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Bangor public health reports 28 HIV cases, hires case managers and seeks federal grant funds
Summary
Bangor Public Health updated the committee on an HIV outbreak with 28 reported cases, the hiring of two case managers funded by opioid-settlement money, a pending public health infrastructure grant of up to $730,000, an eastern equine encephalitis alert, and several grant-related orders the committee approved.
Jen Gunnerman, director of Bangor Public Health and Community Services, told the Government Operations Committee on Sept. 15 that the city is tracking 28 reported cases in an ongoing HIV outbreak and is addressing testing fatigue among community partners.
Gunnerman said the department has filled two intensive case manager positions funded through Bangor’s opioid-settlement funds; one hire is a licensed clinical social worker already working locally and the other is an experienced HIV case manager joining from Vermont. An RFP for a vehicle lease is pending, and the department has secured clinical oversight for the case-management program through a memorandum of agreement noted in the committee packet.
Gunnerman said the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention visited local partners and provided recommendations that Maine CDC incorporated into a report. She said the department plans follow-up meetings with federal CDC to review procedural implementation and that the program hopes to begin enrolling clients the week of Oct. 6.
On mosquito-borne disease, Gunnerman said Maine CDC issued a health alert placing Penobscot County at severe risk for eastern equine encephalitis; she said colder and drier weather may curb mosquito activity but the department is distributing educational materials to city departments, schools and the public.
Gunnerman also briefed the committee on accreditation-related work, maternal and child health grant discussions with Maine DHHS, and a public-health infrastructure grant. The agenda included a resolve to accept and appropriate up to an additional $730,000 from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to support Bangor Public Health’s infrastructure; committee members moved, seconded and recorded no objection to the packet of three orders and one resolve related to public-health work.
Gunnerman noted a statewide increase in general assistance maximums that will affect city costs, citing an example that the unheated one-bedroom maximum rose from $898 to $1,043. She said the department is watching federal budget negotiations for potential changes to grant eligibility and policy requirements.
The packet approved on the record included: a memorandum of agreement with Karen Gardner, LCSW, for clinical oversight of the intensive case-management program; authorization for the city manager to apply for up to $400,000 from the state to support housing stability expenses; a resolve to accept and appropriate up to $730,000 in DHHS funds for public-health infrastructure; and authorization to apply for a foundation grant of $243,225 to support a community paramedicine program.
