The Glades Initiative, Inc.

The Glades Initiative increases access to services, increases access to information, reduces barriers to health and human services, affords more effective service provision, and increases services to residents, resulting in a healthier community. History

The Glades Initiative was created to identify and coordinate the health and human service needs of the community as well as develop and encourag

e collaborative relationships to collectively address the community's needs. Improvements are being sought in terms of outcomes (positive impact on the residents in the community) and efficiency (better outcomes achieved with the various funding streams available within the community). With health, human, and social services, there is an apparent organizational shift from the traditional system to a more holistic system of care. While each component of our system is vitally important, it is only through collaboration and coordination of these components that we will be successfully affect systemic changes. The Glades Initiative attempts to establish itself as an organization rich in community resources with much potential within the scoope and purpose of the Initiative. Through the efforts of the Glades Initiative, member organizations should be able to accomplish more as well as accomplish those objectives more effectively, thereby building capacity within existing resources. Development of Model

The Glades Initiative's model has evolved because:

There is a system that includes a broad array of service components; however those components are not always working together synergistically. The impact is two-pronged: not only are the residents not able to take advantage of a 'well-oiled' machine, but the agencies cannot either. Within the 'system', there exists a fair amount of confusion about which services are available, where those services are, and how to access those services. Agencies are being called upon to 'do more with less'. Agencies are being held to a greater standard of accountability. There is a need to consolidate some things for the sake of effciency. Mission Statement

The mission of The Glades Initiative is to improve the coordination and effectiveness of the health and human service delivery system in the Glades area of Palm Beach County. Operating Objectives

As a membership oorganization, The Glades Initiative will accomplish its mission through:

Identifying critical issues and needs affecting the human conditions of residents of the Glades communities
Developing community collaborative relationships
Strengthening the operational and goverannce infrastructure of member organizations
Implementing effective responses to the identified needs
Advocating on behalf of the community