Union County Health Department looks beyond COVID
April 27, 2022 at 7:58 p.m.
Union County Health Department supervising nurse Kim Klein presented the department's plans as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes at Union County Commissioners' April 22 meeting.
Klein asked to move a part-time contract employee who has been providing COVID vaccinations through a state-funded grant into a position providing smoking-cessation services.
“With COVID right now, down the way that it is, I think we're trying to relook at the health department and get back to our normal duties and look at maybe adding back the services that we had,” said Klein.
Commissioner Tim Williams asked if Klein had a plan for the state COVID vaccination grant funds. Klein replied the vaccination fund is nearly depleted, although the state testing grant is still well funded.
Klein explained the smoking-cessation program would be funded through the state's local health maintenance funding. While that grant fund does come with a lot of restrictions, smoking-cessation is an approved use. Additionally, the Union County Health Board approved of the change. Williams asked Union County auditor Cheryl Begley for input. Begley replied it will need to go through Union County Council for an amendment to the salary ordinance. Williams noted commissioners do not necessarily need to approve the change and advised Klein take a member of the health board to county council and ask for a salary ordinance amendment.
Commissioner Howard Curry thanked Klein for the work done by the health department over the past couple of years, “I think through the COVID thing, and I'll say myself included, I think the county gained a lot of respect for the health department. It was an eye opener.”
Klein moved the discussion to a state grant providing the local health department with $110,000 to work with local schools. The program will establish a liaison working between the health department and school district to provide services such as substance abuse programming and vaccination clinics. If the program is going well, the health department can apply for a second year with an additional $110,000.
Williams asked how the money was going to be spent. Klein responded some was spent on office equipment to get started, some set aside for travel expenses, training and most of the funding is set aside for personnel costs. Begley added the state, who provided the funding, has approved the expenses, as well as the local health board.
Latest News
E-Editions
Events
Union County Health Department supervising nurse Kim Klein presented the department's plans as the COVID-19 pandemic wanes at Union County Commissioners' April 22 meeting.
Klein asked to move a part-time contract employee who has been providing COVID vaccinations through a state-funded grant into a position providing smoking-cessation services.
“With COVID right now, down the way that it is, I think we're trying to relook at the health department and get back to our normal duties and look at maybe adding back the services that we had,” said Klein.
Commissioner Tim Williams asked if Klein had a plan for the state COVID vaccination grant funds. Klein replied the vaccination fund is nearly depleted, although the state testing grant is still well funded.
Klein explained the smoking-cessation program would be funded through the state's local health maintenance funding. While that grant fund does come with a lot of restrictions, smoking-cessation is an approved use. Additionally, the Union County Health Board approved of the change. Williams asked Union County auditor Cheryl Begley for input. Begley replied it will need to go through Union County Council for an amendment to the salary ordinance. Williams noted commissioners do not necessarily need to approve the change and advised Klein take a member of the health board to county council and ask for a salary ordinance amendment.
Commissioner Howard Curry thanked Klein for the work done by the health department over the past couple of years, “I think through the COVID thing, and I'll say myself included, I think the county gained a lot of respect for the health department. It was an eye opener.”
Klein moved the discussion to a state grant providing the local health department with $110,000 to work with local schools. The program will establish a liaison working between the health department and school district to provide services such as substance abuse programming and vaccination clinics. If the program is going well, the health department can apply for a second year with an additional $110,000.
Williams asked how the money was going to be spent. Klein responded some was spent on office equipment to get started, some set aside for travel expenses, training and most of the funding is set aside for personnel costs. Begley added the state, who provided the funding, has approved the expenses, as well as the local health board.