[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5979341,"mediaKeyId","5807047-784091f368e1c2e8b38cdefae98469e2","parentId",5807047,"title","Human Services Coalition leads review of regional health planning council to reflect broader definition of health","audioSeconds",152,"startMs",2080000,"endMs",2232000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5807047-784091f368e1c2e8b38cdefae98469e2&start=2080&end=2232","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5807047-784091f368e1c2e8b38cdefae98469e2/thumbnail_2080000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5979341/Tompkins-County/New-York/Human-Services-Coalition-leads-review-of-regional-health-planning-council-to-reflect-broader-definition-of-health","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979341-27000b147fbfb0bd00787f37e5235b0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077370&Signature=gtH8u5KJc6GbKcHJp9bRH3Mj-DhcxRwNpji6puOmF43IV2jUvPg2ODSG3I8iLAObk1toEuB8QB9vBiDhGFKDE5v0lKZy1Qur~bRMXZWid2abxkmm8exthRpGCF0~BeAkl2e7p9~KTOjaehvyQPGDxandnlSTr6UyB~slFXUBOxevvtoLT3Z2QdJacDnY45op55fxhxaX8F1q5Qn000oFvNJlapKTqMWRe79NFj8Kf-R5icq0daI1xK-vHVSoOkIWtEiaWL0j79ztocIhD2HdK14W8TtcNEg8sNuw~tsla5l49hSplFvDKOnMSUML~5fEAV8RJ~g9uABsSOa6W3tFLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tompkins County, NY","date","2025-09-18T05:41:59Z","article","Cindy Wilcox of the Human Services Coalition told the Tompkins County Health & Human Services Committee on Sept. 17 that the county’s Health Planning Council is reviewing its structure and membership to reflect a broader, non‑clinical definition of health that includes mental health, food access, transportation and housing.
Wilcox said the council acts as a coordination forum among local health organizations and that the evolving definition of health requires reevaluating membership and governance so that overlapping community health improvement plans — including Tompkins County Whole Health’s plan and the hospital’s plan — can be better aligned. She said she has discussed the structure review with Whole Health Commissioner Jenny Sutcliffe and Department of Social Services Commissioner Britney Earle.
Why it matters: aligning multiple health plans and expanding council membership could streamline collaboration across public-health, clinical and social‑care partners.
Committee discussion: Legislator Randy Brown asked for a more detailed breakdown of budget cuts affecting HSC program areas (food, housing, etc.); Wilcox said she would provide that information. Committee members thanked Wilcox for the work and noted the value of the council’s coordinating role.
Ending: the Health Planning Council will complete the structure review and the Human Services Coalition will coordinate input from county leaders and community partners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Tompkins County Health and Human Services Committee - September 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Human Services Coalition reported the Health Planning Council is reviewing its structure and membership to address an expanded view of health — including mental health, food security and housing — and to better align overlapping community health improvement plans.","taxTitle","Tompkins County, New York","taxId",52737,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5979346,"Youth services loses juvenile‑justice hub grant; department to reorganize work and hire replacement staff",90,1824000,1914000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5807047-784091f368e1c2e8b38cdefae98469e2&start=1824&end=1914","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5807047-784091f368e1c2e8b38cdefae98469e2/thumbnail_1824000.jpg","/articles/5979346/Tompkins-County/New-York/Youth-services-loses-juvenilejustice-hub-grant-department-to-reorganize-work-and-hire-replacement-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979346-79e6ed2d590fda055bcb34397702a3f9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077370&Signature=LM2kpBDoJTVbYAEYAGijE8511iJJIiDkcIP0bp1Ep5HbMbcFuwm7pgDONPGskG3vG14zxfoRGEDONYlxQZse4GNDvwItlQMrQXNj-3bPHtsXPkslh2~L92pEc5KTFFLDxK7gF-BVJTFcVY0Xbr7eF9emfWNv9gr8sJE3QFr5A1fsqP~RX11xeNp8LNVGGGN8ZU8W26g~XZH2U9vNtki3CLhn-ws11v899bsEriSvveQXdg-aI9La1wFhRLtkndxo0rCI0TNtQHnoKY7pQa9b4Jpp6DSOt-KQ2K~1UKz0CS6PZ~3exppI173zA4wiMCwniff7CXRlxCVdKOJm0Iy4Rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tompkins County Youth Services on Sept. 17 told the Health & Human Services Committee it did not receive a competitive juvenile‑justice hub grant but is using the work from the application to coordinate local partners and reorganize responses for youth needs.
