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The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.
Statistics and Assessments
Florida Department of Health in Indian River County
Community Health Planning- 772-794-7400
Extension 2802 -
Mailing Location
1900 27th Street
Vero Beach, FL 32960
MapDOH-Indian River is committed to improving the health and wellness of those in Indian River County. We utilize data to identify and focus on crucial issues affecting community health.
Community Health Needs Assessment
Tools we utilize to assist in our improvement efforts include the Community Health Assessment for Indian River County (CHA) which is a comprehensive, county-wide assessment used to evaluate the health needs in Indian River County. This collaborative effort with community stakeholders and partners is part of an ongoing broader community health improvement process.
Assessing and Improving Walkability in Indian River County
In early 2018, Florida Department of Health in Indian River County, in partnership with the Environmental Learning Center (ELC), created a community-wide survey to assess the walkability of Indian River County.
This collaboration is a product of the county Community Health Improvement Plan, which brings together community partners to address the greatest health concerns facing our community. One such concern is the epidemic of obesity and overweight, and the chronic diseases that stem from this growing problem.
| Answer Choices | Response Percentage | Number of Responses | |||
| Poor Lighting | 58.61% | 211 | |||
| Feels unsafe because of drugs, crime, or violence | 18.61% | 67 | |||
| Feels unsafe because of vehicle traffic | 59.44% | 214 | |||
| No sidewalk | 48.61% | 175 | |||
| No continuous sidewalk | 59.17% | 213 | |||
| Other (please specify) | 26.67% | 96 | |||
| Total Respondents: 360 | |||||
Increasing physical activity is one of the most important actions people can take to achieve a healthy weight and improve overall health. People may find it difficult to maintain a minimum level of physical activity because many communities are not designed around pedestrians; in other words, they are not “walkable,” so residents find little opportunity to increase their activity levels.
The results of this walkability survey will help identify barriers to walking and physical activity throughout Indian River County, find solutions to barriers, and can be used to craft new policies and recommendations with walkability as a priority.
Housing Resources
Housing is an important determinant of health. It is one of the many disparities that affect underserved populations and contribute to a multitude of health problems.
Environmental Health
In January of 2021, the Council on Environmental Quality developed a new screening tool and interactive map that uses datasets and indicators in eight categories:
- Climate change
- Energy
- Health
- Housing
- Legacy pollution
- Transportation
- Water and wastewater
- Workforce development
Data Sources for Community Assessments and Plans
The Florida Department of Health utilizes data from Florida Community Health Assessment Resource Tool Set (CHARTS) and Environmental Public Health Tracking. Both are excellent resources for Florida public health statistics and community health data, providing statistical data for a wide variety of health indicators in Florida, including:
- Communicable Diseases
- Chronic Diseases
- Maternal and Child Health
- Environmental Health
- Injury and Violence
- Social and Mental Health
- Health Resources Availability
- Population Characteristics
- Air and Water Quality
- Community Profiles
- Housing
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