The Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County has scheduled seven town hall meetings to present its findings in the Community Health Assessment.
The town hall meetings, which begin in Niceville, will be held in Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Holt, Baker, Destin and Laurel Hill in August and September.
The CHA makes health comparisons of Okaloosa residents to residents throughout the state and even the nation, in some instances. Leading causes of death, infectious diseases, teen pregnancy, tobacco, physical health, food access, infant and child health, as well as the environment in which we live, are just part of the study.
The purpose of the CHA study every five years gives DOH-Okaloosa an opportunity to select unhealthy factors in the county and improve on them.
Community residents can share feedback before the CHA’s final publication in September.
“We want to hear what residents have to say about the data we have gathered over the last year, and I think they will find the information interesting and even surprising,” stated Dr. Karen Chapman, director of DOH-Okaloosa. “The overall goal of the assessment is to identify and address health needs in our community.”
Here’s the meeting schedule:
Niceville Town Hall
July 31, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Twin Cities Hospital, Wellness Center
2190 Highway 85 N, Niceville
Crestview Town Hall
August 8, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
North Okaloosa Medical Center, Senior Circle Classroom
127 E. Redstone Ave., Suite A, Crestview
Fort Walton Beach Town Hall
August 14, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Fort Walton Beach Medical Center
233 NE Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach
Holt Town Hall
August 17, 2017, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
First Baptist Church of Holt
532 US-90, Holt
Destin Town Hall
August 22, 2017, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Destin Community Center
101 Stahlman Ave., Destin
Baker Town Hall
August 29, 2017, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church
5595 Highway 4, Baker
Laurel Hill Town Hall
September 5, 2017, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
The Barn at Water Oaks Farm
4080 2nd Ave., Laurel Hill
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: North Okaloosa town hall meetings to focus on health