Historical Timeline

A Chronology of the Accomplishments of
the Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community

January, 2010

  • Strategic Planning session held on January 8, 2010, facilitated by Caroline Martin, President.

December, 2009

  • A celebration luncheon was held on December 8 at the Western Tidewater Free Clinic.
  • Two Community Garden Task Force members and four community garden workers were recognized for their contributions and were named the first "Friends of the Partnership".
  • Virginia Savage was recognized for her leadership as President of the Partnership for the past 9 years and was presented with a Resolution of appreciation.
  • MAPP final report received and will be used in Strategic Planning in January, 2010.]
  • Bobbie Chapman hired as first part-time (20 hours/week) Executive Director on an interim basis for four months and will lead the search for a permanent part-time Executive Director.

November, 2009

  • 12 month Report for Grant 77 submitted to OHF.
  • By-Laws revisions were presented and will be voted on at the next regular Board meeting.
  • The Partnership has received approval from OHF for Grant 97 in the amount of $41,000, submitted in September.
  • 2010 slate of nominated officers were presented and unanimously elected:
    President, Caroline Martin; Vice-president, Karen Brower; Secretary, Sherry Hunt; J.B. Matthews, Treasurer.
  • PR/Marketing/Communication Plan presented and circulated by Gloria Seitz, PR Chair.

October, 2009

  • The Planning Council/MAPP Committee held a Strategic Issues session on October 13 at the Public Health Dept. with excellent attendance and excellent discussion and input into the MAPP process.
  • Police Chief Thomas Bennett was invited to join the Board in the Suffolk police chief's slot and John Skirven, Southeastern Senior Services, was elected to the Board.

September, 2009

  • Comunity Resource Guide has been completed by The Planning Council/MAPP and is available on the Partnership's web site.

August, 2009

  • Request made to Obici Healthcare Foundation by Healthy Eating & Fitness
    for a grant renewal.
  • Produce from the three Community Gardens totaled over 950 lbs. which was distributed to food banks and homes for the homeless in the community. Winter gardens of collards for the holidays will be planted now.

May, 2009

  • Community Garden Project reports three gardens have been tilled and planted at East Suffolk Recreation Center, Holland Baptist Church, and Chorey Park residential unit with EVMS MPH students assisting in the gardens.
  • PR Communications Committee and Tom Powell reported that the Addison Group has completed the new web site as part of the Communication Plan.

April, 2009

  • MAPP forum held at the Workforce Development Center.
  • Healthy Eating & Fitness Task Force is in the final phase of the Grant project and will be reporting to OHF in May.
  • Community Garden Project has received $1500 in donations.
  • Partnership logo is complete and ready for use. Letterhead finalized.

March, 2009

  • Conflict of Interest statements circulated and signed by all Board members
  • Donations of equipment and funds for the Garden Project are being received
  • Approval by the Partnership (corporate board for the Free Clinic) for purchase of property for relocation of the Clinic .

February, 2009

  • Healthy Eating & Fitness Task Force has completed 22 focus group sessions.
    Tom Powell joined as a new Board member.

January, 2009

  • Community Gardening Proposal brought by Kay Cherry, EVMS, and was accepted by the Board to support the project as the lead agency. Kay Cherry joined the Board and will chair the Community Garden project.
  • Rexford Cotton, VA Cooperative Extension, joined the Board and will be a member of the Community Garden Comm.
  • MAPP Community Forum report was distributed to the Board and to Forum participants.

December, 2008

  • A MAPP steering task force was formed chaired by Dr. Lisa McCoy to work with The Planning Council.
  • A vision statement was adopted for the MAPP project.
  • Committees formed: Development, Communications/PR, By-Laws.

