Logan County Health District Nursing Director Kelly Reaver reported at the Wednesday afternoon board of health meeting about the implementation of a competitive state grant received by the agency that will enhance the safety of the county’s youngest residents through the expansion of the newborn home visit program.
The health district is one of 18 recipients out of 38 organizations that applied around the state for the Governor Mike DeWine’s Office of Children Initiatives’ Early Childhood Safety Initiative pilot program, as recently detailed in the Examiner.
The LCHD will receive $16,782.93 for the program, which provides the agencies serving low-income families in 22 counties with funds to offer parent safety education on topics such as infant safe sleep practices, proper car seat installation, infant and early childhood development, and infant and early childhood nutrition.
“Governor DeWine is making a commitment to providing funding at the local level for this effort to reach families with these safety initiatives,” Reaver said.
“We are very excited to be accepted for this opportunity, and are so grateful to our nurse Kate Brentlinger, who wrote the grant for us. This will enable us to expand the newborn visit program to families of children ages 3 and younger.”
“Our goal is to serve 61 families by the time the grant ends June 30.”
The nursing director noted that participating families, who are currently being referred to the program through other local agencies or can self refer, will receive up to $200 in concrete safety materials, including items such as cribs, pack and plays, baby gates, baby monitors, high chairs etc. To qualify, the families also should meet eligibility requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
Among the participating agencies, a total of $400,000 will be awarded for the Early Childhood Safety Initiative pilot project, which will be administered by the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund in partnership with the Ohio Department of Health.
Also in nursing matters, the nursing director provided an update on the Narcan training program, stating that as of Jan. 2, agency staff have conducted 29 trainings at the health district and 25 trainings at area businesses, reaching 382 individuals and distributing 386 doses of naloxone. The efforts are funded through a $90,500 Ohio Department of Health grant received in July.
Reaver related that during 2020, offering the trainings at community outreach events will continue, but there will also be a focus on reaching people on the individual level who want to complete the five- to 10-minute training that shows how to recognize an overdose, how to respond to an overdose and how to administer Narcan during an overdose.
With the grant from the state, the health district is now a Project DAWN location, meaning during business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the 310 S. Main St. facility, Narcan kits can be dispensed to individuals requesting them.
Regarding flu vaccines, Reaver said the nursing staff have administered 407 flu shots so far this influenza season, compared to 181 doses administered at this time last year. She noted that the large increase is linked to the eight outreach clinics conducted by the agency, and said vaccines at still available at the office for all ages.
Administrators also reported that the agency has started an Employee of the Month Award this year, with Kim Houchin receiving the first honor this month. She has received a number of positive comments in recent customer satisfaction surveys and has been instrumental in assisting with all of the paperwork processing involved with the new Sewage Operation and Maintenance program, officials said.
In organizational matters for 2020, members re-elected Bob Harrison as board president and Robin Price as board vice president.
The board has moved its monthly meetings to the second Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m., with 1 p.m. Feb. 12 slated as the next meeting.
In other action, the action, the board:
• ordered James Hoberty, 11379 Kiowa Path, Chippewa Park, Lakeview, with an accumulation of trash and debris on the property, to correct the violation by removing the solid waste to a licensed disposal facility within seven days;
• ordered Robert Irwin, 11372 Kiowa Path, Chippewa Park, Lakeview, with an accumulation of trash, debris and non-working vehicles to remove the solid waste to a licensed disposal facility within seven days; and
• approved a well variance request for Danna Koch, 2238 Township Road 247, DeGraff;
• approved the renewal of the agency’s Medicaid Administrative Claiming contract;
• accepted the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund Agreement Resolution; and
• approved the agency’s five-year strategic plan.