HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Health June 28 20111
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Board of Health
June 28, 2011
CALL TO ORDER
Council Chair Sam Crawford called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. in the Council
Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
ROLL CALL (10:32:28 AM)
Present: Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann, Sam Crawford, Bill Knutzen, Kathy
Kershner, Carl Weimer and Tony Larson.
Absent: None.
1. PUBLIC SESSION
No one spoke.
2. COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, introduced the new Disease Response
and Control Manager German Gonzalez. She described Dr. Gonzalez's background. She
showed a video clip regarding Health.
(10: 41:15 AM)
Astrid Newell, Health Department, stated the plan is not done yet, but they wanted
to share the information. She submitted and read from a presentation (on file). Their goal
is to complete the plan by the end of this year.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of:
• Creating a more realistic, specific vision that isn't fantasy.
• Whether minorities with higher incomes also experience higher rates of poor
health.
• The accuracy of the national income level for poverty.
• The harm versus the benefits of fluoride.
• How those genetically predisposed to type I diabetes fits into the statistics.
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of:
• Working with the community to implement action plans.
• The accuracy of a phone survey on income level and health issues.
• Whether the survey considered the Hispanic population's part -time or full -
time residency.
• Consequences of having multiple children with fetal alcohol system and the
system "rewarding" low income women who have more children.
Mann asked and there was discussion of:
• How they define children with special health care needs.
• Whether it's more important to address dental disease due to sugar intake or
the health problems of fluoride.
Board of Health, 6/28/2011, Page 1
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(11:44:04 AM)
Newell concluded the presentation on the public health system capacity. She asked
for feedback from Board Members regarding planning of strategic issues.
The following people answered questions:
• Dr. Greg Stern, County Health Officer
• Chris Phillips, St. Joseph /Peace Health Medical Center
Knutzen asked and there was discussion of:
• Whether there are action steps such as programs to get kids outside and
moving or providing health care to the homeless.
• Creating incentives for people who use food stamps and who make better
food choices versus consequences for poorer food choices.
Brenner stated:
• The councilmembers need to get this information earlier than the day of the
meeting.
• The real solutions will come from the community.
• The Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program is one of the best there is.
• There isn't much they can do about the food stamp requirements because it is
a federal program.
Kershner asked and there was discussion of whether there are prioritized issues and
strategies, such as education and jobs. She is also interested in addressing the food,
nutrition, and obesity issue.
Mann asked and there was discussion of whether overweight people would purchase
more better foods if they were less expensive.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:07 p.m.
The Council approved these minutes on July 26 , 2011.
ATTEST: WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
360- 676 -6690 or council@�omhatcomma.us
Board of Health, 6/28/2011, Page 2