The Seven Valleys Health Coalition, Inc. (SVHC) is a coalition of providers and interested individuals who play an active role in promoting effective, efficient and accessible health and human services to constituents in the service area. Leaders from twenty-one local health and human service agencies, working under the umbrella of the SVHC, have identified gaps in services, potential funding sources, areas of collaboration, and have established a forum for communicating on a regular basis. These discussions are essential for the SVHC, as well as its participating agencies, to be certain that resources are allocated in ways that will most benefit the broadest spectrum of the service area.

The SVHC service area includes all of Cortland County and portions of Onondaga, Madison, Tompkins and Cayuga Counties that are not covered by another rural health network. The mission of the SVHC is "to improve health outcomes and service delivery for Southern Central New York residents by developing a collaborative network of quality health care services. The network shall be customer focused through emphasis on access, education, and added value to the community."

The SVHC incorporated as a 501c3, not-for-profit Corporation in 2001. However, since its inception in 1995, the goals and objectives of the Seven Valleys Health Coalition (SVHC) have not wavered from the original vision for the organization. Specifically, the goals have been to:

• Identify unmet needs and develop plans to meet those needs.
   
• Create an integrated health and human service delivery system that assures entry and avoids unnecessary duplication of services, particularly for the under-served.
   
• Coordinate efforts to provide needed programs without duplication and with cooperation and mutual resources.
   
• Investigate and generate financial resources such as grants, gifts, and dues.
   
• Develop formal linkages between providers through management or participation agreements.

While there have been many Seven Valleys Health Coalition projects, the emphasis has been mainly on two major areas:

• Oral Health
• Community Assessment Team