The HCHN has been in existence since 1990. Its membership has continuously expanded and has served as an effective forum for Herkimer County providers to identify, discuss, and resolve health and social service issues and concerns.
As a direct result of grants by the New York State Department of Health: Office of Rural Health, the Network significantly increased levels of coordination and collaboration among health and social service providers.
The grants have enabled the Network to complete several needs assessments and identify priorities requiring the collective attention of the Network and its participating providers. These collaborative efforts yielded sufficient evidence of the value of the Network allowing it to seek implementation funding to move from a consortium of providers to a more formal network in December of 1998.
Added evidence of successful Network collaboration is exemplified by the agreement of its diverse membership to empower the Network to play the critically important role of continuously monitoring health care needs and planning for the integration of services in a manner that will best respond to those needs.
Past Successes Include:
- 2003 Herkimer County Human Services Directory.
- The 2003 Herkimer County Risk Assessment Profile Update.
- TV Campaign on “Communicating with Children”.
- Teen Pregnancy Prevention Campaign.
- Birth Certificate Database for Herkimer County Public Health;
- Temporary Assistance Database for Department of Social Services;
- “Baby Basics” Video Distribution Program.
- Herkimer County Teen Talkline & Teentalk IM.
- Co-Development of “Companion for Life” Program.
- TV Campaign focusing on the importance of yearly Mammograms.
- “Kid’s Against Tobacco” Poster Contest.
- Teaching Day for Healthcare Professionals - “The Diagnosis and Prevention of Childhood Obesity.”
- Mental Health HPSA designation - Herkimer County.
- Comprehensive Health Resource and Information Website providing:
- Complete Human Services Directory – searchable by town, village, or zip code;
- Complete Herkimer County Data Profile;
- Health Information and Referral Links Page;
- Physician Search;
- Parenting Education Page.