October, 2008

  • Funding was secured from the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, ($1,000) City of Suffolk ($4,000), and a Grant was awarded the Partnership by the Obici Healthcare Foundation in the amount of $39,000.
  • Community Forum was held October 28, 2008, with over 100 community participants.
  • Richard Killingsworth, Director, Office of Strategic Planning and Operations at Nnemours was the keynote speaker. Facilitator led table discussions produced much data on what a healthy community looks like and what are Suffolk's strengths, assets and barriers to a healthy community.
  • The Partnership contracted with The Planning Council of Norfolk to conduct a MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships) 18 month study in Suffolk.
  • The MAPP process will be conducted in four phases and will include interviews with key informants, community needs surveys and focus groups.

September, 2008

  • Recruitment of new Board members during the summer yielded 11 new members:
    Selena Cuffee-Glenn, Lakita Frazier, William Freeman, Leonard Horton, Gloria Seitz, Lisa McCoy M.D., Clarissa McAdoo, J.B. Matthews, Mark Outlaw, Ross Boone, Milton Liverman, Phd.
  • Eleven new Board members were oriented at a luncheon meeting on September 9, 2008 at Suffolk Christian Church.
  • Board Member manuals were distributed and reviewed. ]Plans for the Community Forum, Healthy Citizens through Community Design", to be held October 28, 2008 were announced.

August 2008

  • Two called board meetings held in August for Forum Planning and new board member orientation scheduled for September 9, 2008.

July 2008

  • Focus groups are under way for the Healthy Eating and Fitness Task Force.
  • Meetings with Michael Beachler and staff of the Obici Foundation continue; a new concept paper covering an 18-month period will be submitted.
  • Letters requesting sponsorship for the forum were sent to The Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, The Pruden Foundation, the Suffolk Rotary Club, The Northern Suffolk Rotary Club, Suffolk 60 Care, The Suffolk Foundation, and the Addison Group.

June 2008

  • Facilitator training for the Healthy Eating and Fitness Task Force was held May 15th; twenty-six focus groups are planned.
  • A concept/grants paper was reviewed by Richard Killingsworth and discussed with Michael Beachler.
  • Additional board members invited and approved.
  • Orientation meeting for new board members planned for September 9, 2008.

May 2008

  • Forum planning continues; a deposit to the Suffolk Hilton Garden Inn made.
  • Current and potential board members reviewed, and new members accepted by unanimous vote.
  • Karen Brower voted on to become Secretary.

April 2008

  • Jamie Clements hired as the Grant Project Coordinator for the Healthy Eating and Fitness Task Force. Focus groups of 8-10 citizens are planned and other community programs that address this issue will be catalogued.
  • An identified need is to better understand the impact of the built environment and other infrastructure issues that either contribute to or hinder lifestyle choices.

March 2008

  • The State Department of Health lifted the hiring freeze that had been precluding the hiring of the position for the Healthy Eating and Fitness Task Force, and candidates were being interviewed.
  • Karen Brower was elected to the Partnership Board.
  • Discussion of potential new members led to Bobbie Chapman and Caroline Martin's agreeing to personally visit those discussed to invite their participation.
  • Goals for 2008 were discussed and included:
    • Holding a community forum
    • Hiring an Executive Director with grant funding being requested of the Obici Foundation
    • Continuing to support the WTFC and considering offering a Diabetes Educational Service in partnership with them.
    • Continuing support of the Healthy Eating and Fitness Task Force by specifically addressing safety issues in neighborhoods.
    • Working in partnership with the Suffolk Task Force on Aging to provide Polypharmacy Screening.

February 2008

  • Ms. Savage, President, reported that Michael Beachler, E.D. of the Obici Healthcare Foundation is supportive of the continuance of the Partnership, noting that with the establishment of the Western Tidewater Free Clinic and the Healthy Eating and Fitness Task Force, the Partnership has supported the two main areas of focus of the Obici Foundation, which are access and obesity.
  • The need for an E.D. for the Partnership was discussed.
  • Partnership Board membership was reviewed. It was felt that additional members were needed for networking and exchange of information and that the board make-up should be broad and inclusive. Caroline Martin was elected to the board

January 2008

  • The grant received from the Obici Healthcare Foundation to hire an individual to conduct a community assessment to determine which programs to reduce obesity might be successful was announced. The position is to be housed in the Suffolk Health Department, which will serve as the fiscal agent. Karen Brower, R.D., was instrumental in helping the Partnership secure the grant. The Healthy Eating and Fitness task Force will remain under the umbrella of the Partnership. It was noted that Dr. Jeff Forman was the first chair of the Healthy Eating Task Force

September 2007

  • Received grant for the Healthy Eating Task Force.

