RICHMOND COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT NCPDI - 127 Caroline Street REIECAR RO Rockingham, North Carolina 28379 Phone: I-910-997-8300 North Carolina Facsimile: 1-910-997-8336 Health Dept Public Health Cheryl Speight, Health Director Robby Hall, Social Services Director Holly Haire, Deputy Health Director Theressa Smith, Deputy Social Services Director RICHMOND COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD MEETING MINUTES DATE: May 21, 2024 TIME: 7:00pm LOCATION: Large Classroom and Webinar BOARD ATTENDANCE: Dennis Holloway, Chairperson Dr. William Cleveland, Dentist Aletha Lanier, retired Nurse Evonne Moore, Social Worker Thad Ussery, public member Dr. Don Covington, Optometrist Dr. John Stevenson, retired Physician Pat Solomon, public member Ronald Tillman, public member Dr. William Cleveland, Dentist NON-BOARD ATTENDANCE: Cheryl Speight, Health Director Robby Hall, Social Services Director Theressa Smith, Deputy Social Services Director Darcey Wiggins, FNS Supervisor Sheila Brosier, Administrative Assistant 1. CALL TO ORDER: Dennis Holloway called the meeting to order at 7:00pm. 2. INVOCATION: Dennis Holloway delivered the invocation for the meeting. 3. CONSENT AGENDA: Mr. Holloway asked for a motion to approve the meeting agenda. Motion Offered By: Thad Ussery Motion Seconded By: Pat Solomon Motion Carried: Yes Health & Human Services Advisory Board Meeting - May 21, 2024 Page 1 MEETING MINUTES: Mr. Holloway asked for a motion to approve the March 19, 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 received a new grant, "Supporting Women's Health Services" whose purpose is to improve the overall health of women, reduce infant sickness and death, and strengthen families and communities. Funding will begin in July 2024 and used to promote programs and services that protect the health and wellbeing ofinfants and women during their child-bearing years. The grant will allow us to extend the normal hours of operation a few days a month to capture patients who cannot visit the Health Department during normal business hours. The American Disabilities Act (ADA) Assessment was held on April 16th at the Health Department, and found to be in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local accessibility regulations. The ADA assessment is required every two years. COVID funds are expected to end for most programs, including Covid test, vaccines, and treatment. Coverage for COVID-19 testing will change, but the federal government is maintaining a strong stockpile and distribution channels sO that tests remain accessible at no cost in certain community locations and will continue to distribute tests through COVIDtests.gov through the end of May. Once the federal government is no longer purchasing or distributing COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, payment, coverage, and access may change. Medicaid will continue to cover COVID-19 vaccinations without a CO- pay or cost sharing through September 30, 2024, and will generally cover Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)-recommended vaccines for most beneficiaries thereafter. Medicaid programs will continue to cover COVID-19 treatments without cost sharing through September 30, 2024. After that, coverage and cost sharing may vary by state. According to the CDC, one in six North Carolinians has experienced Long COVID. Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as Long COVID or Post- COVID Conditions. Long COVID is broadly defined as signs, symptoms, and conditions that continue or develop after acute COVID-19 infection. People with Long COVID have symptoms for four weeks or more, and they can last for months or years. Long COVID can result in a disability recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act. It takes many different forms, and it is not one illness. People who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 and become infected may have a higher risk of developing Long COVID compared to people who have been vaccinated. Health & Human Services Advisory Board Meeting - May 21, 2024 Page 2 The Pharmacy Department is hosting a Silent Auction to raise funds to assist our Pharmacy Program clients who are unable to pay for clinic and/or lab appointments. Staff can donate new or slightly used items which will be displayed in the large classroom for staff to bid on from May 29th through June 4th. B. Robby Hall, Social Services Director, discussed the Social Services Administrative Report. Director Hall noted the number of children in foster care is slowly declining. One adoption case was finalized last week and the court cases are advancing. There is currently one child staying in the building awaiting placement. To recognize the dedication of foster parents, DSS hosted a Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner on May 16th at 6:00pm at A Southern Touch at the Estate in Rockingham. The Scotland County Sheriff S Department hosted a BBQ Competition Fundraiser in Laurinburg on Saturday, May 4th The event raised $11,000 and was donated to our Tri- County Child Advocacy Center to support the operation and purchase supplies. The CAC is comprised of Richmond, Anson, and Scotland counties, and the other counties will host fundraisers this year. C. Robby Hall provided the Aging Services Administrative Report in the absence of Jacqueline Welch, Aging Services Director. Aging Services welcomed Jessica Ludlum, new Accounting Technician who will be a great asset to the agency and assist with 501c3 donations to the Richmond County Friends of Aging Services. Aging Services spearheaded teams of seniors who participated in the Earth Day Community Clean-Up in April. The teams were provided with equipment and trash bags and dispersed to various areas throughout the county. They collected loads of trash and made a significant impact in communities. The Senior Centers continue to host events for seniors and all programs and services are advertised in the monthly newsletter. Lunch with LEOS meets at Godfather's Pizza on the second Tuesday each month at 11:00am; Alive After 55 Supper Club meets for dinner at locations to be announced on the third Thursday each month. 