Strategic Issues 

How can we ensure equal access to Pinellas County health care and social services?

Leverage resources and relationships to improve the capacity for health service attainment.

Increase the number of available services for expecting mothers.

Connect organizations with families to increase utilization.

Provide education and training.

Addressing access to care can reduce barriers to health, such as inadequate transportation, cultural or linguistic barriers, technical infrastructure, and social and economic barriers. Disparities in access to care have been linked to disparities in health outcomes. Such disparities can be seen in chronic disease deaths and infant mortality rates in Pinellas County.

Goals, strategies, and objectives were developed by the Access to Care work team participants listed below and community stakeholders.

• Goal 1.1: Increase access to comprehensive, high-quality health care and social services.
• Goal 1.2 Decrease infant and maternal mortality and morbidity, especially where disparities exist.
• Goal 1.3 Improve social and physical environments so that they promote good health for all.