Florida Public Health Institute

The Florida Public Health Institute (FPHI), acting as a neutral convener, works with various local, state and national leaders to develop public-private partnerships that provide recommendations and solutions to health-related matters for the citizens of Palm Beach County, the state of Florida and the national community.  Its mission is to “…advance the knowledge and practice of public health to promote, protect and improve the health of all.”   FPHI advances improvements in health through community education; health advocacy; health workforce training; and assessment, research and evaluation.  FPHI participates as a collaborator, not a competitor, with a variety of partners in positioning the Institute as a vehicle for positive health system change wherever the opportunity may arise.

In 2001, The Miami Dade County Health Department (MDCHD) was the original incubator for FPHI and was incorporated as the Miami Dade County Public Health Institute. When the Institute was later incorporated as FPHI in 2006, MDCHD continued to provide administrative and operational support.

FPHI received operational core funding in 2007 totaling $1.25 million from the Quantum Foundation and the National Network of Public Health Institutes/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to expand the Institute’s infrastructure and program development capabilities. In a short three year time period,  FPHI expanded its board to fifteen members, developed a five year strategic plan, created and executed a sustainability plan, increased its funding sources, enhanced internal IT infrastructure and developed several projects for each of its five centers of excellence and health policy bureau.  The five centers include: workforce development; bio-preparedness and health system readiness; primary care and prevention; research, education and training; and a center for a sustainable environment and safe water. 

Since its inception, FPHI has brought together leaders from academia; city, county, state and federal government; foundations; business and industry and the local communities to begin the dialog of positive health system change. Partners include Nova Southeastern University, University of Miami, Florida Department of Health, Florida Public Health Association, County Health Departments, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Florida Atlantic University. Florida International University,  University of Florida, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, and Florida State University.

FPHI is enacting its vision to evolve into an institute with multiple governmental and private funding sources to further champion changes in health related policy and implementation. These increasing affiliations bring intellectual capital to enhance health care services and improve the health system fabric throughout the state and nationally. FPHI continues to develop innovation projects focused on workforce retention, community mitigation and preparedness, primary care and oral health services for the uninsured and under insured populations, online training course, electronic community messaging and environmental and safe water related issues.