In February of 1998, upon receipt of a grant from the Duke Endowment Fund and in cooperation with the Bakersville Community Medical Clinic, the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital, and MAHEC (Mountan Area Health Education Center, the Bakersville Community Health Project was begun. Its purpose was to assess rural health needs in the area, compile data and organize a community group to improve the health of our citizens.
Following a community assessment with comments from over 30 focus groups talking about health needs and possible solutions, a report was presented to the community in June of 1998. Task groups were formed and work began. By March of 1999 the coalition became county-wide and had a new name: Mitchell Community Health Partnership .
With the formation of a county-wide steering committee, membership policies and basic organization guidelines were developed. In May of 1999 we began the application process for Healthy Carolinians certification. Certification was received in October of 2000. In July of 2001 we received our 501c3 status.
In October of 2004, MCHP received Healthy Carolinians recertification and continued to work on the health issues of our county. Every four to five years, a Healthy Carolinian partnership must apply for recertification. Mitchell Community Health Partnership was awarded Recertification as a Healthy Carolinians Partnership by the Governor’s Task Force for Healthy Carolinians at a ceremony in Greensboro on October 12, 2007.
Certification for Mitchell Community Health Partnership means that this local Partnership has joined with 75 other certified Partnerships across North Carolina in working with Healthy Carolinians to secure optimal levels of health within each County. Mitchell Community Health Partnership has identified focus areas, established objectives and targets, and developed action plans that will improve the health of residents within their county. In order for Mitchell Community Health Partnership to receive Certification the Partnerships must submit an application to the Governors Task Force for Healthy Carolinians. The Governors Task Force has developed a set of rigorous Standards that all partnerships must meet in order to be certified. |
