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Palm Beach County
For more information on this project, contact Selva Selvendran or Kai Bonner Jones, PACE-EH Coordinator, at the Palm Beach County Health Department.
PALM BEACH COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Watergate Estates
July 2006 PACE EH Report
To: Daniel Parker, MSP,
Assistant Division Director, Division of Environmental Health
From: Selva Selvendran, PACE EH Coordinator
Subject: July 2006 PACE EH Project Update
During the month of July the PACE EH Project in the Watergate Estates community of Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, made a strong showing of progress in the following areas:
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Community surveys were distributed and continue to be collected.
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The Community substation was completed and is available for use
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Community canal was cleaned and continues to be monitored
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A new PACE EH coordinator Mrs. Kai Jones has joined the project with both feet running.
2. Work Plan and Process Update |
| PACE-EH Tasks |
Action |
Outcome |
Target Date |
| Task 1: Determine Community Capacity |
Strong proof of ownership of the PACE EH project was noted. |
Completed |
July 2005 |
| WE CARE, a local community group that is a significant resource for community mobilization is committed to assisting and providing support |
Completed |
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| Calvary Baptist Church remains to be committed to assist the project |
Completed |
May 2006 |
| The Palm Beach County Sheriff?s Office Community Policing has continued to be an important partner in the PACE EH project |
Completed |
May 2006 |
| Palm Beach County Office of Community Revitalization will continue to participate in PACE EH activities and assist the community with incorporation |
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March 6, 2006 |
| First community meeting conducted |
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| Second community meeting conducted |
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May 22, 2006 |
| Task 2: Define and Characterize the Community |
In 2005, along with the help of the Office of Community Revitalization, a neighborhood in West Boca Raton was targeted for PACE. It consists of about 850 mobile homes, lots are individually owned. Census data documents low income levels, and the majority of the homes are more than 20 years old |
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3. Outstanding Issues/Concerns |
Rumors (due to the resignation of the previous coordinator) that the PACE EH program had been dropped were dispelled as Mrs. Jones held a small introductory meeting with representatives of WE Care a community based team immediately after her appointment. One of the concerns was that not enough progress was being made and that the community was very discouraged. The community wanted to have an immunization drive but during the transition period of hiring a new PACE coordinator this low hanging fruit was not addressed. Although it was too late to get the community on the schedule for this year, plans will be made to have them on the schedule for next year. WE Care was given a list of alternative locations near their community where immunization could be given.
Challenges: Although the surveys were distributed less than 6% of the surveys were returned. Before PACE EH program was introduced to the community there were other attempts from the community to get help and that also involved surveys. The residents had been surveyed numerous times in the past, and may have been reluctant to complete another survey without evidence that progress would follow. The interim steering committee plans to do a community sweep to retrieve the surveys from all three phases of the development. There have also been some challenges with getting the community group WE CARE to incorporate. The idea being that a not for profit incorporation could allow the community to receive grants and other funds for their neighborhood. There will need to be a meeting to delegate this responsibility so as to not be a burdensome process.
Past Palm Beach County Updates |
May, 2006
March, 2006
December, 2005
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