RICHMOND COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT  NCPIL North Carolina Public Health  127 Caroline Street Rockingham, North Carolina 28379 Phone: 1-910-997-8300 Facsimile: 1-910-997-8336 Health Dept  CARO  Cheryl Speight, Health Director Holly Haire, Deputy Health Director  Robby Hall, Social Services Director  Theressa Smith, Deputy Social Services Director  RICHMOND COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES  DATE: TIME:  March 19,2024 7:00pm  LOCATION: Large Classroom and Webinar  BOARD ATTENDANCE:  Paul Smart, Chairperson Dr. William Cleveland, Dentist Aletha Lanier, retired Nurse Dennis Holloway, public member Evonne Moore, Social Worker Thad Ussery, public member Dr. Don Covington, Optometrist Cassandra Byers, Daymark Center Director Pat Solomon, public member Cheryl Speight, Health Director Robby Hall, Social Services Director Jacqueline Welch, Aging Services Director Tierra Gilbert, QCPI Supervisor Kelly Kirk, CAC Coordinator Sheila Brosier, Administrative Assistant  NON-BOARD ATTENDANCE:  1. CALLTOORDER: Dennis Holloway called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. 2. INVOCATION: Mr. Holloway delivered the invocation for the meeting.  3. CONSENT AGENDA: Mr. Holloway asked for a motion to approve the meeting agenda.  Motion Offered By: Aletha Lanier Motion Seconded By: Evonne Moore  Motion Carried:  Yes  Health & Human Services Advisory Board Meeting - March 19, 2024  Page 1    MEETING MINUTES: Mr. Holloway asked for a motion to approve the. January 16, 2024,  meeting minutes.  Motion Offered By: Thad Ussery Motion Seconded By: Evonne Moore  Motion Carried:  Yes  4. PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. 5. COMMITTEE REPORTS:  A. Cheryl Speight, Health Director, discussed the Public Health Administrative Report. The Health Department will engage in a research study with East Carolina University on Reproductive Coercion, which is a form ofintimate partner violence in which one partner exhibits controlling or manipulative behaviors aimed at influencing the other's reproductive choices without their consent. It can involve various tactics, such as pressuring or manipulating an individual into initiating or terminating a pregnancy, controlling birth control methods, sabotaging contraception, or intentionally exposing a partner to sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The study will focus on maternity patients or new mothers aged 15-19 for signs of coercion. A 13-question survey will be provided to patients to access and complete by scanning a QR code. This study will As the threat from COVID-19 becomes more similar to that of other common respiratory viruses, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) isi issuing Respiratory Virus Guidance, rather than additional virus-specific guidance. The CDC's respiratory virus guidance provides practical recommendations and information to help people lower the risk from ai range of common respiratory viral illnesses, including COVID-19, ,flu, and RSV. Protective tools like vaccines and treatments that decrease risk ofCOVID-19 disease (particularly severe disease) are: now widely available. Due to the effectiveness ofthese protective tools and high degree of population immunity, there are now fewer hospitalizations and deaths due to COVID-19. CDC will continue to evaluate available evidence to ensure the recommendations in the guidance provide the intended  fulfill a requirement for accreditation purposes.  protection.  Congenital Syphilis is on1 the rise across the nation. There were 29 cases in Richmond County between September 2023 and January 2024. Four of those cases were pregnant females. Many Congenital Syphilis cases remain open while tracking occurs to test all B. Robby Hall, Social Services Director, discussed the Social Services Administrative Report. Reports reveal a slight reduction in the number of children in foster care and adults in guardianship. Medicaid expansion has increased the number ofapplicants and recipients processed through DSS. Incarcerated adults can apply for Medicaid and receive benefits upon release. Currently, DSS has expended all CIP and LIEAP funds. C. Jacqueline Welch, Aging Services Director, provided the Aging Services Administrative Report. Aging Services and Adult Protection Services are hosting the Senior Symposium at the Cole Auditorium on March 25th from 8:30am-12:30pm. There are 60  those who were involved with people who tested positive.  Health & Human Services Advisory Board Meeting- March 19, 2024  Page 2    slots open to seniors 55 years and older. On March 28th the Veteran's Breakfast & Learn will be held at the Cole Auditorium from :00am-11:00am. The Lunch with Local LEOS and Alive After 55 supper club events are well attended and enjoyed by seniors each month. All events are posted in the monthly newsletter. Daily/weekly posts from the senior center directors on events and activities within their centers are posted on The Housing, Home Repair & Improvement Program received a good report from the recent audit conducted by LRCOG. Funds are available and applications are being  Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.  