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HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

MINUTES

May 4, 2009

The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, May 4, 2009 @ 6:30p.m. in the Administration Building's Conference Room East. Chairman Jeffery L. Metzger, Sr., called the meeting to order. Members present were Eileen Dubin, John Emerson, Paul Stoddard and Rich Osborne. Ms. LaVigne was absent. Others present were Karen Grush, Mary Ramp, Marlene Allen and John Hulseberg.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

Moved by Mr. Emerson, seconded by Ms. Dubin, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from April 6, 2009.

Moved by Mr. Osborne, seconded by Mr. Stoddard, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from April 13, 2009.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

Chairman Metzger, Sr., said that he would be pulling the Executive Session from the agenda this evening.

Moved by Mr. Emerson, seconded by Mr. Stoddard, and it was carried unanimously to approve the amended agenda.

RESOLUTION FOR THE SENIOR SERVICES TAX LEVY ALLOCATIONS

Moved by Ms. Dubin, seconded by Mr. Stoddard, and it was carried unanimously to recommend the Senior Services Tax Levy allocations awarded at the April 13, 2009 committee meeting and to forward this recommendation on to the full board for approval.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR'S POSITION.

Chairman Metzger, Sr., briefly informed the committee that Mr. Bockman, DeKalb County Administrator, has advertised the Community Services Director's position in the local newspaper over the weekend. He said the Mr. Bockman will "weed" through the applications and will forward the remaining applications for this committee to review.

Ms. Mary Ramp, the current Director of the Community Services Department, said that she would be available to the committee for any questions that they may have and she would make herself available to attend any meetings that they may want her to during the interview process.

DEKALB COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL REPORT -- MS. KAREN GRUSH, DIRECTOR

Mrs. Karen Grush, Health Department Administrator, was present to provide the Annual Health Department Update. Mrs. Grush stated everyone had received a copy of the Health Department's Annual Report and she would be happy to answer any questions. She stated she would spend this time updating the Committee on what the Health Department has done this past week to address the Swine Flu outbreak, which is now classified as a Level 5 Pandemic.

Mrs. Grush reported that a Health Department staff team has been addressing this issue since Sunday, May 3, 2009. She explained why this is a new strain of virus and how it became to be known as Swine Flu and that there is currently no vaccine for it.

Mrs. Grush reported that the Health Department's role has been one of providing Health Provider and Public Information and Health Messages, Disease Surveillance and Case Investigation, and Coordination of the Strategic National Stockpile Supplies.

Mrs. Grush stated vast amounts of information have been released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Each day all health departments in the State have a conference call with IDPH. The Health Department has been in regular contact and consultation with Kish Health System, NIU, county schools, and the Health Department's Medical Director, Dr. Michael Thornton. The Health Department's role has been to keep abreast of Interim Guidelines as published by the above agencies and assist health care providers and organizations with interpretation. She indicated that it was a rapidly evolving changing situation. A recommendation could change in a matter of hours. She indicated local media has shown a great deal of interest and the Health Department submitted several media releases. A number of inquiries were received regarding cancellation of community events and activities. To date surveillance data to warrant cancellations or closings has not been warranted.

Mrs. Grush reported the Health Department has been very involved with disease surveillance and case investigation. It has kept abreast of Interim Guidelines as published by CDC and IDPH regarding testing and treatment and been in consultation with health care providers regarding the interim guidelines. A daily school attendance/absence surveillance procedure was developed and distributed to county schools to determine a sudden increase in illness in a particular school. To date DeKalb County has submitted six suspect samples to the State lab. One has been reported as probable and is currently at CDC for confirmation.

Mrs. Grush reported on Thursday evening DeKalb County received its first shipment of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). All counties in Illinois have received a limited supply of SNS supplies. Antiviral treatment medication and masks were received.  There are very specific guidelines for use of these supplies. The medication is for seriously ill people and ill people who are at high risk because of underlying medical conditions and who do not insurance or the financial resources to pay for it. There are very specific guidelines as to who can dispense it due to pharmacy licensing regulations.

Mrs. Grush reported that the Health Department has been doing emergency planning for some time. She reported the planning done has been invaluable in this experience. It has also provided us with many "lessons" learned that we will address once we get through this initial period. Mrs. Grush reported that CDC is concerned about what changes this virus might under go and what its impact might be come fall during the normal flu season.

Mrs. Grush explained that the Health Department is scheduled to participate in a metro medication distribution exercise in June 09 and the northern part of Illinois is scheduled for a full exercise in 2010. Mr. Stoddard asked why wait till 2010 and perhaps we should have a local exercise over the summer. Now would be a good time to do one when people's interest is peaked and volunteers could be sought. Mrs. Grush indicated that these exercises take an enormous amount of planning and coordination and that the Health Department does not have the staffing resources to do this over the summer.

Mrs. Grush commended the Health Department staff and the community partners that have been working on this outbreak event.

STIMULUS MONEY UPDATE - MARY RAMP, DIRECTOR OF THE DEKALB COUNTY COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Ms. Ramp said that the clients that they have seen in her department have almost doubled, for the month of April, than they have ever seen before. Ms. Ramp will be going to Springfield tomorrow to find out more information on the stimulus money. Her department can't keep up with the workload unless they can get another staff person. The only problem in hiring a new person for her department is that she cannot guarantee that person they will have a job once the stimulus funds are gone. She said that some of the stimulus funds would also help with economic development where her department could help out people who want to create new businesses with start-up funds. Once she receives the stimulus information and guideline she will be able to forward the information to the committee via email.

ADJOURNMENT

Moved by Mr. Stoddard, seconded by Mr. Osborne, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

Respectively submitted,

 

 

                                                _________________________________  

                                                Chairman Jeffery L. Metzger, Sr.

 

_____________________________ 

Mary C. Supple, Secretary