Washington County public health staff presented an executive summary of the department’s 2024 programs at the July 30 Health and Human Services Committee meeting and received committee approval to accept two small outside awards to support training and local programming. The presentation summarized lead-screening and maternal-child services, immunization and rabies clinic activity, state aid formulas, and pending risk to federal preparedness funding.

The department asked the committee to accept $6,250 from the New York State Department of Health to host a dementia-focused training at the Sandy Hill Art Center on Sept. 4; the committee voted to accept the award. Staff also asked the committee to recognize $1,100 in revenue tied to a “conscious self management” class sponsored by an outside organization; the committee approved that measure as well. “The amount that we were awarded was $6,250,” the presenter said when outlining the dementia training plan. The department said the dementia training allocation includes a $750 allowance to provide food because the session spans a meal period.

The department’s executive summary covered a range of program outputs from 2024. Staff reported lead screening of about 1,200 children, with 97 elevated lead results and four required home visits; immunization work that included eight flu clinics administering 185 flu vaccines, 710 rabies vaccinations at clinics and 409 animal-bite reports; and WIC participation of 14,377 people in 2024. Staff said early-intervention services received 190 referrals and evaluated 148 children, 77 of whom qualified for services; the county’s 3–5 preschool program served 290 children in 2024 and required about $1.8 million more in local funding than reimbursements covered.

On funding, staff said the county receives a base state aid (reported as a “space-based grant”) and then a 36% reimbursement for costs above that base; the presenter gave the combined 2024 state aid total as about $752,000. Staff also reported that the public health emergency preparedness (PHEP) contract will be paid at 50% at present and that the state will provide the remaining 50% only after it receives federal allocations, leaving the county with a temporary shortfall. “We were notified that we would receive 50% of our contract amount, and then receive the remaining amount once DOH has received their remaining allocation from the federal government,” staff said.

Staff also alerted the committee that federal cuts affected the WIC farmers-market coupons: the WIC coordinator still had booklets on hand and the current booklets remain valid through November, but no additional coupon booklets will arrive in July or August due to the federal reduction. The department asked the committee to sign a letter of support urging Congress to restore funding for the Area Health Education Center (AHEC); the committee voted to authorize the department to sign the letter.

Committee members asked multiple clarifying questions about the immunization and rabies clinics, registration and no‑show rates for clinic appointments, and the county’s ability to claim fringe benefits and program expenses under state-aid rules. On rabies costs, staff explained that the county covers patient co-pays or full bills when patients have high deductibles or no insurance, and that clinics receive donations that partially offset costs.

The committee received the executive summary and directed staff to post the full technical report to the department website. Staff said the full report and supporting financial breakdowns will be posted and available to committee members and the public.

Ending: The committee did not take additional budget action beyond accepting the small grants and authorizing the AHEC letter; staff said they will return with follow-up details and the full posted report.