Youth Services Director Kate Shanks Booth said the county competed in the urban category and faced an uphill battle; despite not receiving the grant, staff are meeting with probation, the Department of Social Services and community partners to create a more organized, holistic response for youth services. She thanked partner staff — including Mona from CJC and Shavon from Southside — for assisting with the grant effort.
Staffing: Shanks Booth told the committee the department recently lost a youth service specialist, Donovan Birdie, who accepted a job in California after helping update the department’s website. The department has submitted a request to fill that vacancy and planned to post the position soon, she said.
Why it matters: the lost grant affects the department’s ability to fund expanded juvenile-justice hub functions, but local coordination may preserve key services. The vacancy will affect Youth Services’ capacity until filled.
Committee follow-up: members discussed collaborative networks that address vaping and youth mental health; Shanks Booth said she co-chairs the Collaborative Solutions Network (CSN) and that prevention groups including the Coalition for Healthy Youth have merged workstreams to address vaping and other youth mental‑health issues.
Ending: Youth Services will post the specialist vacancy and continue partner meetings aimed at strengthening local supports for youth.","Tompkins County Youth Services learned it did not receive a juvenile justice hub grant but will pursue internal coordination with partners; a youth service specialist vacancy will soon be posted after the recent departure of a staff member.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5979351,"DSS reports Code Blue shelter counts; discusses separating ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ clients at Cherry Street site",211,1537000,1748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5807047-784091f368e1c2e8b38cdefae98469e2&start=1537&end=1748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5807047-784091f368e1c2e8b38cdefae98469e2/thumbnail_1537000.jpg","/articles/5979351/Tompkins-County/New-York/DSS-reports-Code-Blue-shelter-counts-discusses-separating-wet-and-dry-clients-at-Cherry-Street-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979351-bbf3ef3f43ed87c15f0a3115cf6712be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077370&Signature=W1cmHgFBWbBgB7qI-edFKhfJV2e4aTlU-EkDGYN8ctrtLaPCc956qpGQGUoi-EIhG~mnt5A-IhCQrvP-ebNFaxi8P1qlvlMGlem50ZWnWA3eHfshkyhyhTlxKbWftW58M3v86V96YpqHaZXSoOgvfR-fWTK8VheIescst7SlboeCWtnu0OH7aCZvUHHubulaiwKF9cOhoCYWER8~XynAwwnQ2TfWuS2NFFnGK5rSlP5PlHFiRk4u6wc0tffXda7xvQU4i797i5vrSclXlFqaEICEqOqqkF42F~q62WxpqQofp9F0jVV~Wd3gHIFGFh6TpXxzUrPOjbKQz853fxKvzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tompkins County’s Department of Social Services reported shelter occupancy and discussed operational approaches for the county’s Code Blue low‑barrier shelter during the Sept. 17 Health & Human Services Committee meeting.
Commissioner Britney Earle said the department currently has 42 individual adults in shelter, three families totaling eight people, 30 individuals in other county hotels and one person in an out‑of‑county hotel. The department is collaborating with county partners on the planned Cherry Street shelter and is coordinating Code Blue operations there, Earle said.
Earle described Code Blue as a low‑barrier shelter that cannot turn away someone who arrives under the influence of alcohol or drugs. She said the Cherry Street location is large enough that the department is exploring options to “be more intentional” about intake and to consider separating a ‘wet’ intake area (clients actively using substances) from a ‘dry’ intake area, with partner agencies helping to sober clients if needed.
The commissioner said families are generally not placed in Code Blue; families are housed in hotels or motels to keep family units together and provide privacy. Earle also said the department is rolling out an internal mission, vision and values project and is coordinating SNAP focus‑group work with community partners.
