6/25/2020 Meeting Minutes

(VIRTUAL) HEALTH PLANNING COUNCIL

June 25, 2020

Meeting Minutes

 

Permanent Members Present

Bob Stephens                                                    Brian Bailey                                                        Regina Gearhart

 

Consumer Members Present

Steve Putnam                                    Edgar Harman                                    Nicole Christian                                 Robin McGill

Dr. Willis McGill                                George Evans                                    Dr. Karl Schwalm

 

Visitors

Courtni Helmick                                Scott Germain                                   John Corbin                                        Julie Teter

Scott Hollingsworth                         Dr. William Pope                              Fred Polce, Jr.                                    Grace Bolyard

Jennifer Lee-Steckman                  Joanna Guy                                         Clark Lanthier                                    Amy Fike

 

Steve Putnam, HPC Chairperson called the meeting to order at 8:00 a.m.  The minutes from the May 28 meeting were approved as submitted.

 

In Shelley’s absence, Bob discussed the social determinants of health and the stress this pandemic causes.  The determinants of health include employment, housing, food securities, and access to care.  Today we will focus on food insecurities and meeting the needs of the residents of Garrett County.

 

Courtni Helmick, Family Self-Sufficiency Manager at Community Action

Fire departments throughout the county collected shelf-stable foods and donations.  GTS picked up the food at the collections sites and the donations created 75 boxes that went out to 55 families in the community.  Mountain Laurel Medical Center helped and 32 vulnerable seniors in the northern end of the county received donations.

 

Volunteers were found through the Garrett County portal to sort and pack the donated food items.  Financial donations since March total $17,720, which helped to buy some of the food items.

 

Bloomington and Accident Volunteer Fire Departments and Southern Garrett Rescue Squad are still collecting food donations.

 

Joanna Guy, Volunteer

She held a McHenry food drive and collected over 1000 food items and $3000.  She worked with McHenry Fire Department and McHenry Shop ‘n Save.

 

Brian Bailey, CEO of Mountain Laurel Medical Center

Mountain Laurel Medical Center has been collaborating with the Maryland Food Bank for 10 years.  They reach 1500 families with 63,000 lbs. of food through six drives per year.  The next food drive will be in Westernport in July.  See the attached Powerpoint.

 

Scott Germain, Food & Nutrition Services Supervisor, GC Public Schools

The Public School System started with breakfast and lunch daily, then went to three meals a day plus snacks.  They are serving between 530 and 680 kids per day, the highest being 850.  It all depends on the day and the family schedules.  Originally the meals were home delivered, however when the stay-at-home order went into effect, they had to stop.  They now have five daily routes with fifteen stops at Deer Park Town Hall, Dennett Road, Liberty Mews, Loch Lynn, and Grantsville.

On July 1, there will be a transition into the Summer Food Service program until August 21.  Beginning July 6 breakfast and lunch will be distributed Monday-Friday, with Saturday and Sunday breakfast and lunch handed out on Fridays.  One night a week, they will be delivering 7 days of snacks and suppers.  Locations and times to be announced.  See the attached Powerpoint.

 

Adolescent Health and Wellness Group, Dr. Karl Schwalm

The group was formed to address the lack of wellness checks for adolescents because Garrett County.  SHIP indictors show that Garrett County ranks low compared to the rest of the state.  A short survey was provided to students in the middle school and the high school; and a separate survey for their parents.  The top three concerns for students and parents are anxiety, stress, and depression.

 

The group’s next focus will be directed toward behavioral health issues.  Amy Fike from the Garrett County Lighthouse stated that they received a grant for child and adolescent behavioral health and they are willing to collaborate.  Dr. Schwalm will contact Amy.

 

AGENCY UPDATES

GCHD – The building is restricted, however, all services are being offered by appointment.  Two drive-thru surveillance-testing dates are scheduled, Friday, June 26 from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Northern Middle School and July 17 in the Mountain Laurel and Health Department parking lots.

 

AHEC West – The special enrollment period has been extended to July 15.  Staff is still working at home and when they return, it will be at a different location, 257 Oakland Drive.

 

Maria added that applications for low-income, children, and pregnant women are available here at the Health Department.

 

Garrett Regional Medical Center – July 1, they are reopening the main entrance.  There will be limited visitation, one visitor per day with mask.  Their drive-thru testing is closed.  Testing is available at their lab with a physician’s order.

 

Hospice – Grace reported that admissions are up.  They are looking for nurses, full-time, part-time, and/or per diem.

 

Social Services – Most staff is teleworking issuing electronic benefits.  There are service units in the field and structured visits with foster families and parents.  Call if an appointment is needed.

 

Community Action – The other half of their staff returns July 6.  The senior meals are suspended.  The head start centers and the childcare centers are open.

 

They are anticipating evictions in the future and a surge in homeless shelters in Garrett County.  Transportation is still operating and delivering meals.

 

CARC – Reopened June 19 and follow all guidelines in the weight room, cardiovascular area, and pool area.  Masks are required to enter and can be removed while exercising and in the pool.  The lifeguards can have masks down when 6’ away.

 

Fitness classes and swim lessons have not resumed.

 

Garrett County Public Schools – Barb Baker submitted the following concerning mental health services for employees:

We do routinely provide a number of services but Jane (Wildesen) and I are discussing some other measures to help our teachers through the crisis (and aftermath).  As part of the GCPS healthcare package, we offer mental health services through an agency called Deer Oaks Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Mental health services are available to not only employees, but also spouses and dependents on the GCPS Health Care Plan.  The services are available through the provider, Teledoc, and UMR.  The available resources encompass all issues/concerns related to stress, anxiety, uncertainty with COVID-19, financial concerns, and anything else that one may need assistance with.  Counseling sessions are available via telephone, live chat, and video and are available 24/7.  Earlier in the spring, I reminded parents about some of these kinds of services we offer to students and families.  It is probably a very good time to publicize these resources and remind our employees of them.

 

We also have a Wellness team that our nurse manager, Becky Aiken, coordinates with Benjamin Morris.  (He is shared with the County).  Each school has a wellness team and our own mental health will be a focus of the teams when teachers return in the fall. During the week of August 24-28, the wellness team is planning events and activities centered on mental health awareness and support.  The plan is to have giveaways for employees in order to encourage people to participate.  Finally, Ms. Aiken and Karen DeVore attended the Mind-Body Medicine training right before the emergency closure.  Our plan is to share strategies with our principals at A&S and develop a plan for everyone to voluntarily participate in those activities.

 

With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 9:00 a.m.  The next HPC meeting is scheduled for July 23 at 8:00 a.m.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

 

Robert Stephens, MS

Health Officer/HPC Secretary

 

Recorded by :BAB