02/05/2020 Meeting Minutes

WORKGROUP FOR CHILD AND ADOLEXCENT WELLNESS

February 5, 2020

THOSE PRESENT

Amanda Shreve (GRMC)                   Dr. Stephanie Sisler (LLP)                  Amber Kling (Wellspring)

John Corbin (GCHD)                          Shelley Argabrite (GCHD)                 Mary VanSickle (GCPS)

Dr. Jenny Corder (GCHD)                 Laura Schroyer (MLMC)                    Rebecca Aiken (GCPS)

Fred Polce, Jr., (GCHD)

Dr. Corder called the meeting to order at 8:04 a.m. in the first floor conference room of the Garrett County Health Department.

Parent and Student Surveys

John has done two rounds of surveys for high school students and has received over 100 responses without offering incentives.  He will run two more rounds in February.  There is more information and detail in the high school survey responses than the middle school’s responses.

Middle school surveys – There have been 318 parent surveys completed and permission slips signed and returned.  The middle school survey is a paper survey and are complete, but they need to be tabulated.

When survey information is complete, the data can be accessed and used for reports, grants, etc.   When the YRBS information is made available, our local information can be compared and used.

John and Dr. Corder are hopeful to be able to highlight the results at next month’s meeting.

Medicaid Incentive

Dr. Schwalm made contact with the representatives that Laura had previously contacted, unfortunately, there has been a shift in their staff.  Laura is hoping to contact the new representatives when they have assumed their roles.  The hope is to have them attend grand rounds and possibly a Workgroup for Child and Adolescent Wellness meeting.

Garrett County Public Schools

Mary VanSickle addressed the group about the behavioral health issues in the schools.  There have been approximately 30 assessments in the past month.  There has been an increase in suicide threats from elementary school students, but most are from the middle school level.  The state of mental health in the schools is alarming, and is across every demographic.

The Health Department supplies counselors in the schools and services are utilized through Presley Ridge, Morgantown, and Cumberland.  When a child is admitted to the hospital, the closest is Hagerstown, which can pose a problem because the parents do not have transportation and the child sits until the parent/guardian can get there.  Another problem is the lack of beds for these needs.

When a student is referred for behavior services in the school and mental health services are recommended, getting the parents to agree is difficult because they do not want their children giving out their private information.

The school system has a bullying hotline that rings in to Pupil Services.  The report goes to the principal of the school mentioned, and then it is investigated.  Bullying is difficult to prove, but in reporting a situation, it creates a profile and staff watch.  Each school has a resource officer that mentors the students.  Clark Warnick oversees the resource officer program and is stationed at Yough Glades.  He would not be able to attend a meeting to discuss bullying, but this group could meet at Yough Glades.

On March 11, there will be a MDLOGIX demo of a behavioral health screening program.  There is software available to assist in school-based screening for youth.  Unfortunately, this will be information out of Pennsylvania.  It would be beneficial to have a person to cover Maryland guidelines.

YRBS – The 2018 YRBS will be available publicly on Monday.  Dr. Corder has an early copy and she reviewed Garrett County’s data and highlighted where numbers are deteriorating, and some numbers have improved.

Maryland Diabetes Action Plan

The plan breaks down goals into four categories, and one goal pertains to adolescent and youth:

People who are overweight and obese Goal: By 2024, maintain the percentage of adults with a BMI >25 at 66.5%; and reduce by 10% the BMI >85th percentile in high school students. The two objectives are to improve clinical care services for overweight and obese children and adults and improve the availability of health lifestyle options for overweight and obese children and adults.

Currently schools do BMIs in 9^th grade, but they are going to include 3^rd, and 7^th grade in order to follow the student.

With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.  The next meeting is scheduled for March 4 at 8:00 a.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

Beth A. Brenneman

Bold = Action Items