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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Patsy L. Bateman 3 SEPTEMBER 24, 1998 Questions were raised regarding the addition of a coordinating layer to already existing county functions, rather than creating a new layer of bureaucracy through the creation of this department. The Board of Health would like to have a clearer definition of the scope, purpose, and staffing responsibilities of this new department. Margaret Brown invited the drafting of specific language to be included in the proposal. The Board directed the health director to draft language to submit to the commissioners that reflects this discussion. IV. HEALTH DIRECTOR’S REPORT A. JOINT MEETING WITH DSS BOARD (HEALTH CHOICE OUTREACH PLAN) A joint meeting with the DSS Board is scheduled for October 8, 1998 at 5:30pm in the Library Conference Room. Participation in this meeting for Board of Health members is encouraged. The Orange County Health Choice Outreach Plan will be reviewed. Included in that plan will be an approval for the use of $1,400 that the state has allocated to OCHD from the Women’s and Children’s Division, specifically to be used for outreach activities. The plan is to use the funds to support training agency staff to assist potential applicants in completing the application forms and to pay for publicity. The state is developing materials for county use, however, their materials won’t be available until after October 1st. Also included in the Orange County plan will be a proposal for two positions for DSS to manage the enrollment process. One of the positions will be a time-limited position that will expire at the end of the fiscal year. The other position is a request for a permanent intake position. The time-limited position is intended to take care of the first year of increased applications in the Health Choice Program as well as Medicaid. People will be applying for both programs at the same time. This plan is also anticipated to include a fee schedule for the Health Department clinical services in child health. Barbara Chavious noted that, at a North Carolina Association of Local Health Directors meeting last week, the Orange County Health Department was recognized by Tom Vitaglione as being “ahead” of other counties in N.C. in implementation of Health Choice and would be a good resource for other counties. Flyers included in the Board of Health packet regarding Health Choice have been distributed at community events and are now in Orange County Schools, posted on bulletin boards, etc. Two training sessions were held for various agency staff with 90 people from across the county attending. The long-term education need with Health Choice needs to be addressed. The state is interested in improving the health of the population. Monitoring is needed in utilization of children who sign up for this program. The continuing work of the task force will be moved to the Needs of Children Committee of the Healthy Carolinians Council. B. HEALTHY CAROLINIANS CERTIFICATION The state task force committee on certification has recommended the Orange County Healthy Carolinians Council for certification and that will be awarded at their annual meeting on October 13th at a luncheon in Greensboro. Information regarding this annual meeting was included in the Board of Health packet in August. On October 16th there will be a luncheon at the Southern Human Services Center for the new and retiring Orange County steering committee members.