Board of Health - Regular Meeting

[Music] We can all stand. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. [Music] Good afternoon. Good evening. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend, long weekend. Um, thank you for joining us. If we can have a motion to re uh to approve the minutes from our last meeting if you've all had the opportunity to review. Motion to approve. Thank you.

Second. Okay. Dr. Boxel, yes. Michelle, yes. Sylvia, yes. Dr. Osan, yes. Terry, yes. Thank you. Thank you. Next board meeting is scheduled for October 7th and move on to any new visits. No new visit, no old visits. Straightforward. Jacob's joining us this month. Uh any report from the board of three?

Well, no, not really. I've already walked around and reintroduced my self uh to a handful of people. Uh it's been about um about 8 months since I've been here. Um Dave has is going to be uh our our contract for the attorneys is already such that I'm a backup on the contractor. The blastly tab proposing department generally is the backup. I'm specifically who is the backup and so uh I anticipate being here more often going forward. Um, and for anything that's communications that you intend for D for Dave to see, it's okay for you to copy me on that as well going forward. And that means that Dave isn't someone who necessarily sees the emails directly anyway. So, I will see those originally. It will give you uh the opportunity to have a some responses much quicker. Uh especially if it's a contractor, if it's something that needs an emergency look at, do we need to take care of this today or can we take care of this tomorrow? Um so, that would be that'll be helpful. That's not it's not much of an issue. It doesn't mean I'm any more correct. In fact, I may have to give you two emails. The second one being like, I did eventually talk to Dave and he told me I was wrong. Uh, that's happened before. So, uh, but it'll at least give you a quicker response on, um, as far as anything with regard to this one. I looked at with this meeting. I did look at the agenda beforehand. It doesn't look like there's any specific contracts for me to review in this cycle. Um, we do have some that are coming up. Um, and I'm excited about working with you guys again.

That is the attorney report. Thank you for stepping up. Yeah, we appreciate it. It seems like stepping up was making fun of Dave directly. No, no, I was worried about him. All right, so we claims and receipts have made their way around. We have a lengthy one this time. Mhm. Um, we can have a motion to approve our claims and receipts. A motion to approve. Second. Okay. Dr. Box, yes. Michelle, yes. Robin, yes. Sylvia, yes. Dr. Rosan, yes. Uh, Terry, yes.

Thank you. Thank you. Moving on to the reports of committee staff and health officer. I'll let you go in the order of your choosing. [Music] I'll keep it short. Um, two things. One, Matt and I will be going to the uh boot camp on the 22nd of this month. And um, so a refresher for me, but Matt's first, it's a leadership boot camp.

It is. It's for administrators and new health officers. Um, and then, uh, there's a leadership symposium later this fall to figure that we're planning on going to. Other than that, new business was that I met with first things first this morning and it was kind of a uh small meet and greet but also they wanted to know what we did. So gave them a big overview of all the departments and what we do. Obviously their line of business is kids who are three and so kind and how we could help each other out. So we had some ideas and then came back to the office and discussed people about things that we could do to maybe promote first things first um as in their services that they could provide through their referrals.

What do they do? Well, their biggest thing is uh the 0 to3 and they use um they have a an an employee at opportunity enterprises who they refer to and they call it like a wraparound service very similar to what Carrie H does. Um and so they do an intake and determine what needs they have and then connect them with the right. So on that line it's um Part of the questioning maybe in our intake could be do you have children 0 to three and if so yes have you heard of first things first and would you like to know more information but technically the nurses said that we already give them that like they already know that that's in our packet. The other thing that they said was they were talking about the large amount of money that they have from an endowment for the uh seat of promise which is that $150 and interesting statistic only 18% of Porter County newborns have taken advantage of that sense of existence and I said there's a lot of money in there and how can we get this information out and again they our nurses and also like vibrants they give that out to the person's in there, but maybe I don't know a little more education,

promotion. They make it sound like it's super easy to fill out like it's mom's name, baby's name, date of birth, but I think social security part maybe freaks people out about they came and presented to us like what four years ago right when I started. I feel you were there too. I remember we were kind. Don't they know people people have been kind of they Yeah, at the hospital and they set them up with $100 that they can put in the bank in their name for with college, right? Like for

so the it's 150 I believe it's 150 bucks and then they'll give you another 50 if you convert it to a 529. So there's double incentives for them to and then that can occur. And so I remember there was a question then where's the child in the south? What have you know there's like all these like I mean I think they can delve into that if they need to but it seems to be a kind of a win-win scenario to have something in your child in your child's name. They're hoping to get more money away and they won't they want what a problem to have. Yeah. We can help. I don't think most new new moms are so distracted.

