New community health workers, Board of Health chair and health officer contract aim to expand mental‑health outreach
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Summary
Story County introduced two community health workers funded through the Fund for Resilient Nevada (Shelby Project) to staff a mobile outreach safety team and school support; the board approved a contract for Dr. Scott Shepherd to serve as county health officer and scheduled vaccination clinics for October.
Story County introduced two community health workers and approved a contract with Dr. Scott Shepherd to serve as county health officer, part of an effort to expand community‑based mental‑health outreach, jail diversion and school support.
Health and Community Services Officer Stacy York described the Community Health Worker (CHW) hires funded by the Fund for Resilient Nevada (the Shelby Project). York said the CHWs are trusted community members who will act as “a bridge between individuals and the health and social services we need.” She said the CHWs will work closely with the sheriff’s office and Community Chest, and will lead or assist programs including a Mobile Outreach Safety Team (MOST) and a Forensic Assessment Services Triage (FAST) team.
York named the two CHWs as Annie Brown, who will lead MOST and FAST responsibilities, and Haley Butler, who will lead school programs and support middle and high school counselors and the school resource officer.
Dr. Scott Shepherd, chair of the Board of Health, explained the board’s public‑health remit and said the county will track health trends and focus on mitigation measures such as vaccination clinics. Shepherd noted many clinical services are delivered in Reno and Carson City but said the county can provide community‑level mitigation. He announced two vaccination clinics: Oct. 10 at the Mark Twain Food Pantry/Community Center and Oct. 14 at the Story County Community Resource Fair at Piper’s Opera House.
The board then approved a contract with Dr. Shepherd for county health officer duties, effective Sept. 1, 2025, to Aug. 31, 2027, at $500 per month. Commissioners thanked staff and Dr. Shepherd and directed continued coordination among health, sheriff and community partners.
Ending: Officials said the CHWs and MOST/FAST programs aim to reduce law‑enforcement use of force incidents, ER stays and incarcerations for behavioral‑health episodes; staff will return with program metrics as services are implemented.