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16 <br /> with local organizations and businesses to develop COVID Safety Plans to <br /> ensure their activities are carried out in the safest way possible during the <br /> COVID-19 pandemic. <br /> ➢ OCHD in partnership with OC Healthy Carolinians successfully <br /> completed the 2019 Community Health Assessment. Through an <br /> extensive community process of surveys, focus groups, and input <br /> sessions, the community identified three priority health issues that will be <br /> addressed for 2020 — 2024. Priority Areas include: <br /> 1) Access to Care, <br /> 2) Health Behaviors <br /> 3) Health Equity <br /> ➢ COVID Response: OCHD is engaged with community partners in <br /> addressing social determinant of health needs within the community. The <br /> department: <br /> o Created the Joint Information Command (JIC) team that met weekly <br /> to plan, implement, and distribute equitable information to educate <br /> the community on COVID-19. <br /> o Created the Communicators Group — a collaborative of <br /> communication personnel across county departments, municipality <br /> departments, and various other organizations to ensure COVID-19 <br /> messaging is succinct, equitable, and aligned. <br /> o Collaborates with various departments to address housing and <br /> homelessness issues related to COVID-19. <br /> o OCHD's Environmental Health Division worked tirelessly to keep <br /> area businesses and restaurants informed of COVID-19 mandates <br /> and to ensure they had the resources needed to make informed <br /> operational decisions. <br /> Physical Activity and Nutrition <br /> ➢ The Board awarded Orange County Schools two Physical Activity <br /> and Nutrition grants totaling $2,000 (prior to COVID). The funds will <br /> support the Dropping Seeds in Motion program which offers interactive <br /> science based workshops that integrate learning through <br /> movement/dance and the FUNctional Wellness program which will offer <br /> OCS staff the opportunity to take FUNctional wellness, Tai Chi, and Med <br /> instead of Meds classes. <br /> COVID Response: The department collaborated with several county <br /> organizations including OC DSS, OC schools, and other local groups to <br /> ensure that families in OC had access to food during COVID-19. <br /> Substance Abuse and Mental Health <br /> The Board began a process of exploration and information gathering <br /> in their consideration of a proposed rule to prohibit the use of E- <br /> Cigarettes in indoor public places. Assistance with the exploration was <br /> led by Tobacco Program Manager, Rita Krosner, who consulted with UNC <br /> School of Government and the state Tobacco Prevention and Control <br /> Branch. <br />