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MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br /> October 29, 2025 <br /> Dr. Stuebe thanked Dr. Royce for helping keep the vacant board position in top of mind. <br /> X. Reports and Discussion with Possible Action <br /> A. Media Items <br /> Libbie Hough, Communications Manager, presented the media packet to the board. Topics <br /> included: a new affordable housing tracker in Chapel Hill, advocacy by health care organizations <br /> opposing Medicaid cuts, expansion of a holistic crisis response team, and bird flu tracking <br /> efforts. <br /> Board members applauded the format in which Ms. Hough now organizes the media items. <br /> Media items were in the packet, which focused on Orange County's events, our <br /> involvement in various efforts, and various public health topics. <br /> B. Bi-Annual Advisory Board Summary Report <br /> Jean Phillips-Weiner, BOH Strategic Plan Manager, presented the Bi-Annual Advisory Board <br /> Summary Report. She explained that activities of all programs in the Community Health <br /> Services division have been added to this iteration of the report, including Family Success <br /> Alliance (FSA), Family Home Visiting (FHV), and Formerly Incarcerated Transitions (FIT). This <br /> addition has increased the number of boards and broadened some of the reach; Ms. Phillips- <br /> Weiner added that funding cuts have affected the activities of a handful of boards. <br /> In response to Dr. Royce's question, Ms. Phillips-Weiner explained that the report is meant to <br /> serve as a resource for Board members which keeps them informed of existing partnerships <br /> and connections that the Health Department has with local organizations. She added that if <br /> Board members are aware of local organizations that the Health Department is not working with, <br /> they should feel free to make suggestions and promote additional potential partnerships. <br /> C. Health Directors Report <br /> Ms. Stewart presented her report to the Board. Below are brief highlights of her report. <br /> • Ms. Stewart reiterated that the funding for SNAP will be running out at the beginning of <br /> November, and some states have been declaring a state of emergency in anticipation so <br /> they can access additional emergency funds and help keep benefits available. <br /> Additionally, she noted that it's important to keep food banks stocked. In response to Dr. <br /> Royce's question, Ms. Stewart affirmed that SNAP benefits will be cut by 25% in 2027 <br /> regardless of the outcome of the current government shutdown, a cut which will cost <br /> Orange County $900K. Commissioner Fowler commented that these are not good times <br /> and that the BOCC will work to do what they can to prioritize people's ability to access <br /> food. Dr. Stuebe commented that Orange County is better resourced than other areas of <br /> the state and country, meaning that it's bad here but terrible in other places, to which <br /> Commissioner Fowler agreed, noting that rural communities will be hit particularly hard. <br /> She added that for years the state government has been paying less towards public <br /> services and now the federal government is doing so too, leading to more and more <br /> burden on local governments. Dr. Rodgers observed the parallels to the Jim Crow South <br /> and how there are people working without being paid and people who cannot access <br /> food, saying that it is heartbreaking that kids are going to be going hungry over political <br /> S:\Managers Working Files\BOH\Agendas &Abstracts\2025 Agenda and Abstracts\ <br /> October Page 9 <br />