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Board approves consultant amendment, consent agenda and other administrative items
Summary
At its Feb. 17 meeting the PHHS board approved the consent agenda (with one pulled item addressed separately), an amendment to Birchbark Consulting for ongoing coaching (~$5,000), and other committee reports; all motions passed unanimously.
The Cook County Public Health and Human Services Board unanimously approved several administrative items on Feb. 17, including the consent agenda (after one item was pulled for discussion), and an amendment to the Birchbark Consulting contract for implementation coaching.
Staff described the Birchbark amendment as an approximately $5,000 addition to allow ongoing consultation and coaching so the department can implement recommendations from a nearly 57‑page assessment report produced by consultant Meagan Mohs. The board moved and approved the contract amendment without dissent.
The meeting also included routine committee reports (active living, community health board, food access council, emergency preparedness) and updates on programs such as a pop‑up pantry survey and a FoodRx pilot. In the director’s report Grace reported that MDH said the CDC canceled Minnesota’s public health infrastructure grant on Feb. 11, 2026; state attorneys general filed suit and a judge granted a temporary restraining order preserving funding for 14 days while litigation continues. The director noted the county’s remaining local portion of that grant was $20,979 of an original $30,728 award for the grant period through Oct. 30, 2027.
Votes at a glance: • Consent agenda (including purchase‑of‑service items except the Brightwater item, which was discussed and then approved) — approved unanimously. • Purchase of service agreement with Brightwater Health (after‑hours mobile crisis services and clinical supervision, plus shadowing language) — approved unanimously. • 2026 in‑home services cost‑sharing plan — approved unanimously. • Birchbark Consulting LLC contract amendment (approx. $5,000 added for coaching) — approved unanimously.
Next steps: staff will return with the consultant’s full report at the March meeting and provide follow up on the grant and pilot program metrics, and they will implement the in‑home cost‑share policy changes.
