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MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br /> June 25, 2025 <br /> Mr. Bagby said that he recalls attending his first meeting of the Board of Health while he was <br /> gauging his interest in applying to serve. He added that at the time he was still working at Blue <br /> Cross and Blue Shield, and while a lot has changed since then he is glad to have had the <br /> opportunity to serve on the Board of Health. He added that it is currently a tough time for <br /> everyone, and he will keep doing whatever he can to help, but that he intends to reclaim his <br /> Saturdays, as he has been coaching or refereeing every weekend for forty years now. <br /> Ms. Stewart thanked Mr. Bagby for all his service and for always showing up for Health <br /> Department events, to which Mr. Bagby replied that it was his pleasure. <br /> IV. Priority Committee Updates <br /> Access to Care Committee <br /> Dr. Pickett provided an update for the Access to Care Committee. The Photovoice project is <br /> underway, and the committee is working with individuals experiencing homelessness, <br /> individuals living in low-income or public housing, and individuals with limited English proficiency <br /> (LEP). The committee has hosted two virtual photovoice sessions with a small group with LEP, <br /> and staff will be meeting with them a final time tomorrow to share back the findings. Additionally, <br /> staff met with a small group of folks living unhoused in the Southern part of the county last <br /> Monday and will meet with them again next Thursday to share back the findings. The committee <br /> had scheduled a session with a mixed group of individuals who are living either unhoused or in <br /> low-income/public housing but unfortunately, no community members were able to attend due to <br /> unexpected last-minute obstacles. The committee has contacted those folks and invited them to <br /> submit individual photographs and short explanations instead. The committee is also working <br /> with Family Success Alliance (FSA) navigators to encourage eligible community members to <br /> submit individual photographs with short descriptions. The discussions held with community <br /> members have been rich and complex and committee members are excited to analyze the <br /> findings and share them with others in the future. The committee will next meet in late August. <br /> Behavioral Health Committee <br /> Dr. Nickelson provided an update for the Behavioral Health Committee. The committee met <br /> earlier this month and made plans for Commissioner Fowler and Dr. Jonnal's interview on 97.9 <br /> The Hill WCHL/Chapelboro.com, which took place on June 20th. The group discussed <br /> additional ways to promote screen-free activities among community members and planned to <br /> pivot their primary focus to learning more about how to support an increase in the number of <br /> mental healthcare providers in Orange County, especially diverse providers. The committee will <br /> invite El Futuro to present on this topic at a future meeting. Committee members also planned a <br /> Hillsborough's Last Friday event for the end of September to promote Suicide Awareness <br /> Month. Regarding equity, Dr. Nickelson shared that the group specifically discussed the <br /> disproportionate impact of suicide on Black men and efforts to reach that population. The <br /> committee will next meet in early September. <br /> Commissioner Fowler added that she had invited members of the Healthy Carolinian's <br /> Behavioral Health subcommittee to collaborate on the Last Friday event. <br /> S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agendas &Abstracts\2025 Agenda and Abstracts/ <br /> June Page 2 <br />