Why it matters: the committee received an operational snapshot that affects shelter capacity, service design and partner coordination as the county opens or adapts sites for winter Code Blue sheltering.
Committee follow-up: members asked about an off‑site detox and stabilization center on Trippheimer Road; Earle said she would follow up with an updated timeline from the project lead. No formal committee action was taken on shelter policy at the meeting.","The Department of Social Services reported current shelter counts and described options for operating the Cherry Street Code Blue low‑barrier shelter, including discussion of separating clients who are actively using substances from those who are not; families will continue to be housed in hotel/motel placements.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5979356,"Office for the Aging gets $81,028 budget boost for long-term care ombudsman program; seniors eligible for extra farmers-market booklets",123,1333000,1456000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5807047-784091f368e1c2e8b38cdefae98469e2&start=1333&end=1456","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5807047-784091f368e1c2e8b38cdefae98469e2/thumbnail_1333000.jpg","/articles/5979356/Tompkins-County/New-York/Office-for-the-Aging-gets-81028-budget-boost-for-long-term-care-ombudsman-program-seniors-eligible-for-extra-farmers-market-booklets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979356-fc615cf8bcf5fe67d69c1aa975f153d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077370&Signature=GhYvzfhuScI9Y~aWWLr7TYzjn0hUeFZmeZi~32iUof-ZmhITevPZ4XFAdLRcUC6VBI2UmLm~vCcJEzqia1voAIgGAD2aqQQ~sLyS82rD-g7zWPdkBUmXyRewXq7o96gcQW-6VP~AzZWqzZu00XU2dmM-W9-kkeTJx-e98QwKSmcHZL9FSXUT3eL7LhVgXDkkTuZTu44glJ40xLdUTd6rTOmPWt1xRM~t4zKV3uFu4uv2hYdO4DXyf-hDV8T31SmyVLJGfMWZC2LoNWObo8l1j1PxcoYJhV1hM-jDfjn~1vXu1~UlzYxhi~lYQ44Pq2X1cu13y7oBdLr6727IcaEILQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tompkins County Health & Human Services Committee on Sept. 17 approved a budget adjustment increasing funding for the Office for the Aging’s long‑term care ombudsman program by $81,028, county Office for the Aging Director Lisa Monroe said.
Monroe said the additional funds represent leftover American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars that were included as a legislative add to the governor’s budget; the increase reduces or eliminates the county share of the ombudsman program for the current year. The committee approved the motion unanimously (moved by Randy Brown; seconded by Amanda Champion).
Why it matters: the funding increase supports the ombudsman program that advocates for residents of long‑term care facilities and reduces local fiscal pressure on the county budget.
Additional office updates: Monroe said representatives from NYSOFA (New York State Office for the Aging) were conducting a program evaluation in the office that day. She also told the committee the senior farmers-market coupon program is issuing a second round of booklet booklets through Sept. 30; coupons issued this year may be used through Nov. 30. Monroe encouraged eligible seniors to pick up booklets before the Sept. 30 cut-off.
Committee action: the budget adjustment resolution passed unanimously. Monroe said she had not received extensive direct public feedback about the Office for the Aging’s planned move to Dutch Mill but that an advisory board had questions; that board planned to discuss the matter with legislators on Friday.
