The Sumner County Health Council was developed after a meeting between Tennessee Department of Health Community Development Staff and local county officials. The County Health Department Director along with the Regional Community Development Staff collaborated in January of 1997 to develop a list of potential council members.

At this meeting, prospective members were introduced to the “Community Diagnosis” process and to the roles and responsibilities of the newly formed Sumner County Health Council. A list of current members is included as “Attachment A”. It is important to note that this list does not represent the initial membership, as a result of the addition and deletion of members throughout the existence of the Council.

During early meetings of the Council, the group adopted the overall mission of Community:

Diagnosis:

• “To promote the health of Sumner County residents by identifying priorities, establishing goals, and determining courses of action to improve the health status of the community by participating in the ‘Community Diagnosis’ Process.

Through this process we will, at a minimum, :

• Provide justification for budget improvement requests submitted to the State Legislature
• Provide to state-level programs and their regional office personnel information that fosters
  better planning, promotion, and coordination of prevention and intervention strategies at the
  local level;

Serve health planning and advocacy needs at the community level. Here, the community leaders and local health departments provide the leadership to ensure that documented community health problems are addressed.”

The Council continues to meet monthly, with meetings held on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Meetings are open to the public from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. Typically meetings are held at Shalom Zone.

The Council has both a Chair and Co-Chair. Individuals were elected to fill these positions soon after the initial meeting. It was also agreed that the Council should be limited to no more than twenty five members. The Council has adopted bylaws that outline its structure and activities.

See “Attachment B” for a copy of the bylaws.

The Council has had the participation and support of each of the local hospitals, Columbia Hendersonville, Sumner Regional Medical Center, and Tennessee Christian Medical Center/Portland. The Council also has had participation and the support of the local school system, the local health department, Pathfinders, Volunteer State Community College, Project C.I.R.C.L.E.S., Willowbrook Home Health Care, and several members of the medical community. The Council has representation from each large geographic area in Sumner County.