TITLE
RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO APPROPRIATE FUNDING TO EXPAND THE SERVICES OFFERED AT THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY�S FREDERICA WILSON AND JUANITA MANN HEALTH CENTER TO INCLUDE DENTAL AND PEDIATRIC SERVICES

BODY
WHEREAS, the Frederica Wilson and Juanita Mann Health Center (�Health Center�) operated by the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County is a 10,000 square foot facility within walking distance for 75,000 people in Liberty City; and
WHEREAS, the Health Center provides primary adult health care, adult health screenings, wellness education and a nutrition program for women, infants and children; and
WHEREAS, pediatric health care and dental services are not currently provided by the Health Center; and
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Census Bureau 20 percent of the population in Miami-Dade County is under 18 years old; and
WHEREAS, children�s health depends on access to health care including, but not limited to, physical examinations, preventative care, health education, observations, screenings, immunizations, and sick care; and
WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (�CDC�) reports that a child who receives treatment timely and appropriately uses pediatric care; and
WHEREAS, the CDC reports that about 4 percent of children had no usual source of care, a particular person or place for preventative and sick care; and
WHEREAS, increased access to pediatric health services in Liberty City is vital to provide our children a location to receive care; and
WHEREAS, individuals with the least access to dental services have greater rates of oral disease; and
WHEREAS, untreated oral disease can lead to pain, dysfunction, infection and cause serious health consequences including death; and
WHEREAS, the Surgeon General of the United States reported that tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease and inhibits eating, speaking and learning in children; and
WHEREAS, tooth decay and dental disease is largely preventable through effective health promotion, dental treatments and dental disease prevention programs which can be provided through the proposed expansion of the Health Center; and
WHEREAS, increased access to oral health services is vitally important to overall health and well-being; and
WHEREAS, an increase in access to pediatric health and dental services will decrease the number of school days missed, increase compliance with vaccinations, decrease local hospital emergency room visits and hospitalizations related to childhood chronic diseases, decrease the use of local hospital emergency departments for the treatment of unnecessary dental care and will decrease the total oral health related charges billed to Medicaid and Medicare; and
WHEREAS, this Board supports the expansion of the Frederica Wilson and Juanita Mann Health Center to include pediatric and dental services,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to appropriate funding to expand the services offered at the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County�s Frederica Wilson and Juanita Mann Health Center to include pediatric and dental services.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade County State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the appropriation set forth in Section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2018 State Legislative Package when it is presented to the Board.