That's what we I agree with you. I don't know if that's the capture moment. The minute you've just had a baby like don't even talk to me about 29 when the baby's just kind the discharge pack at the hospital and I was like that's like one of the things we love. At least give them out. Is kindergarten a better capture moment, you know, like when the kids are starting school for you to think about. That's the only thing is the cut off of this channel. Oh, is it? That's part of the endowment.

Like why wouldn't during the nine months of OB visits be a you know, if we educated the COB the pediatrician? Yeah. I mean, I think that's fair. I I just think that first year is just so chaotic. You have to those parents are really on their game if they're starting at 529 in that first year of life. I can't say I always thought I was but that so they and Dominus put those parameters that have they said it's very

I think that's the limitation honestly. I think these you know we anyone who's had kids knows there's a lot to do in that first year. So, I think it's great that they offer that and I would love to help promote it even like on our, you know, maybe social media posts and I'm sure our staff does. They do. Yeah. Talking to everybody today. Yeah. And like I said, they did present to us a few years back. I I just think that that zero to one is tough to capture those parents at that second to do that. But I think it's a very lucky thing to have in our community. I remember them coming, but I remember there was some it was kind of strange. There was an ass They wanted access to the birth certificate so that they can

they can capture those people and we had said no like that's private information. The parents needed to to be the one to choose to all birth certificates. Correct. Remember they wanted to come in and be able to have access to the birth regardless if they were going to participate or not. They don't have that information just so that they can reach out to people more which I understand but we had said let the parents decide that we don't want to be part of that scenario. I think it's I think it's great that they offer that and hopefully we can help get this message and word out and you know that they can share that it's not a difficult venture to do and it's really sounds like a win-win. And they're called First Things First. Is that what they're

They're now under the Porter County Community. That's who came I think the it was Yeah. Good stuff. Well, I'm sorry our notes are so short this time. I'm new at this. We like that.

So, I'd like to think that in the future we will have some new business, but uh right now it's just the new business is me trying to learn everything. So, um just a couple things that I have from my uh notes for uh Dr. Dr. Weaver is going to be starting uh the tours this September and coming around and they would really like the elected officials and uh some of our HFI partners to uh be involved in this uh when she comes. So, anybody who's interested in that, feel free. What I will say is um we put the word out there that I'm brand new so we would like to go later. So, it's starting in September and it's going through 2026. So, I would expect that we'll be near the end of 2026 cuz I made it very very known that I did not want to see her yet. As as nice as I'm sure she is, um we um um I did want everybody to know that we uh Carrie now that she's our intern has been working on the heart state um an initiative that she's uh doing for her masters, which is um you know 13 pillars. Uh Crystal knows everything about it if if you'd like to know more information. But there um it's all about making sure that we uh oh sorry my brain cardiac arrest is the the main thing

to make our community a heart community and it's not just us multiple teams that need to come together in order county to make this happen you know like fire stations the hospitals multiple entities but there are certain pillars that we have to follow to be able to become a heart community and part of that is getting the a heart station patients We have five three have been involved. Um we don't park in Jefferson up. The first one was across the street at um Centennial Park.

No, fairground. And then the second one is at double fairgrounds or pavilion. I call it um that's what I know. That was the second one that was in five people in county. Where are the last two? So we've been reaching out to the founders. We've beenaching out and we're not sure yet. Okay. Still working on them.

I think founders would be great. Well, and that's that's part of what Carrie's working on is is getting a team together to really spearhead this and make sure that we're we're coming at this from all sides. You know, um I I'm not sure if you guys received the email. she sent it to many different groups and trying to get everybody through the community to have somebody from everywhere be a part of this and uh I think it's going to be a really good thing. What would be the point of contact then like fire department? Who would parks department if you're trying to get a hold of people in Portage or you need more than talking about just portage or Yeah. Like if you're trying to get a hold of something for where would be the

So we were contacting um the fire department and parks department. Um, I did reach out to Mayor Bond today. Good. To see if that would help with that. And um, I think I'll put next to it. Don't get He's been very vocal. So, we figured it. Yeah. Put it on for a while.

Oh my gosh. So the five conversations we try to identify areas that were very active with our committee like they have movement or sporting events or anything goes that you need on children and adults and

any weather can use this 247 weather safe product. Um once they open it up there people will not hey this has been open up and pictures so picture will also be notified as well. So it's not just [Music] Yeah that's awesome. I think that's I think Founders is a great location. I think all of those are good location all of them have big events at that absolutely good spot all of them. Demetri just put up the picture so you can see what it looks like if you wanted to know.

