Mission Statement
To improve quality of life and promote maximum independence through the provision of healthcare, housing, and social and human services to those in need.
New Medical School
Jackson Health System has partnered with Florida International University’s new School of Medicine to establish teaching programs for FIU medical students at Jackson North Medical Center. Students are expected to begin interacting with patients in 2011. The announcement follows the infusion of $10 million of “Building Better Communities” General Obligation Bond proceeds to build and establish the only public medical school in South Florida. The School of Medicine is expected to generate 11,000 new jobs and $22 million annual to the local economy.
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Jackson Memorial Hospital/Public Health Trust
In its first year of operation, Jackson North Medical Center, formerly Parkway Regional Medical Center, saw a positive financial return of $8.9 million. More than $11 million of facility upgrades were completed and emergency services were improved to reduce patient wait times.
Jackson Health Systems received final approval in 2007 to expand Jackson South Medical Center. The $102 million expansion project will ease overcrowding and afford more residents in South Miami-Dade County access to quality healthcare.
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Public Housing Rehabilitation
Miami-Dade County entered into a cooperative agreement with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (US HUD) in 2007 to continue efforts to improve the Miami-Dade Housing Agency’s (MDHA) projects and programs. The agreement included the temporary oversight of MDHA by US HUD, an arrangement which will be reviewed in 2008.
In 2007, MDHA readied 671 affordable housing units for rent or purchase. Another 1,999 are under construction and 2,767 units are in the pre-development stages. In addition, the Consumer Services Department supported the development of 4,604 low-income and affordable housing units. Of that number, 712 units were completed during 2007. These included 519 low-income rental units, 101 affordable homes for purchase, and 92 for homeless assistance. The remaining 3,892 units will be completed within the next 18 months.
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Affordable and Low-Income Housing
Fifty-seven new homes were built by Habitat for Humanity for homeownership as part of Phase 1 of the Scott/Carver HOPE VI project. Also, 30 single-family homes in Heritage Village, a development in South Dade, were completely rehabilitated for sale to qualified public housing residents.
Additionally, the Infill Program provided 368 homes to low- and moderate-income families with another 286 homes under development.
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Housing Projects Funded by General Obligation Bond
Under the Building Better Communities Bond Program, $137 million is earmarked for affordable housing development. In 2007, the County’s Housing Development Team identified parcels appropriate for multi-family or elderly housing; researched possible impediments to development; prioritized developable sites; and developed financing models. The County will partner with one or more housing developers to build on the County-owned sites following a competitive process set to begin in 2008.
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Mortgage and Rental Assistance
The Housing Finance Authority issued 406 mortgage assistance loans to help low-income residents achieve the American dream of home ownership.
Additionally, more than 5,000 individuals and/or families received emergency financial assistance and relocation assistance, which in many cases saved them from becoming homeless, through the Health and Human Services’ Housing Assistance Grant. A total of $4.5 million went for emergency assistance last year.
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Senior Housing Assistance Repair Program
The Senior Housing Assistance Repair Program or SHARP, has helped 35 low-income uninsured senior citizens repair hurricane-damaged and deteriorating homes and put them in touch with much needed social services. In 2007, SHARP also partnered with Habitat for Humanity to assist seniors who live in unsafe and uninhabitable homes.
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Homeless Trust
The Homeless Trust helped significantly reduce the number of people experiencing chronic homelessness in Miami-Dade County. The number of chronic homeless in 2007 was 1,683, down 500 people from the prior year.
The Trust also helped place 8,394 adults and children into emergency housing, 1,725 residents into transitional housing, and 4,805 residents into permanent housing.
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Mental Health
Jail overcrowding is an issue for Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department -- one that is made worse by the incarceration of the mentally ill. The Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force and State of Florida officials, together with the Corrections and Rehabilitation Department offered programs that safely and securely divert individuals with mental illnesses away from jails and into appropriate treatment facilities.
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Head Start
The Community Action Agency’s (CAA) Head Start and Early Head Start programs provided services to 6,604 children under five years old, including health, education and social services.
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Youth Development
In 2007, The Consumer Services Department’s 4-H Youth Development program served 9,179 youth by providing citizenship and leadership development, and self-esteem building through public speaking and community service programs and clubs. Some 676 volunteers were recruited and trained in youth development to support 4-H efforts.
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Child Advocate
With the help of the County’s Child Advocate Office, Mayor Carlos Alvarez launched the “Buckle up for Life” campaign. The campaign helped educate families of the importance of using seat belts and child restraint devices while in a vehicle.
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Nutritional Education
The Consumer Services Department worked with 2,444 low-income families as part of a program to educate them about food nutrition and purchasing.
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Elderly Services
Miami-Dade County is working to make sure our fixed-income elderly population is not forgotten. In 2007, 127,687 meals were given to seniors at the Department of Health and Human Service’s (DHS) Adult Day Care and Senior Center sites, including 2,530 “high risk” meals that were provided to elders who were assessed to be at risk of malnutrition.
Also in 2007, Transit and General Services Administration partnered with the private sector to encourage the reporting of elder abuse. Posters with the message “If you suspect elder abuse, please call 1-800-96-ABUSE” were displayed on 800 busses and 150 trains.
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Senior Advocate
The Senior Advocate identified the Haitian community as under-enrolling in the Medicaid Program and immediately took action to remedy this problem. With the help of Haitian community leaders, the Advocate’s Office launched a massive outreach effort in churches and on the radio. A very successful Medicaid enrollment program was started at a location friendly and accessible to Haitian seniors.
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Victim’s Services
The South Dade Victim's Services Center renovation was completed by the General Services Administration, providing much-needed support for victims and witnesses of crime. The center was severely damaged during Hurricane Wilma.
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Domestic Violence
Domestic violence intervention services were provided to 2,525 adults and 4,595 children; 4,808 hotline calls were answered; and, 6,389 information and referrals were made by DHS.
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Veterans Services
Department of Human Services (DHS) assisted 1,932 veterans file assistance claims with the Veterans Administration resulting in thousands of dollars in benefits. Overseeing DHS and all of the services it provides is new director, Phyllis Tynes-Saunders.
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