Board approves $24,950 texting platform to expand public health outreach and communicable-disease communication

Josephine County commissioners approved a one-year service agreement for a texting platform to expand communicable-disease communication and appointment booking by Public Health.

Public Health staff said the county already uses the platform for the WIC program and that WIC staff handled close to a thousand text-message interactions per day. Public Health asked to extend the same approach to the communicable-disease (CD) program to provide non-invasive, rapid responses and to encourage timely treatment and prevention outreach for teens and adults.

Staff described the contract as a one-year agreement funded through the Public Health Modernization program. The contract amount in the packet was cited in discussion as $24.95 (stated by staff) and later described consistently as $24,950 (packet and motion). Public Health said the platform can generate usage reports the department will use to evaluate results and the contract can be not renewed if it does not show impact.

Commissioner Barnett made the motion to approve the agreement; another commissioner seconded. On roll call the board recorded unanimous approval and the motion carried 3-0.

Public Health staff said the texting approach is intended to reduce barriers to care and help mitigate sexually transmitted infections and other communicable diseases by making it easier for users to ask questions, book treatment and receive educational messages. Staff noted the county will track metrics and report back at the contract year mark to inform a renewal decision.