Grundy County Board of Health met May 18

By Angelica Saylo Pilo

Jul 26, 2022

Grundy County Board of Health met May 18.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

I. Call to Order

Attendee Name

Title

Status

Arrived

Dick Joyce

Board of Health Vice President

Excused

Eric Rasmusson

Board Member

Absent

Ann Marie Struck

Board of Health Member

Excused

Joan Harrop

Board of Health Member

Excused

Leticia Setrini-Best

Board of Health Member

Excused

Dana Howd

Board of Health Member

Excused

Dean Marketti

Board of Health President

Present

Kathy Ulivi

Board of Health Secretary

Present

The May 18th, 2022 Board of Health Meeting was conducted as informational due to lack of quorum. The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM with the pledge of the flag. Also attending were: Michelle Pruim; Public Health Administrator, Megan Black; Director of Office Management and Darcy Jasien; Director of Behavioral Health. Absent from the meeting was: Kathryn Harrison; Director of Nursing, Laura Wells; Director of Environmental Health and Tania Schwer; Director of Senior Programs.

II. Public Portion

No public portion

III. Approval of Agenda**

Approval of the May 18th, 2022 Board of Health Agenda wasn't conducted due to lack of quorum.

IV. Approval of BOH minutes**

Approval of the April 20th, 2022 Board of Health Minutes weren't conducted due to lack of quorum.

1. Board of Health - Regular Meeting - Apr 20, 2022 6:30 PM

V. Health Department Operations Report

1. Health Department Operations Report

Administration: The Health Department has job vacancies for various positions. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online. The Health Department participated in a county wide 'job crawl' to promote the vacancies to recruit potential candidates for the open positions. Discussion continues on the county using American Rescue Plan Act funding to provide building space that the Health Department will occupy. Efforts on the building space have been used towards securing a company for the request for proposal. There has been focus towards recruitment and retention within the department. On May 19, the staff will participate in a 'Tools and Team Building' workshop that promotes communication and team work. The Health Department will be closed on the afternoon of May 19 while the staff members participate in the workshop. Covid-19 continues to remain active in the county, remaining at a medium level. The CDC recommends for medium level counties to ensure that community members are receiving booster vaccines for anyone interested and encourage all residents to wear masks while indoors. The Health Department continues to host COVID-19 walk-in vaccine clinics as needed. All interested residents inquiring about a COVID-19 vaccine should contact the Health Department to secure an appointment on our Tuesday and Thursday clinics or to receive information on our walk-in clinics.

Nursing: It was reported that severe hepatitis in children has been identified around the country. As of now, there are no cases of hepatitis in children living in Grundy County. The CDC encourages parents of children who may see signs of liver inflammation that causes symptoms of fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark urine, light colored stool, joint pain and jaundice to contact their general practitioner. In 2022, Grundy County and neighboring counties have seen increases of gonorrhea and syphilis. The Nursing Division would like to remind all residents that free contraceptives in brown bags are available in our clinic during regular hours of operation. The Pfizer booster has been approved for anyone five year and older. Boosters can be given five months after the primary series has ended. There was discussion of increased pricing for our vaccine costs. In June, we hope to discuss more information with the Board of Health regarding the cost increases.

Environmental Health: The Environmental Health Division has one full-time Sanitarian position vacant for interested candidates. The division is also seeking a temporary intern for the summer time months. The intern will assist the division with West Nile Virus job responsibilities, including but not limited too, monitoring and collecting mosquito's from traps located around the Grundy County area, freezing and testing the mosquito's on a regular basis and assist with other duties as assigned for our vector surveillance program. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will be assisting with the West Nile Virus program until an intern has been selected. The division has been preparing for their Local Health Protection review by working with IDPH about expectations and questions of the review.

Behavioral Health: The division has had one full-time therapist give resignation and continues to have one grant funded part time psychiatric nursing position. The division will soon be getting more funding for the Sanford Teen grant to assist with teen mental health through out the county. The funding will be utilized for two staff members to attend a training focused on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. The therapy is based on changing the processes of your brain to deal with trauma through therapy and has been proved to be more effective than talk therapy. Also with the Sanford Teens grant funds, the division has partnered with retired art teacher, Joan Workman, to hold art classes through out the summer months for children and teens who are interested. The division will also be hosting a gardening class for interested children and teens. Darcy Jasien; Director of Behavioral Health and Michelle Pruim; Public Health Administrator, attended their second meeting related to the new crisis care model for the state of Illinois. There is much emphasis to learn about the statistics of the model because there is interest in Grundy County operating a center for people to use when they are in a crisis.

Senior Programs: The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) confirmed Medicare Insurance Plans can change what they charge members for drugs. Analysis found that the list prices for the 75 brand-name drugs most frequently prescribed to Medicare beneficiaries had risen as much as 8%. We’ll share this fact with clients during open enrollment.

RESULT: INFORMATIONAL ONLY

VI. Claims

Approval of the Health Department May 2022 Claims weren't conducted due to lack of quorum.

VII. Health Department Financial Report

Approval of the Health Department Financial Report wasn't conducted due to lack of quorum. 1. Health Department Financial Report

RESULT: INFORMATIONAL ONLY

VIII. Old Business

No old business was discussed

IX. New Business

1. AM 52: Formal Line of Executive Succession, Training/Development

RESULT: INFORMATIONAL ONLY

2. AM 55: Infectious Disease Policy