So, we've got that. Um, we do have uh Jeff's inaugural baby shower coming up. Not for my baby. [Music] Community baby shower. October 17th. We have 29 vendors. We have spent 0. Incredible. Well done. Yep. That's it. Excellent. Yeah. No, it should be good. I mean, it's we got First Glimpse coming to give away a 3D ultrasound for free. We have like Powers Health, Northshore, Health, all all the usual suspects. They'll be there. Remind us where it is again.

At the Porter County Community Foundation that gave it to us for free. Yeah. Is the first people going to be there? Help me grow, which is a part of First Things First, will be there. Yes. before they they donated they're donating food for the people that are coming to the shower. Excellent. Yeah. Okay. Now, on more of a bummer note, uh first things first, uh we did not get the grant from them that we were trying to get um that was it seemed like when we got the feedback about it, they were going for more uh like the people who got it were farm-totable food for pregnant mothers. Ours was more after the birth. Okay. They were looking for more leading up to.

Okay. So that was that was the feedback we got on that. And then we also applied for the grant for the imple implementation fee for the 911 part with the um pulse point. Okay. For the the AED registry. So that's been done and we should hear about that in October at some point. But really that's about all I have unless anybody has anything any questions.

I I I appreciated all the reports from everybody. Um incredible. The rides continue to each month more than the month before for the transportation. So it's always exciting for me to to read all of your reports and I appreciate that. Any [Music] We're at public comments. Any public comment? [Music] Thank you for joining us again. This department you pay me the big bucks for.

Hi, my name is Andy Vosquez. I'm president of the Florida County Council. Couple of questions. um farm to the uh farm to food type of deal. Yeah. Now, you got denied because that's what they were looking for. They were looking for more leading up to the birth of the child and not so much after the birth cuz we were going with it was car seats for newborns and I tag Roth I tag. So, are they aware that Northwest Indiana December is not growing anything? I mean, I don't know. Try harder. Right. That's right. The reason I'm asking

Well, [Music] but anyway, it's not a cash crop in Indiana as of yet. But anyway, the um reason I'm asking is that say from [Music] June until October, Northwest Indiana is capable providing produce and or herbs if you want to use them for healing, teased, whatever. There's a lot of different things if that were to be available next year. Two questions in that would be um would they reconsider and or would you be able to try for a grant next year? And number two is what would be the amount that you would need from farmers to do this? Oh, by the way, I'm an organic produce farmer.

I'm going to be honest with you, I don't have enough information to be able to answer your question. Okay, get it for me. Yeah. Some of the people that got the grant are working with farmers. So they awarded the farmers and I think good will family nurse partnership was they partnered together to give this grant together. So if I could give a the story of of local produce farmers together. Yes. If they choose to write a grant this time next year for the same type of thing. I mean I think we're kind of switching up the money. Yeah. Yeah. So we're we were just we're trying to fill those gaps, you know, for the things that we're trying to appreciate you being awesome. Well,

and you're brainstorming. That's Well, when you say grant, I saw money. Well, and I'm going, let's see one. I'm still back on that thing. We're all on the same page. Yes, exactly. We're on the same team. If you at the first inkling that you get that this may be for next year, you call I don't care if it's 2 in the morning, you call me. I'm being totally serious. I'll get in contact with some of the other farmers I know in this area and say, "Look guys, this is what we can do." Okay? Well, we'll name an organization

and this is a good resource for our school schools too that that you have you know that we try to I know that's always been a goal is to incorporate more farm to table foods for our students or JDC members things like that with the JDC they they do a little garden which I try to help there by providing plants and things of that nature and any information they need. That was the first part. Second question I have these AEDs I apologize for like I said coming in late cuz I wasn't dealing with SB1 some others but are they in locations now are these locations secure I'm sorry they are in three locations right now where are they are they secure

are they in secure location they are in secure locations in our opinion that that was not my question right across the street Okay, bring up the picture for the number. See like that's how we have secured to the building itself. But they do need to be accessible 24 hours a day. Yeah. So it's for the community to use if somebody has pull it out. I guess my question is that could somebody unscrupulous individuals could they open that up and say, "Hey, I could probably get a hundred bucks for this." Oh, they can open it up with their pictures.

Thank you. That's what I was looking for. What mechanism do we have in place that somebody decides to take it home for good that they can get free uh free medical care at the county jail the next year? That's yes, that's the way of that. Okay. It literally will be the target. So they have that data as well and whoever is on that site will be notified that a vaccine as well as 911 will also be showing people to get there and be like

well I uh your director is correct. You do know everything. So thank you. That's all I have. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yes. Why not? Well, then on that note, I will make a motion to adjurnn. Second. Yes. On paper. I know, right? What is that? by your hand.