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Putnam Health Summit Draws Record Number Of Attendees

CARMEL, N.Y. — More than 78 public health partners from 47 different community agencies convened at Putnam Hospital Center on Tuesday for the sixth annual Public Health Summit, organized by the Putnam County Department of Health with support from the hospital. 

Lindsay Farrell, left, Open Door president and chief executive officer, and Diane Russo, executive director of Putnam Family & Community Services, discuss developments at the Putnam County Public Health Summit.

Lindsay Farrell, left, Open Door president and chief executive officer, and Diane Russo, executive director of Putnam Family & Community Services, discuss developments at the Putnam County Public Health Summit.

Photo Credit: Contributed

The event serves as an opportunity for community health partners to discuss progress on the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and learn of new developments concerning the county’s health priorities. 

County Executive MaryEllen Odell praised Putnam’s public health system, saying, “Partnership was one of the things that impressed the Public Health Accreditation Board when the Health Department received national accreditation earlier this year. It’s wonderful to see the collaboration between the health department, county mental health services, Putnam Hospital Center and all other community agencies — with a common goal of keeping our residents healthy.” 

Among the other public officials and health care leaders attending were Putnam Hospital Center President James Caldas; Lindsay Farrell, Open Door president and chief executive officer; Michael Piazza, county commissioner of social services and mental health; and Dr. Michael Nesheiwat, interim county health commissioner. 

Nearly three dozen community interventions were highlighted by panel presenters who were convened to tackle the two CHIP priorities — promoting mental health and reducing substance abuse, and preventing chronic diseases. 

Substance abuse initiatives were discussed such as the Communities That Care Coalitions, whose work brings together multisector disciplines, including community organizations, schools, and government entities to work on substance abuse prevention strategies. 

Preventing chronic diseases, along with promoting mental health and reducing substance abuse, have so far remained the top health priorities in Putnam. With the growing opioid addiction problem in the county, similar to what other communities are experiencing nationwide, Putnam formally incorporated substance abuse prevention into its CHIP last year and Putnam’s priorities now mirror exactly those crafted by the state Department of Health’s Prevention Agenda 2013-17.

Putnam residents and those who work in the county can also participate in the CHIP process by taking the online community asset survey, accessible through the homepage of the Putnam County website at www.putnamcountyny.com until July 31. 

Click here for the direct link to the survey.

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