By JULIE CARLE
BG Independent News
The Wood County Health Department will become the administrator of more than $2.2 million in grant funds for local agencies to support their COVID-19 recovery efforts.
At Thursday’s Board of Health meeting, members allowed for the pass-through of grant funds from the Ohio Department of Heath to the Wood County Health Department to oversee the distribution and administration of Covid detection and mitigation money for three congregate living settings and four confinement facilities in the county.
“We need the board to authorize the movement of the funds,” Wood County Health Commissioner Ben Robison explained.
The grants for the living settings have been approved for up to $1 million for Wood Haven, $450,000 for The Cocoon Shelter and more than $195,000 for Brookdale. The confinement facilities that will receive funds include Wood County Jail, up to $250,000; Northwest Community Corrections Center, up to $170,000; and the Juvenile Retention Center and the Juvenile Detention Center, up to $80,000 each.
Robison said the funds will not be released to the agencies until they have submitted an approved spending plan and the health department has received the monies from the state health department. The WCHD expects to receive the funds in August to then be passed on to the agencies once they have completed their plans.
“We have the opportunity to request up to 10% of the grant to help cover administrative costs,” Robison said. “We are to provide fiscal oversight and assure completion.”
The dental services of the community health center have seen a decrease in the number of patients and revenue compared to a year ago. A staffing shortage has contributed to the lower numbers, along with patients who don’t show up for scheduled appointments. The health department is one of the few local dental services that accept Medicaid.
Currently, a dental hygienist is available about 24 hours a week. The center has been seeking a full-time hygienist to increase the potential number of clients seen each week. However, because they have had trouble hiring a full-time hygienist, the board on Thursday agreed to create two part-time dental hygienist positions if necessary to assist in filling the position.
Board member Bob Strow questioned if transportation is contributing to the no-shows. ”Unless something has changed, we are often the last hope of resort here for people in these categories. We need to make sure we are taking care of them and have a game plan moving forward.”
“We need to find the best ways to maximize services and profitability,” said board member Bob Midden. A summary report about the dental services was requested for the August board meeting.
In other action, the board:
- Renewed the biennial contract with the state health department to continue the Smoke-free Workplace program through fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The county health department conducts complaint investigations and is reimbursed by the state.
- Approved up to $1,000 for an Infant Care and Nursing Station at the Wood County Fair. The space, which will be staffed by WIC staff, will include a nursing-friendly chair, changing table and diaper supplies in a cool, clean and safe environment for breastfeeding families. The service has been provided at the fair by the WCHD for several years.
- Accepted the resignation of registered environmental health specialist Kendra Wise and thanked her for being “a valued member of the department since 2018.”
- Agreed to transfer $453,019.08 from the Health District Levy Fund to cover the previous six months of expenditures or services for nursing, sewage, Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Women Infants and Children, and water. They also approved an advance of $50,000. from the levy fund to the WIC fund to cover a balance deficit until the quarterly grant payments are received. The advance will be returned to the levy fund once the funds are received by about Aug. 1.
- Approved agreements with the Association of Ohio Health Commissioners for public health emergency preparedness consulting, and with RETHINK RESPONSE LLC for emergency preparedness planning support.
- Accepted updated policies for purchasing, credit cards and petty cash, pending approval from the Wood County prosecuting attorney. The policies will help the health department align with the county once efforts are completed to update its accounting software, Robison said.
- Learned the new Narcan vending machine, which is funded primarily through a Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services grant, is expected to be installed outside of the health department building later this month. The health department provides the location, electricity and internet connection for the machine’s functionality.
