November 16, 2009
Dear Community Partners,
You are invited to have your voice heard. As a means to improve the overall health of Bullitt County, the Bullitt County Health Department (BCHD) invites you to join us in Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnership (MAPP) an approach to health improvement developed by the National Association of County and City Health Officials. MAPP provides a framework for convening the variety of organizations, groups, and individuals that comprise the local public health system in order to create and implement a community health improvement plan. BCHD along with many partners will be having the first strategic planning meeting on December 3, 2009 from 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. at the Bullitt County Health Department Annex located at 181 Lees Valley Road, Shepherdsville.
This process will help the county begin to get a comprehensive picture of the health of this community. Remember health is more than the absence of illness; rather, health is a dynamic state of complete physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being. Through the MAPP process, communities can create and implement a well-coordinated plan that uses resources efficiency and effectively. The resulting community plans do not focus on one agency or public health challenge. It will also give the community a voice in the planning of health related functions.
MAPP is not a job for a single entity. All entities make important contributions to the public health system. For example:
 | Police, fire, and emergency departments prevent and respond to emergencies that threaten personal safety. |
| Teachers, school nurses, and parents protect the health and safety of children. |
| City planners, transportation authorities, neighborhood associations, and businesses provide access to services that promote and support healthy lifestyles, such as safe parks and recreational facilities, bus routes to healthcare providers, and vendors that sell nutritious foods. |
| The judicial and penal systems identify potential risk factors and health trends, such as increases in drug use, domestic abuse, and personal injury. |
| Community groups such as churches, homemakers’ association, and civic organizations provide insight into the quality of health and services in a community. |
This meeting involves creating a vision of the health of this community, explaining the MAPP process, forming assessment teams. Your participation is greatly needed and appreciated. Contact Cynthia Brown at 955-5355 for more information.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Brown, MSM, CHES, LPN
Health Education Coordinator