness. Peggy also introduced HPC Strategies, a new service offering strategic planning assistance to nonprofits and other organizations.
2025 County Health Profiles Overview
Julia presented the 2025 County Health Profiles, an annual update created by Health Councils across the state. She demonstrated how to access and navigate the profiles on the HPC SWF website, highlighting key features like color coding for county comparison, trends analysis, and data sources. Julia walked through various data categories including demographics, socioeconomic factors, workforce health, healthcare access, and community context, using examples from different counties to illustrate important points about interpreting the data.
Health Initiatives Overview
The Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida presented an overview of their programs and initiatives, including county health profiles, mental health services, chronic disease management, and access to care. Peggy and Brian discussed how the council collaborates with local organizations to address health priorities in the region. The meeting included a survey for feedback and encouraged participants to reach out with suggestions for future partnerships.
