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Home My WebLink About09-01-05 BOH BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS September 1, 2005 Chairperson Lynda Ring Erickson called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Attendance: Commissioner, Lynda Ring-Erickson; Commissioner, Jayni Kamin; Commissioner, Tim Sheldon. ATTENDANCE Dr. Diana T. Yu, Health Officer Steve Kutz, Department of Health Director Kim Klint, Executive Director of Mason Matters Tom Moore, Utilities & Waste Management Emment Dolby, Department of Community Development Director C O R R E S P O N D E N C E None APPROVAL OF MINUTES None ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES HEALTH OFFICER’S REPORT Dr. Yu reported the bats are out in the community and there have been numerous encounters with them. She will provide information to the community about wild animal preparedness and what to do in the event people do encounter them. Dr. Yu has been working with a group of volunteer health care providers to provide support to the hurricane disaster area. The state health officials are dealing with the public health issues, water, sewer, health, food and other basic health issues. Mr. Steve Kutz, Health Department Head, spoke about the relationship between the health department and Mason Matters. In 1998 a Community Mobilzation Grant was received to start the Mason Matters relationship. He reviewed the requirements that the State Department of Health put on health departments. The requirements were assessments for monitoring the health status of the community, diagnose and investigate health problems and hazards, and to inform and educate people about health issues. The policy development issues are mobilized partnerships to solve community problems, support policy and plans to achieve health goals. The assurance is to enforce laws and regulations to achieve health goals, link people to needed personal health services, insure a skilled public health workforce, evaluate effectiveness, assess ability and quality of health services, and research and apply innovative solutions. MASON MATTERS – ANNUAL REPORT Ms. Kim Klint, Executive Director of Mason Matters, thanked the county and the health department for supporting Mason Matters. She announced the current Mason Matters Board members. In reviewing the goals and work that are entailed in her position, she noted the ConneXions project has become a large task this year. Ms. Klint explained the ConneXions program and how her role is to build the infrastructure. ConneXions is a community based program to help families connect to basic services in the community, and to network all the available resources into one pool. While working on the project Ms. Klint learned that the YMCA in Thurston County had been awarded an outreach contract for the federal food stamp program for people in Mason County. The outreach was not being done because of the rural nature of Mason County. This resulted in a loss estimated to be about three million dollars of eligible money for services in Mason County. The loss was caused by a lack good outreach. BOARD OF HEALTH PROCEEDINGS September 1, 2005 - PAGE 2 Cmmr. Sheldon asked if the ConneXions group had any paid staff. Ms. Klint stated it is a software tool that volunteers at the local churches and other community help locations would be able to input and retrieve data for mason county residents on resources available and also list all help already given to a person. Cmmr. Ring Erickson asked for clarification on two items in her report. Ms. Klint explained her report. She thanked the Board for supporting her position and said she really enjoys her job and appreciates the dedication that the county has for public health. Mr. Kutz stated that he gets many calls from other public health departments inquiring how the Mason Matters partnership was formed. He said the ConneXions project went live in July and there are nine sites currently using the software with an additional sixteen sites that will be set up. More than four hundred people have been enrolled in the database already. PERSONAL HEALTH ISSUES None ENVIROMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES None ENVIROMENTAL HEALTH WAIVERS/VARIANCES Submitted to the Board by Mr. Kutz. ADJOURNED The meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m. due to no further business. HEALTH OFFICER ______________________ Diana T. Yu, MD MSPH Mason County Health Officer BOARD OF HEALTH MASON COUNTY, WASHINGTON _______________________________ Lynda Ring Erickson, Chairperson _______________________________ Jayni Kamin, Commissioner _______________________________ Tim Sheldon, Commissioner