Health committee approves grants totaling $436,730.94 and updates advisory committee membership

The Orange County Legislature Health and Mental Health Committee voted to accept four grant awards and approved a personnel update to the county legislative value advisory committee during its meeting.

The committee accepted a no-cost extension and remaining funds for a mobile response and peer services expansion, a cost-of-living adjustment payment for the Welcome Orange Geriatric Initiative (WOGI), a National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) infection-prevention mentoring grant, and a Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) grant. The panel also approved an update adding a representative from the County Attorney's Office to the Orange County Legislative Value Advisory Committee.

The grants accepted were: $299,374.94 from New York State for a no-cost extension that supports the county Department of Mental Health’s mobile response team and peer services (legislative request number 8); $35,256 from the New York State Office for Mental Health for 2023–2024 COLA for the WOGI program (legislative request number 9); $90,000 from NACCHO for an Infection Prevention and Control learning collaborative to fund staff time and training (legislative request number 323); and $12,100 for the Medical Reserve Corps grant covering activities through May 31, 2025 (legislative request number 7). The total of the four awards is $436,730.94.

“New York State has granted the Orange County Department of Mental Health a no cost extension through 12/31/2025,” said Commissioner Lacey Trimble, commissioner of social services and mental health, when explaining the $299,374.94 award. Trimble said the funds have helped expand a co‑located mobile response team and peer services and that positions were delayed in hiring, which is why a no‑cost extension and remaining funds are being accepted.

Dr. Jennifer Roman, DO, acting commissioner of health and medical examiner, described the NACCHO award as “a relatively small and short grant” that will fund existing staff time and allow staff to attend an epidemiology course offered by the Association of Professional Infection Control and Epidemiologists (APIC).

On the WOGI award, Trimble said the program serves adults 55 and older with substance‑use, mental‑health, aging and peer supports; roughly half of the additional COLA funding will go to community partner agencies and the remainder will offset county costs for a community‑based therapist who travels to clients’ homes.

Committee members voted by voice to accept each award. The meeting record shows the committee was operating with seven members present when these votes were taken; votes were recorded as “Aye.” The committee also approved a resolution updating membership of the Orange County Legislative Value Advisory Committee to add Mr. Flanagan from the County Attorney’s Office and noted Chairwoman Tortell as committee chair.

Votes at a glance

- Accept $299,374.94 (no‑cost extension) — Purpose: continue mobile response team / peer services expansion (Leg. Req. #8). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Accept $35,256 — Purpose: 2023–2024 COLA for Welcome Orange Geriatric Initiative (WOGI) (Leg. Req. #9). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Accept $90,000 — Purpose: NACCHO Infection Prevention & Control learning collaborative (Leg. Req. #323). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Accept $12,100 — Purpose: Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) grant (Leg. Req. #7). Outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve update to Orange County Legislative Value Advisory Committee membership to add Mr. Flanagan (County Attorney’s Office) and list Chairwoman Tortell as chair — Outcome: approved (voice vote).

The committee did not record named movers or seconds on the grants in the transcript; votes were put to the membership and recorded as approved by voice. The grants include specific spending timeframes; for example, the NACCHO award covers January through June 2025 and the MRC award must be spent by May 31, 2025, according to staff remarks.

The committee’s acceptance of these grants allows the county health and mental‑health departments to continue and expand services, fund staff time and training, and support volunteer medical reserve activities through mid‑2025.