Latest news with #Florida2030Blueprint
Malaysian Reserve
01-07-2025
- Health
- Malaysian Reserve
Florida Chamber of Commerce Appoints John Doolittle to Lead Health Council; Florida Chamber Leadership Cabinet Launches Mental Wellness Institute to Improve Behavioral Health for Workforce, Veterans/F
TALLAHASSEE, Fla., June 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Florida Chamber Leadership Cabinet on Safety, Health, and Sustainability—the Chamber's entity guiding statewide efforts to improve workplace safety, employee health, and environmental outcomes—has appointed John Doolittle as Director of the Florida Chamber Health Council, one of its three core councils. Within the Health Council, Doolittle will also lead the launch of the newly established Mental Wellness Institute, a business-led initiative focused on improving behavioral health outcomes for Florida's workforce, veterans and first responders, and youth. The Florida Chamber Health Council operates under the Leadership Cabinet, alongside the Florida Chamber Safety Council and the Florida Chamber Sustainability Council. Together, these councils advance the goals of the Florida 2030 Blueprint—a comprehensive strategy to grow Florida into the 10th largest global economy while improving quality of life in every community. Doolittle's appointment marks a significant milestone as the Chamber deepens its commitment to advancing behavioral health and making Florida the healthiest state in America. A Veteran Leader in Mental Wellness and Performance John Doolittle, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, brings more than 25 years of distinguished leadership experience. He is nationally recognized for leading the Department of Defense's Preservation of the Force and Family (POTFF) program, which redefined how behavioral health, performance, and resilience are supported across U.S. Special Operations. He later worked with KAATSU Global, advancing research on traumatic brain injury treatment and recovery protocols for military personnel. Turning Strategy into Action Through the Florida Chamber Mental Wellness Institute In his new role, Doolittle will lead the implementation of the Florida Chamber Leadership Cabinet's Behavioral Health Report—Making Florida the National Leader for Mental Health and Well-Being, the first business-led statewide behavioral health strategy in the nation. Released in 2024, the report was developed to equip Florida's business community with data-driven insights, employer-facing recommendations, and a roadmap for reducing substance abuse, improving access to care, and preventing suicide and workplace violence. The report outlines 25 strategic recommendations designed to improve behavioral health outcomes across Florida's workforce, the veteran and first responder populations, and youth—while helping employers support stronger business performance and build safer, healthier communities. Tackling Workforce Health Challenges with Employer-Led Solutions Under John's leadership, the Florida Chamber Leadership Cabinet is poised to translate strategic vision into measurable impact through the newly launched Mental Wellness Institute, a pivotal collaboration with the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. The Institute will systematically shape and enact behavioral health policy while concurrently developing, implementing, scaling, and financing evidence-based solutions targeted at improving mental wellness for Florida's workforce, veterans and first responders, and youth. By prioritizing key recommendations from the report's Employer-Facing (EFR), Outcome-Driven (ODR), and Domain-Specific (DSR) categories, the Institute will apply lessons learned in real-time and foster a continuous cycle of improvement. This proactive approach will address urgent challenges—such as widespread provider shortages, barriers to care access, and rising healthcare costs—while equipping Florida businesses with essential tools to build a healthier, more resilient workforce across these essential populations. A Broader Vision for a Healthier Florida 'Similar to the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs, our business community has a vital role to play in advancing behavioral health and mental wellness in both the workplace and at home,' said John Doolittle. 'I'm honored to join the Florida Chamber team and lead these efforts to create lasting impact for Florida's workers, families, and communities.' 'John's leadership is exactly what we need at this pivotal moment for workplace health in Florida,' said Katie Yeutter, President of the Florida Chamber Leadership Cabinet on Safety, Health, and Sustainability and COO/CFO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. 'His experience leading large-scale wellness programs for high-performance teams is unmatched, and his role will be instrumental as we take bold action to improve mental wellness and business outcomes across the state.' To learn more about the Florida Chamber Health Council and its initiatives, visit
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Casey DeSantis to speak at Daytona economic summit on reducing childhood poverty
DAYTONA BEACH — Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis will be one of the featured speakers at the 2025 Florida Prosperity & Economic Opportunity Solutions Summit that will be held at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday. The event, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is being put on by the Florida Chamber of Commerce to look at ways to reduce by half the number of children living in poverty in the Sunshine State by the year 2030, according to Kristina Donahue, the chamber's director of prosperity. More than 250 business leaders, community advocates and policy makers are expected to take part in the summit, which is held in a different part of the state each year. This will be the first time it is held in Volusia County. The event will "address the 10 root causes of generational poverty, the business impacts of poverty, and ways to get involved at the ZIP code level to create a pathway to prosperity for all Floridians," according to a statement put out by the chamber. "Our goal is for attendees to walk away and have a key action item they can implement within their community, to get them to say 'I can do this piece,'" said Donahue, in a phone interview. "It's really all about collaboration. No one sector can solve it alone, but if we work together, things can move in the right direction." The goal of reducing poverty levels is part of a statewide initiative called the Florida 2030 Blueprint that launched in 2018. According to the chamber, more than 730,000 children live in poverty statewide, including many in Volusia County. "32114 (in Daytona Beach) is one of the poorest ZIP codes in the state of Florida," said Forough Hosseini, the founder and chair of Food Brings Hope, a local nonprofit that provides food for families with children struggling to make ends meet. Hosseini is also the chair of this year's Florida Prosperity & Economic Opportunity summit. The summit will feature nearly two dozen speakers and panelists. Kevin Thompson of the Florida Prepaid College Board & Foundation and Frank Kelleher, president of Daytona International Speedway, will give the welcome and opening remarks. Mark Wilson, president and CEO of the Florida Chamber, will deliver a report on the current state of childhood poverty in Florida. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University President Dr. P. Barry Butler will moderate a panel discussion on how the space economy is driving Florida's workforce and economic opportunities. The panelists will include Robert Long, president and CEO of Space Florida, Brandon Burroughs of The Boeing Co., Jeanette Nunez, interim president of Florida International University, and Dr. Mark Rendell, superintendent of Brevard Public Schools. Casey DeSantis and Dr. Audrey Gregory of AdventHealth will give a presentation on "Hope Florida: Building Pathways to Prosperity Through Community Partnerships across Florida." Hosseini will give a talk on "Forming Impactful Partnerships to Create Prosperity & Homeownership." The event will include breakfast and lunch. For more information, including how to buy tickets to attend, visit the chamber's website or call Thelma Givens, the chamber's director of events, at 850-521-1284. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona to host economic summit to help reduce childhood poverty
