CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA
DRAFT HEALTH ACTION PLAN
2.11.Health Goals and Policies
2.11.1 Assist and encourage the City and Borough of Sitka to establish and maintain a citywide department of health to coordinate and collaborate a comprehensive strategic action to promote the health and well-being of all citizens.
2.11.2 Encourage collaboration between health and human services agencies in order to design and sustain a comprehensive system of coordinated services with multiportal access, which will:
A. Involve the entire community;
B. Identify and reduce gaps in services and unnecessary duplication of services through an on-going assessment process reported quarterly to the Assembly by the Commission on Health Needs and Community Services.
C. Promote and support joint grant writing ventures among agencies.
D. Encourage cooperative service agreements among agencies and other community groups specifying detailed levels of commitment.
E. Assist to periodically update and review the community resource guide of services provided in the community, which would help to promote collaboration among providers of health and human services and improve access to services for consumers.
F. Improve access to all healthcare services by the uninsured and underinsured.
2.11.3 To reduce substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs) by supporting local prevention networks that involve both individuals and organizations, and link systems such as schools, treatment facilities, fraternal organizations, religious groups, youth groups, health and social service agencies, the criminal justice system, and the business sector. The Borough recognizes that alcohol and tobacco are the most harmful and most costly drugs of abuse in our country and supports policies or development of programs that:
A. Recognize that responsible consumption of alcohol and tobacco by adults is a personal choice for each individual and is legal.
B. Reinforce and strengthen messages and consequences that alcoholic beverage use by individuals under 21 is illegal and tobacco use by individuals under 19 is illegal.
C. Encourage adults, especially parents, to teach children about responsible behavior concerning alcohol and tobacco including sobriety and abstinence.
D. Promote, on a community level, an environment that makes it easy for adults and youth to be social, stay in school, pursue their careers, have fun, deal effectively with problems both large and small, and address depression and other emotional health issues, without the use of alcohol and tobacco.
E. Encourage businesses, community organizations and the City and Borough of Sitka to offer numerous and varied social events which are alcohol and tobacco-free. Solicit sponsorship by agencies and organizations other than the alcohol and tobacco industry.
F. Encourage further development and maintenance of a comprehensive system of prevention, education and treatment services appropriate to meet the needs of all persons at risk or suffering from alcohol, tobacco and other drug-related problems.
G. Emphasize prevention and treatment services for families, men, women and children.
H. Encourage private businesses to adopt and enforce drug and smoke-free workplaces.
I. Urge existing agencies, programs, and other services in Sitka to collaborate to develop and strengthen the prevention resources in Sitka.
2.11.4 To encourage collaboration between behavioral health service agencies and the citizens of Sitka to provide coordinated behavior health services, which will:
A. Advocate for behavioral health services that are available, affordable and accessible to all citizens.
B. Promote evaluation and treatment for behavioral health problems for everyone in Sitka in need of these services.
C. Encourage employers to recognize the need for employee assistance programs and advocate for such programs.
D. Promote health activities, which foster a wellness attitude, and services that support personal empowerment and self-responsibility for all citizens.
E. Promote opportunities and activities for youth and seniors to develop interactive programs to develop and foster positive lifestyles.
F. Encourage existing agencies and groups that provide counseling and chemical dependency services to coordinate between programs and providers to decrease breakdowns and gaps in services between agencies and consumers.
2.11.5 Encourage healthy lifestyles in Sitka through the development of various activities that would encourage family, senior, youth and community and participation. The healthy lifestyles' program would include the development of healthy activities, as well as an educational component that would include, but not be limited to, the following:
A. Encourage healthy lifestyles for youth/children through school resources and peer support groups.
B. Promote adult/parental participation in health promotion activities.
C. Support the development of educational activities and recreational opportunities such as bike paths, sidewalks, walking paths and health fairs.
D. Involve youth and seniors in developing effective health promotion programs.
E. Support educational and community forums to promote healthy lifestyles including: smoking cessation, nutrition, exercise, prenatal care, AIDS and STD education and awareness, substance abuse recognition and prevention, elder and child abuse recognition and prevention, injury awareness and prevention, programs to teach and encourage women to build self-esteem and empowerment and programs to teach healthy non-violent interpersonal relationship skills.