6. OLD BUSINESS: None. 7. NEW BUSINESS: A. Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) - Darcey Wiggins Darcey Wiggins presented the Energy Programs Outreach Plan for fiscal year 24-25 to the board for approval. The outreach plan includes the Crisis Intervention Program (CIP), Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP), and Weatherization Program. CIP is a federally funded program that assists households experiencing a heating or cooling related crisis. A household is considered to be in a life threatening or health related crisis if the heating or cooling source is disconnected, or the household is currently experiencing or is in danger ofexperiencing a life-threatening or health-related emergency due to lack of heating/cooling, and sufficient, timely, and appropriate assistance is not available from any other source. To be eligible, households must be in a heating/cooling crisis as defined Health & Human Services Advisory Board Meeting - May 21, 2024 Page 3 above, must meet an income test, must be U.S. citizens or eligible aliens, and may not earn total gross (pre-tax) income that exceeds 150% of the federal poverty level. Applications will be taken from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025 or until CIP funds are exhausted. LIEAP is a federally funded program that provides a one-time vendor payment to help eligible households pay their heating bills. To be eligible, households must meet an income test, must be responsible for its heating bills, cannot have resources over $2,250, and must be U.S. citizens or eligible aliens. Households including a person aged 60 or older or disabled persons receiving services through the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services are eligible to sign up for assistance from December 1 through December 31. All other households may apply from January 1 through March 31 or until funds are exhausted. Each county is required to develop and implement an Energy Program Outreach Plan to inform county residents and assure eligible households are made aware of the assistance available through these programs. Ms. Wiggins presented the Richmond County Energy Outreach Plan which engages a number of community partners, to include housing authority, public libraries, school system, churches, food banks, day care centers, Aging Services, senior centers, volunteer programs, and others. Materials, flyers, and applications will be available at various sites. Aging Services and CAP staff will schedule visits to senior centers, housing authority, and senior apartment complexes to assist those eligible with completing applications. CAP staff will provide special help with the home-bound population. The programs will be advertised on the website, communty/govemmen. television channel, local newspaper, and radio stations. The outreach plan requires approval ofthe board. Robby Hall asked for a motion to approve the Richmond County Energy Programs Outreach Plan. Motion Offered By: Dr. Stevenson Motion Seconded By: Pat Solomon Motion Carried: Yes Ms. Wiggins briefly discussed the Sun Bucks Food Assistance Program in North Carolina that will provide grocery buying benefits to qualifying families with school-aged children during the summer months. Benefits can be used to buy healthy food at places like grocery stores, farmers markets, and some online retailers. Qualifying families will receive a one-time payment of$120 per eligible child for the summer. Families that are participating in Social Services Programs, such as Food & Nutrition Services, Medicaid, etc. will automatically qualify while other students will need to apply for Sun Bucks. 8. INFORMAL DISCUSSION: Cheryl Speight expressed condolences on the death of Dr. Rick Watkins' sister, Tammy Watkins Mainwaring, who passed away on May 18th. The board members will keep the Watkins family in thoughts and prayers. Health & Human Services Advisory Board Meeting - May 21, 2024 Page 4 9. ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Holloway asked for a motion to adjourn and the meeting adjourned at 8:00pm. Motion Offered By: Thad Ussery Motion Seconded By: Pat Solomon Motion Carried: Yes NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be held in person in the large classroom at the Health Department. DATE: July 16, 2024 TIME: 7:00pm LOCATION: Richmond County Health Department Large Classroom wun - Pbebe DuAhule Dennis Holloway, Chairperson Cheryl SpeightHealth Director Health & Human Services Advisory, Board Richmond County Health Department Health & Human Services Advisory Board Meeting - May 21, 2024 Page 5