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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />March 27, 2003 <br />Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 2 March 27, <br />2003 <br />Orange County has a commitment to cultural diversity and competency of its <br />employees in recognition of the diverse cultures in the residents of the county. <br />The health department has had various trainings to enhance its cultural <br />competency since 1996. Over the past year and a half, the health department <br />has been intensively working on developing a direction for improving both <br />organizational and individual competencies for dealing with different cultures. <br />An employee work team has been working on this task and has developed a <br />report and recommendations. The co-chairs, Elvira Mebane and Sue Rankin, of <br />the team presented the work and findings to the Board. <br /> <br />Motion was made to commend the committee members for the work that was <br />done, to forward a report to the Commissioners, and issue a statement of support <br />of the mission of the United Village of Orange was made by Martha Stucker, <br />seconded by Alan Rimer, and carried without dissent. <br /> <br />B. Presentation and Discussion of 2003-2004 Budget Request <br /> <br />There are few changes from last year. The only changes in outcomes or <br />measures occurred if there were significant program changes. The total budget <br />request is $6,466,297. There are no new positions in the budget. There will be <br />a change in the dental budget, reflected by a reduction in professional contract <br />services and an increase in personnel due to the shift from the contract with the <br />dental school to a position for a dentist. That position is being developed and <br />will be on the April 15 Commissioners agenda for approval so that the <br />department can start recruiting now rather than waiting until July 1st. Creation <br />of the dentist is position is coupled with a reduction in the dental hygienist to <br />part -time to achieve a revenue neutral position. <br /> <br />Revenues in the current year are lower than projected. In order to balance the <br />budget, expenses have been held to the lowest level possible. <br /> <br />It is possible that a position in Intensive Home Visiting program, aimed at <br />preventing child abuse and neglect, will have to be cut because of elimination of <br />state funding. The department will seek these funds from grants or county <br />funding. <br /> <br />Also, the Community Health Awareness program, a lay health advisor training <br />program for hard to reach populations is in the same situation and will most <br />likely not be grant funded next year by Smart Start. That program will either be <br />cut or another source of funding will have to be found. <br /> <br />Motion to approve the budget and provide the director with flexibility to adjust <br />the request based on availability of grant funds was made by Jonathan Klein, <br />seconded by Alice White, and carried without dissent. <br /> <br />C. NC Consolidated Agreement for 2003-2004 <br /> <br />This is the annual agreement between the Division of Public Health, Department <br />of Health and Human Services, and the county on receiving state and federal <br />funds. There were no substantive changes to this year’s contract for existing <br />programs.