Public health director reports flu hospitalizations, Narcan outreach and a state-approved strategic plan

Robin, public health director, told the Iroquois County Health Committee that environmental health closed out food service permits and completed 36 tobacco‑compliance inspections in the month. "We gave out 6 radon kits," she said, and reported outreach at a Lions work fair where clinic services and radon kits were distributed.

Robin reported a spike in influenza hospitalizations: "We had 2 in the ICU at Riverside, 2 in the ICU at Saint Mary's, and 1 at OSF in Peoria. That was a 4 year old. He was very young. He's still in the hospital, but he's recovering on the verge of recovery." She said there were two deaths, both at Saint Mary's.

On overdose‑prevention work, Robin said the department provided three Narcan trainings and Narcan kits at community events and filled walk‑in requests for kits at the clinic. The department also offered a CPR refresher for local teachers and was continuing vision and hearing screenings at elementary schools.

Robin said the department spent about $33,000 in February from an ESS (emergency support services) account on groceries for seniors, rental assistance, and equipment for home health such as grab bars and other aids.

She announced that the department’s five‑year strategic plan had been approved by the state after staff pursued extensions and stakeholder meetings. Robin credited executive assistant Tyler Robinson for driving the plan to completion, saying he arranged dozens of stakeholder meetings, secured extensions from the state when needed and submitted the plan on the department's behalf. "He asked for extension from the state. He was granted it to September... he put it before our board in December and submitted it in January, and he's now been approved," she said.

Robin described a new regular coordination effort with mental‑health providers: she said she met with the CEO and director of local mental‑health centers and they plan to meet monthly to coordinate services and logistics aimed at addressing county needs for mental‑health and substance‑use services. She said Sheriff Clint and Mary Kay (last name not specified in the transcript) are part of that effort.

Robin also outlined routine service contracts for clinic billing software, environmental‑health field software, copier/phone maintenance, and IT support, and said she could provide a more detailed breakdown on request. She told the committee that the public‑health board meets the next evening and that the department’s finance committee reviews and approves bills every other month.

No formal committee action was taken on the program reports during the meeting.