HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-059RESOLUTION NO. 01-59
A RESOLUTION URGING THE GOVERNOR
OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, AND THE
FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO RESTORE FULL
FUNDING TO THE FLORIDA HEALTHY
START COALITIONS' BUDGET
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made
the following determinations:
1. The Statewide infant mortality rate reduced from 9.6 per 1000 in 1990 to 7.3 per 1000 in
1999 with a provisional rate of 6.6 per 1000 for the first three quarters of the year 2000.
2. The St. Lucie County infant mortality reduced from 10.6 per 1000 in 1990 to 4.6 per 1000
in 1999 with a provisional rate of 6.0 per 1000 in the first three quarters ofthe year 2000. The infant
mortality rate averaged 13.9 per 1000 in the 1980 decade and decreased to an average of 8.2 per 1000
in the 1990 decade.
3. St. Lucie County saw a decrease in births to teens from a double digits percentage (13%)
in 1990 to a single digit (9%) for four consecutive years (1996 to 1999). Each teen birth delayed to
adulthood saves an estimated $22,000.00 of tax dollars.
4. By privati2ing the prenatal care system, a conservative estimate of 7.6 million dollars of
state and county funds have been saved in St. Lucie County alone.
5. By privatizing the Care Coordination system, the number of services provided to pregnant
women and hffants increased from 6,800 to 48,000.
6. The Healthy Start Coalition enjoys strong community support, and by being community
based, has been able to design an effective system of care for pregnant women and infants. The
system not only saves lives, it also saves tax dollars.
7. This Board believes it is in the best interest of the health, safety, and public welfare of not
only the citizens of St. Lucie County, but also Statewide, to have the Governor of the State of Florida
restore full funding to the Florida Healthy Start Coalitions' Budget.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St.
Lucie County, Florida:
1. This Board urges the Governor of the State of Florida, and the Florida Legislature, to
restore full funding to the Florida Healthy Start Coalitions' Budget.
2. The County Administrator is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the
Governor of the State of Florida, the Florida Legislature, and the Board of Directors of the Healthy
Start Coalition of St. Lucie County.
After motion and second the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Chairman Framfie Hutchinson
Vice Chairman Doug Coward
Commissioner Paula A. Lewis
Commissioner Cliff Barnes
Commissioner John D. Brulm
AYE
AYE
AYE
AYE
AB SENT
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 6t~ day of February, 2001.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS