The Health Council of South Florida, Inc. is a part of a statewide network of 11 non-profit agencies established by Section 408.033 Florida Statutes (F.S.) to conduct regional health planning and implementation activities. Each council's district is designated in Section 408.032, F.S.. Local health councils develop district health plans containing data, analysis and recommendations that relate to health care status and needs in the community. The recommendations are designed to improve access to health care, reduce disparities in health status, assist state and local governments in the development of sound and rational health care policies, and advocate on behalf of the underserved. Local health councils study the impact of various initiatives on the health care system, provide assistance to the public and private sectors, and create and disseminate materials designed to increase their communities' understanding of health care issues

The Council's Board of Directors  is composed of 12 health care providers, purchasers and nongovernmental consumers who serve for two years and are eligible for reappointment. Under its direction, areas of emphasis have encompassed population and regional health planning, program development and evaluation, disease management, ethical standards for a healthy community, trauma service coordination, and the formation of cost-effective health policy that is responsive to the health needs of South Florida residents.

A twenty-three member Information Planning Policy and Ethics Committee (IPPEC) serves as the central planning body of the Council, guides the development of strategies and sets priorities for implementation based on local healthcare needs. Additional committees provide expertise in the fields of HIV/AIDS, trauma services, and transportation disadvantaged services. State/local government and private foundation funding support the diverse projects conducted by the Council’s versatile and professional board, committee members and staff.

For 39 years, the Council has set the standard for excellence in health planning by serving as an objective source of healthcare information, fostering community dialogue on contemporary health issues and developing solutions for emerging health needs.

Mission Statement:
To engage in community-based planning that improves health and promotes wellness in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties.

Key Guiding Values, Principles and Beliefs
The Health Council of South Florida, Inc. has established the following policy statements to serve as guiding values, principles, and beliefs:

Health and Wellness

• Healthy lifestyle practices and behaviors contribute to a person’s health and well-being.
• Greater focus should be placed on wellness and prevention, as a cost-effective measure to complement the system of care.
• Each person is responsible for his/her own health.  However, poor health can also be directly related to a person's environment, socioeconomic status, racial or ethnic background, educational level and emotional well- being. Therefore, responsibility for the health and wellness of the community as a whole is shared among providers, purchasers, consumers and governmental bodies.
• As a part of a holistic approach, faith-based and community-based organizations play an important role in addressing the health and well-being of our communities.

Access to Healthcare Services and Information

• Basic health care is a right, not a privilege.
• Access to a basic set of health services  and information should be provided to everyone, at a cost the community can afford.
• Health planning advances the practice of patient centered care that is both accessible and inviting to the patient.  Access should be given to compassionate care as well as to the latest advances in healthcare technology.
• Affordable, comprehensive health insurance is a viable mechanism for assuring access to quality health care.

Patient Choice

• Individuals should have the opportunity to make informed choices regarding:

1. Personal behavior and the use of health services which will minimize impairment of physical and/or mental capacity due to disease or injury.
2. Treatment options and the advantages and disadvantages of each option, including medications and services.
3. End-of-life care with minimal suffering and without loss of autonomy and dignity.

Community Collaboration and Leadership

• Collaborative efforts should be employed to foster community involvement and empowerment.
• When working in collaboration with others, health care leaders can serve as a catalyst to remedy major social discrepancies that affect health.
• Health care systems, i.e., provider networks, as a part of the community, share leadership responsibility for social issues impacting on health care.
• Board involvement should be maximized through the various initiatives spearheaded and facilitated by the Council.  Their active involvement is integral to health planning.

Practice of Health Planning

• The Council serves as the conscience of the community through its health planning processes and is an objective, independent voice for the public-at-large as it relates to the healthcare delivery system.
• The gap between the public and private sectors can be bridged through the practice of health planning, thereby promoting coordinated care and new service development to address unmet needs.
• A comprehensive approach to health planning recognizes:

1. Inclusiveness, community-outreach and grassroots participation is an integral component of planning.
2. Primary, secondary and tertiary levels of health services are interdependent parts of an overall system.
3. Any significant change affecting one level of the system impacts the others.
4. The importance of physical, psycho-social and spiritual well-being as it pertains to a person’s health.

Eliminating Health Disparities and Respecting Cultural Competency

• Cultural competency is to be recognized, valued, incorporated and demonstrated in health care practices.
• Healthcare professionals should strive to overcome health disparities and gaps in health status.

Accountability and Cost-Effectiveness

• The health system should be accountable to the public for its use of limited healthcare resources.
• Outcome measures should be developed and tracked over time to encourage cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
• Innovations should be promoted both in clinical practice and throughout the healthcare system.
• Best practices and evidence-based interventions should be developed and showcased for appropriate replication.
• Quality assurance mechanisms are essential to the promotion of access to quality care.
• The community and its leadership have a duty and the privilege to protect residents and assure the safety of patients when receiving care and treatment as well as in the practice of health maintenance and wellness.