received daily. There is a waiting list for some repairs.  6. OLD BUSINESS:  A. Reinstatement ofBoard Members Whose Terms Expire in 2024  The following board members' terms expire in 2024. Ar recommendation for reinstatement was made by the advisory board and approved at the February 2024 Board ofCounty  Commissioners meeting to extend their terms through 2027.  Bryan Land Ronald Tillman Dr. John Stevenson  7. NEW BUSINESS:  A. SOTCH Report - Cheryl Speight, Health Director  Cheryl Speight reviewed the results ofthe State ofthe County Health Report (SOTCH), which is available on the Richmond County NC website. This report is done every year between the Community Health Assessments (CHA), which is completed every three years. The SOTCH also serves as Richmond County's Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs), fulfilling the NCI Local Health Department Accreditation requirement that local health departments submit two CHIPS following the CHA submission. The report cites some ofthe efforts currently underway in Richmond County to address health priorities. Several areas of focus identified in the SOTCH are opioid deaths, emergent illness, B. Presentation: Tri-County Child Advocacy Center- Kelly Kirk. CAC Coordinator Kelly Kirk, CAC Coordinator, gave a brief presentation on the Tri-County Children's Advocacy Center which serves Richmond, Scotland, and Anson counties. The CACisa child-focused, facility-based program in which representatives from core disciplines collaborate toi investigate child abuse reports, conduct forensic interviews, determine and provide evidence-based interventions, and assess cases for prosecution. Our mission is to operate al Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) of specialists to respond and address child abuse allegations through the coordination of professional services for children and to provide counseling, medical examinations, forensic interviews, law enforcement intervention and other resources within the three local communities. The  congenital syphilis, infant mortality, and smoking cessation.  Health & Human Services. Advisory Board Meeting. - March 19,2024  Page 3    MDT team consists ofl law enforcement, Child Protective Services, Prosecution/District Attorney, medical and mental health providers, Victim Advocate and Forensic Interviewer. MDT members are routinely and actively involved in investigations and/or interventions throughout the life of the case and attend monthly case review to provide updates, discuss There are 55 CACs across the state ofNorth Carolina, all governed by the National Children's Alliance (NCA) and the Children's Advocacy Centers ofl North Carolina (CACNC). There are ten NCA/CACNC standards with 74 components that all CACS must abide by. Our CAC has met the majority oft these standards and was granted provisional status in September 2023. We will continue to work at meeting all standards and prepare to Our CACisi funded by a contribution from the budgets of each county (Richmond, Scotland, and Anson) and donations. Eastpointe and Pinnacle Services fund the CMEP and clinical assessments. We recently applied for DHHS funding which awards $56,000.00 in non-competitive funds to new provisional members of the CACNC; and competitive funding of$165,713.00 for fiscal year 2024. Fundraising activities will be hosted in all three counties to support the CAC. The Scotland County Sheriff's Office is hosting a Cook-Off: for Kids amateur BBQ competition with celebrity judges, live music, and vendors on May 4th on Main Street in Laurinburg. BBQ teams can enter the contest with a $50.00 fee; meat will be donated by Perdue and Smithfield's. All proceeds from the event  next steps, and collaborate on active cases.  apply for national accreditation by September 2025.  will go to the CAC.  8. INFORMAL DISCUSSION: None.  9. ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Holloway asked for a motion to adjourn and the meeting adjourned  at 8:30pm.  Motion Offered By: Thad Ussery Motion Seconded By: Aletha Lanier  Motion Carried:  Yes  NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held in person in the large classroom at the Health  Department. DATE: TIME:  May 21, 2024 7:00pm  LOCATION: Richmond County Health Department Large Classroom  deeni - Dennis Holloway, Health & Human  leybhull Cheryl Speight, Health Director Richmond County Health Department  Services E  Advisory Board  Health & Human Services Advisory Board Meeting - March 19, ,2024  Page 4