ACORN Wins Sapphire Award

In December, 2006 Acorn Clinic was a proud recipient of the 2006 Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida Sapphire Award. The Blue Foundation is the charitable organization affiliated with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida. The award recognizes and promotes programs that have demonstrated excellence and impact in improving the health-related outcomes of Florida's at-risk populations and communities. A total of 40 nominations were received for the 2006 Sapphire Award competition from organizations throughout the entire state of Florida. Only three were selected as honorees of the $100,000 winner award, including ACORN!

According to the Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida:
"ACORN represents a remarkable example of success in an extremely challenging context by reducing the complications associated with engaging health professionals and volunteers. There is a manageable set of basic rules revealed from the ACORN experience that provide guidance and continuity for others working in rural and highly challenging settings.
These simple but powerful rules include":

• Reduce hassles for volunteer practitioners
• Keep it simple for patients
• Let local community needs dictate service offerings
• Leverage partnerships with outside resources