Schenectady County health committee advances four public‑health funding measures including data modernization and support for home visiting

The Schenectady County committee on Health, Housing & Human Services on June 30 voted to advance four funding resolutions to the full Legislature that county public‑health officials said will expand data capacity, sustain home‑visiting services, continue rabies programming and fund behavioral‑health services including jail‑based treatment supports.

Keith Brown, director of public health, told the committee the awards include a grant from the Public Health Accreditation Board to implement the county's first electronic health record (EHR) for public‑health programs and to provide several years of ongoing support. "This will allow us to implement our first electronic health record," Brown said, adding the system will interface with the state's immunization database and that the project required a full risk assessment conducted with county IT staff.

The committee also approved advancing a five‑year contract and acceptance of funds from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services for the Healthy Schenectady Families Program, described in the committee memo as an ongoing home‑visiting program that supports families and will be continued through an annual multiyear contract.

A third resolution advances acceptance of New York State Department of Health funds to support the county rabies program, which funds post‑exposure work, testing and periodic public rabies vaccination clinics for cats, dogs and ferrets. Brown said rabies calls are seasonal and that public education has helped stabilize incidence; wild animals such as raccoons, foxes and bats remain the typical vectors.

A fourth measure moves state Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and Office of Mental Health (OMH) pass‑through funds for the county Office of Community Services to the Legislature. Brown said one change in the funding is a first‑time OASAS allocation to help offset jail‑based administration of medication‑assisted treatment (MAT) — specifically for medications such as buprenorphine and naltrexone — a development Brown described as "welcomed." The committee heard questions about local overdose surveillance and data sources; Brown said surveillance is often lagged and draws from medical examiners, law enforcement, EMS, emergency departments and local partners.

All four items were reported to the Legislature by the committee (committee vote recorded as unanimous by voice). Committee Chair Legislator Austerlitz and Legislator Rizzo participated in questions during the presentation.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased in this article are identified by name and role as they appear in the meeting record.