The Council of Church-Based Health Programs, Inc. (CCBHP, Inc.) is an outgrowth of the Health Advisory Council (HAC) of several years of senior citizens health and general health promotion program activities that started in Jackson County, Florida some fourteen years ago with funding from the Department of Health and Human Service, Office of Minority Health and HRS Aging and Adult Services. Other funding followed such as the Department of Elder Affairs, American Heart Association and the Center for Substance Abuse and Prevention. The main idea was to establish, execute, maintain and evaluate church-based health related programs that would improve the general health and well-being of church members and their communities. This particular model has proved to be extremely successful and has several articles published in the professional literature. This program has also been awarded a number of National and State awards for excellence in health and program accountability. Over the years, from 1988 until the present the activities have expanded to numerous churches in North Florida and the group decided to officially make all of this work and effort worthwhile and expand its efforts to form a statewide non-profit organization of various churches across the State with the following purpose/mission: "To promote the betterment of people through better health, education, leadership and personal progress, to promote love, charity, and giving among nations and individuals and to further the will of God through serving and uplifting our fellow man and woman; to reduce and/or annihilate all human prejudices and forces of discrimination and improper treatment of youth and adults alike, that invariably affects our physical and mental health, do hereby enact and establish this Constitution for the government of its members." Presently, there are well over twenty-five churches involved in related health programs and are apart of this Council. We encourage your participation in these worthwhile endeavors. Much of the work is done through Local County Health Advisory Councils in each county. A group of interested churches who wish to participate as a member Council Church must organize at the local county level with our assistance. However, churches may become a member church without necessarily organizing locally. The Council of Church-Based Health Programs, Inc. realizes that collectively we can achieve more and meet the needs of our communities across the State and the Nation. There are no membership dues, however the Board and the Body asks for your support through its annual fund-raisers, for its initiatives: the Cancer Initiative, the Scholarship and Achievement Initiative and its Annual Health Conference. Annual Conference on Health Each year CCBHP, Inc. and its member churches host an annual health conference. The 2004 Health Conference dates have not been confirmed at this time. Please check back soon. Council of Church-Based Health Programs, Inc Five Year Plan The Council of Church-Based Health Programs, Inc. is organized to recognize and support, through a positive and statewide structure the general health and educational progress of churches, church communities, and church related health, wellness and educational activities. The Council has divided its general initiatives into (4) categories with related goals and objectives. This summary does not include those goals and objectives but layout the General Categories and the particular Initiatives: CATEGORY 1: HEALTH & WELLNESS Initiatives: a. Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Wellness Initiative b. Diabetes and Nutrition Initiative c. Cancer Initiative d. Drug Prevention and Early Intervention Initiative e. AIDS Awareness and Education Initiative CATEGORY 2: SCHOLARSHIP, EDUCATION, LEADERSHIP & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Initiatives: f. Youth Scholarship & Leadership Initiative g. Community Development and Service Initiative h. Public Awareness and Public Education Media Campaign Initiative CATEGORY 3: INFORMATION DISSEMINATION & TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER Initiatives: i. Technology Development Initiative j. Mini-Grant and Charitable Giving Initiatives k. General Information Dissemination and Knowledge Transfer Initiative CATEGORY 4: COUNCIL ADMINISTRATION AND EXPANSION Initiatives: l. Internal Expansion, Programs, and Regional Initiative m. External Programs and Expansion Initiative n. Data Collection and Information Systems Initiative o. Grant Development and Program Maintenance Initiative