HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoard of Health June 30 20091 WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
2 Board of Health
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4 June 30, 2009
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6 Council Chair Seth Fleetwood called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Council
7 Chambers, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
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10 Present: Absent:
11 Barbara Brenner Carl Weimer
12 Bob Kelly L. Ward Nelson
13 Sam Crawford
14 Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
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16 1. PUBLIC SESSION
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18 Bruce Diele, citizen, stated there is no one to go to regarding misdiagnosis of a
19 medical condition. He explained his medical conditions and potential health threats. He is
20 very angry for being laughed at.
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22 Fleetwood stated the big question is whether the Board of Health can do anything as
23 a matter of policy. They will discuss it with the Health Department officials. At this point,
24 there isn't anything the Board can do.
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26 2. HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUDGET IMPACTS
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28 Regina Delahunt, Health Department Director, stated they will talk today about the
29 Health Department programs, community. programs, and community services. Budget
30 changes have impacted the department. She anticipates future changes.
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32 All public health jurisdictions are reconsidering public health's role in the community.
33 The State Department of Health contracts for an assessment of the jurisdictions every two
34 years. They look at what the jurisdiction knows about the health status of the community
35 and how the jurisdiction communicates that information to the community. It also
36 considers how they involve the public in health decisions; how they plan for and respond to
37 emergencies; whether there are community programs for staying well; how they address
38 gaps in services, and; whether programs are based on data and monitored.
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40 The County's evaluation was last done at the end of 2008. They recently received
41 those results. Whatcom County had the highest score in the entire state. This community
42 will have to make changes due to the recent economy. She described the history of the
43 Health District and Health Department's role. They are in a good position to make changes.
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45 She referenced the staffing changes in the Board packet and described the changes.
46 Due to changed staffing levels and attrition goals, they will be down by 15 percent next
47 year. They must do things differently. That's what they'll talk about tonight.
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49 Brenner stated there shouldn't be across-the-board hiring freezes and attrition goals.
50 The Council should make decisions based on the budget. Also, the Health Department has
51 many essential public services. It is a high priority department. However, she does like
52 some of the changes she's noticed.
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Board of Health, 6/30/2009, Page 1
1 Caskey- Schreiber stated she would like to know what services and programs are
2 mandated of the Health Department. Delahunt stated the management team has started to
3 define those mandates. They will provide more specifics later.
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5 Fleetwood asked to know the purpose of each position that is vacant.
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7 Brenner stated she would like to know which mandates the Health Department would
8 rather not do, if given the choice. Fund critical areas. Not all areas are critical.
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10 Community Health
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12 Astrid Newell, Health Department, described the community health programs. She
13 read through the Community Health Budget Impacts 2009 in the Board packet.
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15 Brenner asked about a State announcement that the State is reconfiguring its
16 funding, and low income residents would still be served with immunizations. She would like
17 to hear the State's justification for its decisions. The insurance for those who aren't low
18 income will begin to pick up the cost of the immunizations, which is fine. She's glad to
19 know that low income children will still receive immunizations. Find that type of middle
20 ground on a lot of these issues.
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22 Newell stated most Community Health programs are important, but aren't mandated.
23 They are reevaluating their role in the community. She described the Nurse Family
24 Partnership best practice model, which is a program they aren't doing now. The Obama
25 administration is endorsing the program, and there may be funding for it.
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27 Delahunt stated they are reconsidering the First Steps program model. It may not
28 be worth it to provide just a few hours of service to more families. Rather, provide more
29 hours of service to a few higher risk families. Those are the types of questions they are
30 dealing with as things change.
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32 Caskey- Schreiber stated she would like to maintain programs for infants rather than
33 programs for adults, such as the anti - smoking program, which they really won't make much
34 of a dent in. Delahunt stated they, can still have strong programs in the community by
35 building a good system with their partners.
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37 Disease Response and Control
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39 Fleetwood asked the percentage of the entire department that is in this division.
40 Delahunt stated it is the smallest division. She described the tasks of this division and read
41 the information in the Board packet. They no longer have anyone with an epidemiology
42 background, due to a vacancy from attrition. Impacts of the State budget reductions
43 haven't been too great on this division. Most of the programs, in this division are required,
44 but are mostly funded locally. Not a lot of money comes from the State for disease
45 response and control, but the County received some funding a couple of years ago. It was
46 reduced by 20 percent, so there will be some staff and service reductions.
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48 Brenner asked the State legislature's justification for reducing these funds. This is a
49 health and moral obligation. It's a high priority. She asked to have a presentation from
50 their State representatives.
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52 Crawford stated it's all political. They can't hold the actions of one representative to
53 the action of the entire legislature.
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Board of Health, 6/30/2009, Page 2
1 Brenner asked if stimulus money is available for emergency planning. Delahunt
2 stated money is out there. They may get some. It hasn't been decided. This information
3 presented today is just for money they are already getting.
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5 Delahunt continued to read the information in the packet regarding program and
6 policy implications to the disease response and control budget.
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8 There was discussion on how the influenza pandemic has been handled.
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10 Delahunt stated don't make radical cuts to disease response and control. It is
11 already very lean, and they are the ones who handle emergencies.
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13 Human Services
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15 Ann Deacon, Health Department, described the programs in the human services
16 division. The mandates in this division come in the form of entitlements. She read the
17 material in the Board packet. They want to fund infrastructure that will last through difficult
18 economic times. Partner more with other agencies to provide blended funding for certain
19 programs and services. The mental health advisory committee will discuss how much funds
20 should be supplanted.
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22 Environmental Health
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24 John Wolpers, Health Department, read the information in the Board packet
25 regarding the Environmental Health budget. Effective tomorrow the State eliminated all
26 funding to the County for group B water systems. Only about 2,700 people in the
27 community have a group B water system. The long -range question is whether the County
28 should continue the group B system program if the State doesn't deem it important. The
29 State Department of Ecology provides a lot of funding for the solid waste programs. Most
30 environmental health programs are mandated.
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32 Fleetwood asked the process by which they will decide about the group B water
33 system program. He asked if they will consider it between now and January, and come
34 back to the Board for approval. Delahunt stated she would like to talk further to the Public
35 Health Advisory Board about the program. Decide if group B water system review for only
36 2,700 residents is really worth it from the public health perspective. Now, one FTE is
37 dedicated to service those 2,700 residents.
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39
40 ADJOURN
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42 The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.
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46 Jill Ni`gt�)INI� �§��n scription
47 ��'� O
48 J•yAL ,6yed these minutes on July 21 , 2009.
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50 'Attu ? cOUNTY �O WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
51 • _ WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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55 Daft Browh• I s, C cil Clerk Fle-ety od, Council Chair
Board of Health, 6130/2009, Page 3
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