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MINUTES - Draft <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />June 26, 2019 <br />S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agenda & Abstracts\2019 Agenda & Abstracts/ June Page 3 <br />o Social circumstance equates to 28% <br />o Individual behavior equates to 7% <br />• 3.0 Opportunities for Public Health Leaders <br />o Emphasize health for people, places and the planet <br />o Apply data and analytical tools <br />o Address disparities and inequalities <br />o Protect individuals, families, neighbors and communities <br />o Engage policy, practice and regulatory partnerships to protect and promote the <br />public’s health <br /> <br />The BOH had questions that were addressed by Ms. Upshaw. <br /> <br />B. Formerly Incarcerated Transition Program (FIT) Update <br /> <br />Henry “Tommy” Green, Community Health Aide, gave an update on the FIT program. He began <br />by defining the FIT program and its purpose. Below are some highlights: <br /> <br />• FIT program was designed to connect formerly incarcerated people with a chronic <br />condition to health care services via the help of a community health worker (CHW). It <br />mirrors the Transitions Clinic in California and involves CHWs that were more easily able <br />to relate to the clientele due to having had similar circumstances. <br />• Other community re-entry resources are available to help with a comprehensive re-entry <br />plan. The FIT program works with its partners and assists clients with finding housing, <br />employment and getting into substance abuse programs. <br />• FIT program partners include OC Local Reentry Council, Community Empowerment <br />Fund, NC Works, Interfaith Council and Dr. Bill Price. <br />• Currently, Orange, Durham, Wake and Mecklenburg counties have FIT programs. <br />• Some data given included: <br />o Serious mental illness is 2 to 4 times higher in state prisons than in the community. <br />o Out of a study of 1,100 people exiting imprisonment, 80% of men and 90% of <br />women had a chronic disease that required management including heart disease, <br />diabetes, HIV, Hepatitis C and kidney disease. <br />• To be eligible for the FIT program, one must be an Orange County resident, recently <br />released from prison or jail within the last 2 years and diagnosed with a chronic illness to <br />include mental health and substance abuse/misuse. <br />• Some of the challenges faced are homelessness, recidivism, food insecurity, <br />unemployment and mental health problems. Mr. Green stated that the FIT program has <br />a psychiatrist, Dr. Bill Price, who sees his clients for free. <br />• Current case load is 32 clients with 3 new intakes coming soon of which 26 are active <br />cases. The recidivism rate is almost 10%. <br />• Some of the desired outcomes to decrease recidivism for the FIT program include; <br />improve client health outcomes, empower clients to become knowledgeable about their <br />health and take control, and increase adherence to use of medications and treatment <br />plans. <br />• Some future goals for the FIT program include: <br />o By 2020, County Funds will represent 100% of the funding for the program. <br />o The Governor’s Reentry Council has taken a special interest in the FIT program. <br />There is the expectation that the FIT program will be included on the Final Reentry <br />Report as a top recommendation for the Statewide Reentry Effort. <br />o OC FIT CHW to be the lead FIT CHW for NC.