Palatka, Fla. - The DOH-Putnam Violence Intervention Prevention Program (VIPP) team was honored to be guest speakers at the 2019 NACCHO Conference in Orlando.

Mary Garcia, Administrator; Joanne O'Neil LCSW, Program Manager and Pamela Hope, Senior Human Services Program Specialist presented a workshop entitled "A Collaborative Approach to Providing Services to Traumatized Children".

The breakout session highlighted the department's efforts to develop trauma-focused services for abused children through interagency collaboration and a needs-based approach. They explained the process of assessing and delivering therapeutic services to individuals, groups and caregivers using a family systems model and the use of creative and cost-effective activities to enhance the group experience.

The Violence Intervention and Prevention Program is one example of the important role behavioral health services play in county health departments to promote and protect the health and safety of our vulnerable populations, thereby improving the health of the entire community.

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

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