June 2007

  • Western Tidewater Free Clinic opened.

August 2006

  • 501c3 application approved.

January 2006-May 2006

  • Partnership Free Clinic Steering Committee joined with the Western Tidewater Community Services Board to create larger Steering Committee for the Creation of the Western Tidewater Free Clinic to serve the citizens of Franklin, Isle of Wight, Southampton County, Smithfield, and Suffolk. A community forum was held on May 23, 2006 to solicit feedback and general community support.

Fall 2005

  • Board of Directors discussed feasibility of Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community, Inc., creating a Free Clinic.

Summer 2005

  • Applied for 501c3 with IRS.

2002

  • Task Force members recruited; problems identified and prioritized.

Fall 2004

  • Articles of Incorporation filed.

Spring 2005

  • EIN # obtained.

December 2002

  • Task Force Reports:
    • Suffolk Resource Directory – Resources in the city of Suffolk have been identified by the group and are in the process of being entered into a database. Goal is to publish directory for use by anyone in the city looking for information.
      • Received $300 grant to assist with publication.
      • Directory will be posted onto the City of Suffolk web site.
    • Healthy Eating/Fitness – This task force meets monthly with subcommittee meetings in between. An action plan for implementing a community awareness campaign focusing on the health benefits of eating healthier foods and increasing exercise opportunities is being implemented.
    • Great American Smoke out (Nov 2003-2004)
    • Supermarket tours for parents (Nov 2003-2005)
    • Suffolk News Herald Articles (12 month series)
    • PTA presentation – planning
    • Great American Weigh-in (1st Wed in March, 2003-2005)
    • Display Care Fair (2004-05)
  • File of Life – The Suffolk Health Department ordered 3000 File of Life units. The Fire Department initially distributed them until they lost their source of funding at which time the Partnership assumed the project by making them available to anyone attending the Polypharmacy screenings and ensuring available volunteers to assist in completing the information.

March - September October 2002

  • File of Life request from citizen of Suffolk:

March 2002

  • Bylaws approved; Ploypharmacy Screening held at Belk.

January 2002

  • Bylaws created. Task Forces formed based on community assessment needs: Suffolk Resource Directory, Healthy Eating/ Fitness, Polypharmacy Screening, and Lonely Seniors.

October 2001

  • Officers were elected and assumed responsibilities.

September 2001

  • Nominating committee presented new slate of officers:
    • President: Virginia Savage, Obici Hospital
    • Vice-President: Bobbie Chapman, citizen
    • Secretary: Mary Herndon, Obici Hospital
    • Treasurer: Rose Cooper, Faith Member

June 2000

  • Community Assessment results reported to general membership by Mr. Giermak.
  • The Partnership for a Healthy Community logo is adopted.

March 15, 2000

  • Community Health Needs Assessment Report presented to Steering group. Top two issues selected:
    • Senior medications and
    • Teenage alcohol consumption.

February 28, 2000 – March 3, 2000

  • Focus group meetings conducted by Premier Consulting.

Fall 1999

  • Decision made to update community assessment (prior one done in 1994). Premier selected as firm to perform.

June 1999

  • Partnership for a Healthy Community selected as official name of the coalition;
  • Mr. Giermak named as the first chairman.

May 1999

  • Facilitator assisted group in defining the Mission and Vision of the Advisory Board.

April 14, 1999

  • Meeting of invited participants held at Holiday Inn to introduce the concept for a Suffolk Health Advisory Board. Mr. Giermak and Pat Winter presented a "State of Suffolk" overview of statistics. The overwhelming consensus of this group was to begin immediately.

Fall 1998

  • Discussion meetings held between Obici Hospital and Suffolk Health department about creating a community coalition.