Ending: Monroe and committee members said the additional funding provides short-term fiscal relief for the county and supports ombudsman services for long‑term care residents.","The Health & Human Services Committee approved a budget increase for the Office for the Aging’s long‑term care ombudsman program and heard that senior farmers-market coupon booklets will be reissued through Sept. 30.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5979359,"Tompkins County approves early-intervention transport contract; Whole Health highlights grants, epidemiologist request",307,670000,977000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5807047-784091f368e1c2e8b38cdefae98469e2&start=670&end=977","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5807047-784091f368e1c2e8b38cdefae98469e2/thumbnail_670000.jpg","/articles/5979359/Tompkins-County/New-York/Tompkins-County-approves-early-intervention-transport-contract-Whole-Health-highlights-grants-epidemiologist-request","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5979359-7c226c73e061ea1527402930e4a96d5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771077370&Signature=NS0gxhkUUGzOVJvw5NNQVeqD6AqUz8~4DfstiIyrBeu-Q-996LZ4RarQcp8dtNu3btnWaNVhcQacmzr1k~ME8dSCMGUB59AJPgSo~LvfGx4rlrZ0uC9~J3H5uSpyL2GgsAK6Yu~05qjAU-~JJ2ZXFH5TLXha~sDd4BCnwA25W3nToAa8ZV6pFTlysTzfmXZf~X3ERm0riA0jquOGIvW6SGMpQI20RqOkhBGlsLCCkQGBuOQ1lCcbgoCtRgBBwIR-7Zuy95z5zouhJG3BbWLQO0mAWoPd6p5j14riVVuG-6IRD-6Nqz9671~1qD1~GEQrlQT45cFLt2ggYNX1VUoGGg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tompkins County’s Health and Human Services Committee on Sept. 17 unanimously authorized the County Whole Health Department to enter a multi-year agreement with Boerne Best Services Incorporated (ID13520) to provide transportation for preschool-aged children receiving early intervention services.
The contract — previously held by the same vendor for seven years and re-awarded after a request for proposals — will fund a bus service to pick up preschoolers from daycare or pre-K and transport them to Racker for early intervention therapy, Whole Health Commissioner Jenny Sutcliffe said. The county pays the contract costs; staff said the county receives a 59.5% reimbursement for transportation costs.
The committee’s approval came by motion (moved by Legislator Randy Brown; seconded by Legislator Amanda Champion) and passed unanimously.
Why it matters: the contract supports the county’s early intervention program for children with special care needs and preserves an existing transport arrangement the department said streamlines access to services.
Committee discussion and details: Sutcliffe, speaking to the committee, described the line item as part of the children’s special care needs division. Jess, the division director for that program (appearing remotely), told members the transportation contract is funded from county funds and that the for‑profit vendor sets its own rates; the county is reimbursed roughly 59.5% of eligible transportation costs.
Sutcliffe also briefed the committee on other Whole Health items: the department’s COVID communications work, two recently awarded grants and items included in the County Administrator’s recommended budget. She said her team quickly posted federal guidance as it emerged and is preparing a community FAQ to publish on the department website. When asked about wastewater surveillance, Sutcliffe said she did not have an immediate answer and would follow up with the committee.
Grants and budget items described to the committee included a Park Foundation award to support a doula training initiative through the Healthy Infants Partnership; that project will train a cohort of Black women for doula certification and was developed with the partnership’s community advisory board, Sutcliffe said. The county is also reapplying for a residential septic system grant — a federal program passed through the state — administered locally in partnership with INHS; Sutcliffe said INHS administers eligibility while county environmental health handles septic design and testing. The county is applying for up to $1,000,000 through that program.
Sutcliffe also noted the County Administrator’s recommended budget includes a new epidemiologist position within the Whole Health Department and a suicide-prevention coordinator. She said staff across the department already have multiple use cases for an epidemiologist, including infectious disease and mental‑health data work, and that the position will be discussed further at the department’s upcoming budget hearing.
What the committee directed: the committee approved the vendor agreement and asked staff to provide follow-up information on wastewater testing and to present additional details at the upcoming budget hearing. Sutcliffe said she will bring a more detailed FAQ and further budget material to the Legislature’s budget hearing next week.
Ending: the committee passed the contract resolution unanimously and will consider budget items, including the epidemiologist request, during next week’s hearings.","The Health & Human Services Committee authorized a multi-year contract for preschool transport to Racker and heard Whole Health Department updates on COVID communications, grants for doula training and septic system assistance, and a proposed epidemiologist and suicide-prevention coordinator in the recommended budget.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Human Services Coalition leads review of regional health planning council to reflect broader definition of health

Youth services loses juvenile‑justice hub grant; department to reorganize work and hire replacement staff

DSS reports Code Blue shelter counts; discusses separating ‘wet’ and ‘dry’ clients at Cherry Street site

Office for the Aging gets $81,028 budget boost for long-term care ombudsman program; seniors eligible for extra farmers-market booklets

Tompkins County approves early-intervention transport contract; Whole Health highlights grants, epidemiologist request