Approved Minutes of May 28, 2025

Browse Search

MINUTES-Draft ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH May 28, 2025 caseworkers are only required to fill out the sections of the tool related to the specific category of death. The data from this form will be aggregated and used to determine how to prevent future deaths and to help educate policy makers and the general public. Dr. Royce asked who will use the data, to which Ms. Barnes replied that the goal is for there to be access to county-level data for each county in North Carolina. Commissioner Fowler commented that it sounded like someone may be doing research, leading to the increase in detail. In response to Mr. Whitaker's question, Ms. Barnes said that while there may be a goal to create a national database of child fatalities, an agreement would be needed for everyone to access the data. • The Orange County Local Team met five times in 2024 and reviewed ten cases. There was robust discussion about water safety and pool signage, though there were no systemic causes identified, and most cases were related to birth defects or perinatal conditions, which are no longer required to be reviewed. Dr. Royce expressed concern at this decision, saying that birth defects are often related to environmental exposures, may be preventable, and that not investigating them could represent a gap in data. She recommended revisiting the decision to stop reviewing birth defect and perinatal cases. Dr. Pickett asked why review of perinatal and fetal deaths is no longer required and if they are still being reviewed by some other committee, echoing that this could still reflect a systemic issue. Ms. Barnes affirmed that the local team will always have the option to elect to review a case and that it is likely that they will continue to review these cases as barriers to prenatal care is a topic of concern in Orange County. Dr. Stuebe commented that uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy can be a big risk factor for birth defects or prenatal death and added that the State Birth Defects Monitoring Program does collect data and perform analysis on deaths related to birth defects. • Over the past year, Child Fatality Task Force funding provided car seats for families that were in need, Pack N Plays to help reduce the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and in collaboration with Family Success Alliance (FSA) provided life jackets, vouchers for swim lessons, and hosted a water safety class in May of 2025. • Dr. Nickelson asked who specifically will decide which cases to review, to which Ms. Barnes replied that it will most likely be her. Dr. Nickelson suggested there should be a system of continuity established so that if Ms. Barnes should ever leave her current position there won't be a significant change in case management. Ms. Stewart commented that the culture of the committee should help with continuity. B. Opioid Settlement/Harm Reduction Update Tonya Stancil, Harm Reduction Coordinator, presented an update on the Opioid Settlement and harm reduction efforts at Orange County Health Department. Some highlights of her presentation are below: • The Opioid Advisory Committee has been charged with discussing opioid-related health concerns and issues impacting the residents of Orange County; advising the Board of Commissioners on options to expend funds to prevent opioid abuse and remedy opioid impacts; and planning and hosting an annual meeting open to the public to receive input on proposed uses of the settlement funds and to encourage collaboration between local governments. The next annual meeting will be held on August 16th at Freedom House. • The Committee is made up of members from many local organizations and community groups, including healthcare providers, education and employment service providers, healthcare payers and funders, stakeholders with lived experience, members of law enforcement, and directors from the Health Department, Emergency Services, and the Department of Aging. S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agendas &Abstracts\2025 Agenda and Abstracts/ May Page 5