Donation — Employees of the Jefferson County Board of Health and the Jefferson County General Health District received a $5,000 check from Molina Healthcare in support of the department's community diaper bank. From left: Mara Mellott, Growth and Community Engagement Specialist at Molina. board member Mary Mihalho; Milissa Ferguson, Community Engagement Manager at Molina. Andrew Henry, Director of Health; board member Terry Bell; Director of Nursing Kylie Smogonovich; Board members Anthony Muzianis, Suzanne Brown, and Dr. Mark Kissinger. — Christopher Dacanay
STEUBENVILLE — More than half of the $306,781 in funds available to the Jefferson County General Health District through the Ohio Department of Aging's Healthy Aging Grant was made available Tuesday for the first round of funding for local projects benefiting seniors. assigned to.
The Jefferson County Board of Health's Administration and Finance Committee elected to distribute $176,356, with the remainder to be distributed later.
The allocations include $61,356 for the Jefferson Urban Housing Authority's Senior Housing Assistance Program, $50,000 for Trinity Health System Prime Time Senior Services' Telehealth Program, $50,000 for Our Place's Activities and Resources and Center's Lunch and Learn Program; Includes $15,000 for retiree and senior volunteer programs. of Jefferson County.
“I hope this is a good start for everyone.” Director of Health Andrew Henry said. “We still have a ways to go, so we hope you will take advantage of this funding and we will be happy to provide additional funding if you can show that you have used it positively in your community.” We still have money left for the second half of the grant period.”
The Board of Health approved the allocation, but Dr. Mark Kissinger, a board member and Trinity employee, abstained from voting.
The fund, awarded to the Department of Health in November, requires 50% to be allocated to three areas: food assistance, 20%; Housing assistance is 20 percent, and internet access and digital literacy is 10 percent.
Separately, Molina Healthcare representatives presented a $5,000 check to the Health Department to support the Community Diaper Bank, which opened on February 5th. The managed care company provides health insurance to individuals enrolled in government-sponsored benefits in 19 states and Puerto Rico. In the program, Molina is the title sponsor of the diaper bank.
“We understand how difficult it is for parents, even two-parent families, to pay for diapers.” Milissa Ferguson, Community Engagement Manager at Molina, said: “So we want to be there for you and be your partner.”
Director of Nursing Kylie Smogonovich reported that on its first day of operation, the diaper bank served 16 families and a total of 27 children, with 76 children served to date.
Additionally, Medical Director Dr. Janie Culp said staff members have used 159 of the 160 doses of meningitis B vaccine given to them by the state. These vaccines, along with 134 other influenza vaccines, were distributed to Amish residents near Bergholz, where there was a recent outbreak of meningitis among adolescents.
The last positive case of meningitis was reported in early January. Culp said staff will return to the clinic for the second time on March 13 to administer the second vaccination.
Henry said the staff's response to the outbreak was recognized by the Ohio Department of Health, which asked the staff to give a presentation about their experiences.
Other business:
The board approved four contracts. One is a three-year contract for full access to employee training modules from the Ohio Health Commissioners Association, and a second round of $25,000 from the Ohio Department of Health to improve bicycle infrastructure in downtown Steubenville. Additional provisions regarding funding and extension. Although the timeline has changed, funding for the Health Department's HIV Testing and Awareness Grant Partnership with the Canton City Health Department and a $10,000 lead poisoning prevention and Funding for education grants will be cut.
The board approved four travel requests related to expenses for health department staff to attend health-related meetings. One of her demands on Henry was to attend a child passenger safety conference in Dublin. This extends Henry's certification as a CPS technician and allows the health department to continue distributing car seats.
Environmental Health Director Mark Maragos reported that the Odor Complaint Hotline regarding the Apex Landfill had received 23 calls so far in January and five in February.
Separately, Maragos informed the commission that an open dump site that appears to have been active for many years is being investigated off Jefferson Boulevard in Cross Creek Township. Maragos also said two tire dump cases have been transferred to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency for processing.
In addition to announcing the reapplication to serve on the Board of Health, which is due to expire in March, Terry Bell also announced that individuals, especially residents of the town, have signed contracts with landowners, oil and gas companies, to It warned individuals who have contracts that interact with or have contact with landowners to be careful. He acquires the mineral rights to their property for the company. Bell said that no matter how much pressure a landowner exerts, they should always seek a review from an oil and gas lawyer before waiving their rights.
The board approved hiring Madisen Hurst as a part-time nurse with the health department.
Henry read the City of Steubenville's proclamation honoring the late Dr. Patrick Macedonia, who served two terms on the Jefferson County Board of Health and 18 years on the Steubenville Board of Health.
The board's next meeting will be held March 19 at 8:15 a.m. in the second floor community room of the Jefferson County Tower Building.
