National Rural Health Association "Outstanding Rural Health Program"
	The NRHA "Outstanding Rural Health Program" award recognizes an individual, group of individuals, or agency that has made an outstanding contribution to the rural health movement or has successfully developed an innovative program or project to address access care for the underserved. Alan Morgan, NRHA CEO said of PCCHP,  “Started just three years ago, this partnership (PCCHP) in western Illinois has made great strides to improve health access and awareness in a county with high poverty and limited health care options,” Morgan went on to say. “From mental and oral health to transportation and prevention programs, Pike County’s partnership is a great example of how collaboration fosters positive change in rural America.” Patricia McIntosh accepted the award for PCCHP at the 33rd Annual Rural Health Conference in Savannah, GA. on May 20, 2010.
Illinois Rural Health Association "Award of Merit"
	The IRHA “Award of Merit” was created to recognize an individual, group of individuals, or agency who has made an outstanding contribution to the rural health movement or has successfully developed an innovative program or project to address access to care for the underserved.  Anita Andress, Director of the Pike County Health Department and Patricia McIntosh, PCCHP Treasurer accepted the IRHA award on behalf of PCCHP at the Keller Convention Center in Effingham, IL on April 28, 2010 in conjunction with the IRHA annual education conference.
HRSA Grant
	In the spring of 2008, the Pike County Community Health Partnership was one of only 32 organizations nationwide to receive a Health Resources and Services Administration, Office of Rural Health Policy (HRSA) Rural Health Network Development Planning grant. PCCHP has worked to complete the activities defined in the Rural Health Network Development Planning grant which included: conduct a county-wide community health needs assessment development a strategic plan creating a sustainability plan The Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs at Western Illinois University completed the data collection and wrote the community needs assessment report. Among the health concerns identified through this process, the health priorities discerned as most significant include: coordination of services transportation mental health oral health care food, housing, and preventive health programs PCCHP then contracted with the Illinois Public Health Institute, who facilitated a strategic planning process with community input, utilizing logic models based on the priorities identified through the health assessment. These logic models constitute a framework for action to address the highest priority needs as identified in the community needs assessment and serve as a basis for the development of short and long term goals. The evaluation component of the plan will enable PCCHP to establish target goals and measurements of success in addressing these goals. As the last activity of the Rural Health Network Development Planning Grant, PCCHP is finalizing a sustainability plan. Pike County Health Department, Mental Health Centers of Western Illinois, Illini Community Health Care Foundation, University of Illinois Extension, Pike County, and Illini Community Hospital have entered into a formal memorandum of agreement stating their commitment to the agreed upon goals and aims of the Partnership. The community health needs assessment and strategic planning documents will guide the PCCHP as the mission of collaboratively strengthening the health and wellness of those served in Pike County is pursued. Copies of these documents may found on the Downloads page.

SIU Rural Health Initiative Grant
	In 2007, the Partnership was awarded a 3-year Rural Health Initiative Grant from the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. These funds were used to set up an office and hire a Partnership Director.

Members and Bylaws

Additional members of the Partnership were identified. Bylaws were developed over several months and enacted by a vote of the Partnership Steering Committee in February 2007. The bylaws were presented to a community group for public comment in May 2007. A workgroup composed of PCCHP members reviewed the bylaws, consulted numerous expert sources, and presented the PCCHP membership with revised bylaws which were accepted in March 2009. The bylaws have been reviewed annually since 2009 with the latest revisions accepted by the membership at the Annual Member Meeting in November 2011.

Support and Guidance

With assistance and guidance from the Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs and the Healthy Communities Partnership of Logan County, Illinois, and with guidance and financial support from the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Rural Health Initiative Grant, the Steering Committee established the Pike County Community Health Partnership. Representatives of all Steering Committee entities signed Partnership Membership Expectations and Benefits Agreement forms which formalize the following assumptions: All Steering Committee organizations are equally committed to building and sustaining the Partnership. All Steering Committee organizations have the authority to commit resources to the activities of the Partnership. All Steering Committee organizations are committed to participating in collaborative efforts to address health needs and disparities in Pike County. All Steering Committee organizations have made a financial pledge or a significant in-kind contribution to the Partnership.

Steering Committee Established

In 2006, the IPLAN community group assigned a Steering Committee to move forward to develop a more formalized structure to address health needs and disparities from a county-wide collaborative approach. Representatives from the following entities served on the Steering Committee: Illini Community Health Care Foundation University of Illinois Extension, Pike County Unit Mental Health Centers of Western Illinois, Pike County site Illini Community Hospital Pike County Health Department

IPLAN
	From 2004-2006, over 30 community leaders and health and human service agencies worked together on the Pike County Health Department's Illinois Project for Local Assessment of Needs (IPLAN). The resulting collaboration was so beneficial that the group took steps to establish an ongoing community health partnership.