HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Health October 4 20111
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WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Board of Health
October 4, 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 (10:32:31 AM)
Present: Bill Knutzen, Barbara Brenner, Ken Mann, Sam Crawford and Carl
Weimer.
Absent: Kathy Kershner and Tony Larson.
OTHER BUSINESS
Crawford asked for an overview on the Health Department's role in a recent
Courthouse evacuation due to a threat of a harmful substance.
Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, stated Disease Response and Control
Manager Dr. German Gonzalez responded.
German Gonzalez, Health Department, described his role in responding to the
incident and how they will improve procedures for the future. He answered questions.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of whether there will be instances in which
they can only do their best, but not necessarily stop a pandemic.
Crawford asked and there was discussion of:
• Whether protocols are in place for proper response.
• Who is responsible for moving the package out of the building.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of community exposure to flu and whether
antiviral stores are still usable.
1. PUBLIC SESSION
No one spoke.
2. COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, stated she wants opinions and
guidance from the Board members. She referenced questions for the Board members listed
on the Discussion Form in the Board packet. These questions will also be asked to a larger
community forum on October 6 at St. Joseph's Hospital. She described how the key
findings were developed.
Board of Health, 10/4/2011, Page 1
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The following people answered questions:
• Astrid Newell, Health Department
• Chris Phillips, St. Joseph Hospital
• Greg Stern, Health Department
• Susan Sloan, Health Department
• Ann Deacon, Health Department
Mann asked and there was discussion of the data and terms used, including the
definition of poverty line and qualifications for Medicaid. Draw clearer conclusions from
those two data points.
Question 1: The Vision for Community Health
Mann stated he likes bullet items one, three, and four. Item two is good, but better -
define what access means and the County's role in ensuring access to people in need. Be
careful how far they go with providing access.
Knutzen stated most things are good and generic. Include something about self -
accountability and personal responsibility. Help the next generation break out from the
system.
Brenner stated she agrees with including a vision of personal responsibility. She
would like specific information on the federal cuts to services for children. Emphasize
teaching children skills and preventative measures. Focus on changing the next generation.
Also, find a compromise in child labor laws to allow kids to do some agricultural work, such
as berry picking after school.
Weimer stated the first two bullet items are his top priorities. Match needs based on
real data. He hasn't seen any data that problems with the social systems are due to people
who are milking the system. If they are going to put an item in about personal
responsibility, make sure there is data to back it up.
Knutzen stated add a vision item about encouraging and supporting nonprofit
agencies who support this community vision.
Brenner asked and there was discussion of:
• Information on the Lummi Health Clinic.
• Mental health issues and substance abuse issues.
• Whether there are single father families.
Mann asked if mothers below the poverty line are having proportionally more
children. The language should say that 16.3 percent of people in Whatcom County live in
households that are below the poverty line.
Brenner asked for information on or there was discussion of:
• How Whatcom County compares to State and national data.
• The disparity of median incomes between men and women.
• Whether the affordable housing data compares Whatcom County to other big
university towns, since the college kids and their friends and families may
skew the data.
• Be more specific in some of the presentation statements derived from the
data.
Board of Health, 10/4/2011, Page 2
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Crawford stated he disagrees with the statement regarding policy leaders providing
access to healthy environments.
Brenner stated and there was discussion of:
• Giving specific data instead of using subjective terms.
• The sampling protocol not including young people or poor people who only
have cell phones or don't have any phone.
• Grocery stores in rural areas and limited areas of more intense rural
development (LAMIRDs).
• The source of the data linking weight, age, and gender.
• Whether diabetes has something to do with ethnicity.
• Whether there is information on people who are underinsured.
• The source of Whatcom County data on doctors accepting Medicaid.
• Not including fluoride in the water.
• Whether data on childhood tooth decay in Asian children is local or State.
• Data of pertussis outbreaks prior to 2009.
• Whether the data on child abuse and neglect is due to better reporting in
Whatcom County.
• How long they've collected data on the suicide rate in Whatcom County.
Question 2: Surprising Key Findings (11:37:11 AM)
Mann stated reducing health disparities and inequities, mentioned in the assessment
overview, seems like a huge task. He asked where that comes from. The problem is the
income disparity, which is not something the Board of Health may be able to solve.
Crawford stated Finding 2 makes a sweeping assumption about the deterioration of
Lake Whatcom. Instead, add language, "Prevent phosphorous from entering Lake Whatcom
continues to challenge engineers with high costs and limited funding." He stated and there
was discussion of deleting the paragraph about the coal terminal.
Weimer stated change Finding 2, "Perceived concerns exist about water and air
quality... human develepngent interests."
Crawford asked and there was discussion of comparable counties as referenced in
Finding 3 regarding high school graduation rates.
Knutzen referenced Finding 3 and stated and there was discussion of differentiating
the standard of living between those ethnic people who join the American society and those
who refuse to integrate into society.
Brenner referenced Finding 4 and asked about the Whatcom Prosperity Project.
Mann referenced Finding 7 and stated it is the key finding most important to him. It
is also his priority for action and also provides leverage. It should be a more central theme
than the equity and fairness issues.
Brenner stated amend Finding 7, "€Iueride dental care."
Crawford referenced Finding 10 and the characterization of public leadership. He
doesn't understand what dialog is missing. Community leaders are very aware of and dialog
about social factors and equity.
Board of Health, 10/4/2011, Page 3
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Mann stated target the package of support at the children.
Brenner stated dialog is not generally missing from public leadership.
Mann stated there is a stereotype of women below the poverty line running around
and having children indiscriminately. He doesn't necessarily believe that stereotype. He
would like to know how many women are below and above the poverty line and how many
births below and above the poverty line.
Question 3: Priorities for Action and Question 4: Community Leverage (12:04:52 PM)
Delahunt stated this question is about areas where resources can be combined and
leveraged.
Brenner stated focus on children.
Knutzen stated he agrees on focusing on children. Create a mentor program to show
children the benefits of finishing school and applying themselves. Local charities do great
work, but are strapped for resources. The New Wave Ministry is a good example of an
organization that provides services and requires accountability.
Mann stated the new jail is an opportunity to develop mental health and drug
treatment services. Create something like a robust triage center at the jail.
Weimer stated he agrees that the well -being of children is a great priority, but it
can't be isolated from other services. Many people are willing to donate time and money if
they have a clear idea of where it's going.
Knutzen asked for statistics on kids of drug users and whether those kids are more
prone to drug abuse. He asked and there was discussion on whether they're prone if
they're removed from their home environment.
ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 12:13 p.m.
The Council approved these minutes on October 11 , 2011.
ATTEST:
WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Please contact the Council Office to obtain an
official, signed copy:
5 360- 676 -6690 or council4o.whatcom.wa.us
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Board of Health, 10/4/2011, Page 4