The College of Health and Public Affairs welcomed Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and several members of her staff to a meeting July 30 to discuss news ways for the county and college to partner.

College Dean Michael Frumkin introduced Jacobs and her staff to the college’s chairs and directors during a lunch-time meeting held in Health and Public Affairs building I.

The college leaders went on to describe some of the exciting community-based activities in their programs, several of which involve Orange County government. They also identified new ways their programs might work with the county.

In turn, Jacobs shared some of her biggest concerns for the county with the group. Among them are homelessness, domestic violence and the need for second-chance opportunities for young offenders, she said.

The exchange revealed a number of overlaps between the mayor’s concerns and the college’s areas of research, service and teaching.

Jacobs said she will ask her chief of staff, Graciela Noriega Jacoby (M.P.A., ’03), to reach out to members of the college to schedule more in-depth discussions on new ways the county and college might work together.

“UCF makes partnerships easy,” Jacobs remarked.

Current partnerships between Orange County and the college include:

  • Meet the Judge Juvenile Court Program – Department of Criminal Justice and Orange County Office for a Drug Free Community (plus other partners)
  • Corrections Re-Entry Initiatives – Department of Criminal Justice and Orange County Corrections Department
  • Evans Community School – College of Health and Public Affairs and Orange County Public Schools (plus other partners)
  • UCF AmeriCorps VISTA Program – Center for Public and Nonprofit Management and Orange County Public Schools (plus other partners)
  • Student placements for service-learning or clinical training – Department of Health Management and Informatics and Florida Department of Health in Orange County; Department of Health Professions, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and Orange County Public Schools; School of Social Work, School of Public Administration and multiple county agencies

    • View more photos (by Abi Bell)