Committee approves multiple public-health grants and appropriations for clinics, addiction services and prevention programs

The Orange County Health and Mental Health Committee on Tuesday approved a set of supplemental appropriations and grant acceptances to support clinic enhancements, addiction services and several public-health programs.

Lacey Turnbull, Commissioner of Social Services and Mental Health, described one item as “a request to supplemental appropriation of the New York State Office of Mental Health Funds into the Department of Mental Health's 2025 operating budget to support clinic enhancement.” She told the committee the $49,500 award — previously accepted under Resolution No. 100 of 2024 — was rolled forward because of delays in funding receipt and the RFP timeline. “These funds are specifically to add peer support services to our clinics,” Turnbull said, explaining that the money will support peer staff who help patients engage with clinic services after hospital discharge.

The committee also accepted $55,913 in targeted OASAS inflationary increases intended for addiction treatment, prevention and recovery programs; Turnbull listed local providers that will receive portions of the funds, including Community Bandwagon, Independent Living, Regional Economic Community Action Program (RECAP), the Orange County Council on Alcoholism (ADAC), Catholic Charities of Orange-Sullivan and foster prevention programs, and the Department of Health.

From the Department of Health, acting Commissioner Lisa Lahith and Dr. Jennifer Roman outlined multiple grants and appropriations that the committee approved: a Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant for $285,905 (for a preparedness director, a part-time fiscal person and MRC coordinator/HR contract), a Breastfeeding Friendly grant for $197,502 (to fund a health and wellness coordinator and prenatal/perinatal contractor), a Creating Healthy Schools and Communities grant for $305,000 (for two public health educators and a subcontract with planning for active transportation work), and the Perinatal and Infant Community Health Collaborative program year 4 funds for $440,000 (funding a 2.5 full-time-equivalent community health worker, car seats, safety kits and hygiene supplies).

Lisa Lahith said of the preparedness grant: “As we mentioned, it funds our director of public health emergency preparedness. We also, for the first time, put a part time fiscal person into this grant.” Dr. Roman described the perinatal grant as funding “a 2 and a half time, community health worker” and said the program also covers emergency services purchases such as car seats.

Other public-health updates recorded during the meeting included the health department’s decision to stop active monitoring of previously reported measles cases (no new positives at the time of the meeting), reminders about rabies exposures and mosquito-breeding risk after wet weather, and outreach plans for PTSD, elder abuse and suicide-prevention awareness campaigns; Turnbull noted county social-media campaigns and a planned suicide-prevention effort timed for National Suicide Prevention Month.

Votes at a glance: - Supplemental appropriation, NYS Office of Mental Health — $49,500 (legislative request 183): approved. Purpose: add peer support services to county clinics. Mover/second: Chip Ramos / Legislator Sullivan (as noted in the transcript). Recorded voice vote: "Aye." No roll-call tally recorded in the public transcript. - Accept and appropriate, NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (inflationary increases) — $55,913 (legislative request 184): approved. Purpose: additional funding distributed to local addiction prevention, treatment and recovery providers. Recorded voice vote: "Aye." No roll-call tally recorded. - Accept and appropriate, NYS Department of Health, Public Health Emergency Preparedness — $285,905 (legislative request 172): approved. Purpose: funds preparedness director, part-time fiscal support and MRC coordinator/HR contract. Recorded voice vote: "Aye." No roll-call tally recorded. - Accept and appropriate, NYS Department of Health, Breastfeeding Friendly grant — $197,502 (legislative request 173): approved. Purpose: health/wellness coordinator and prenatal/perinatal contractor and training. Recorded voice vote: "Aye." No roll-call tally recorded. - Accept and appropriate, NYS Department of Health, Creating Healthy Schools and Communities — $305,000 (legislative request 174): approved. Purpose: two public health educators and school/worksite programming. Recorded voice vote: "Aye." No roll-call tally recorded. - Accept and appropriate, NYS Department of Health, Perinatal and Infant Community Health Collaborative (year 4) — $440,000 (legislative request 175): approved. Purpose: community health worker(s), car seats, safety kits and hygiene supplies. Recorded voice vote: "Aye." No roll-call tally recorded.

Committee members voted to accept the appropriations and grants by voice vote; the public transcript records "Aye" for motions and no recorded roll-call tallies. Committee staff indicated the funds will be integrated into departmental budgets and used for the stated program purposes.