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Gilliam County public health readies for state triennial review and faces potential prevention funding cuts
Summary
Public health director reported on a state triennial review, community health survey results and potential federal prevention funding cuts that could reduce local prevention funds by $70,000 to $100,000.
Dailene Wilson, public health director, told the Gilliam County Court on April 2 that the county's public health program is entering a state triennial review and that a community health survey is nearing its response target.
Wilson said local staff had completed WIC reviews successfully and were preparing for the larger, three-year review the state performs. "That will start this summer," she said, noting the review could take months and that county fiscal staff would be involved.
Wilson described a community health survey distributed to county households as part of a program modernization requirement (PE51). "Our goal'is to get about 250 responses," she said, and reported roughly 198 returns to date. She said the survey results would be posted publicly when compiled.
Wilson said public health is drafting a job description for a prevention coordinator to consolidate prevention work and outreach across Arlington and Condon. She said the county could repurpose an existing $15,000 part-time prevention line into an intergovernmental agreement if additional county support is needed.
Wilson told commissioners she had learned of potential federal cuts to prevention dollars the previous day and that early estimates indicated Gilliam County could lose "probably between $70,000 to $100,000" in funds. She said the county was monitoring notices from the state and would advise the court if funds need to be returned.
"We wanna make that a priority," Wilson said of prevention work, adding that the county would continue outreach with schools, clinics and regional partners.
Commissioners asked whether clinic operations would be affected; Wilson said the clinic remodel and current clinic spending were not threatened by the potential cuts because different funding streams had been used for the remodel.
Wilson highlighted other local public health activity, including higher immunization turnout this season, coordination with Wheeler County for the Babies First program and ongoing regional meetings about youth services linked to statewide Oregon Youth Authority concerns.
The court asked staff to return with further updates as the state review and federal funding notices progress.
