Richland County Board of Health hears updates on grants, immunizations, home health and staffing

Laurie Straus, chair of the Richland County Board of Health, called the meeting to order at 12:10 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2024. The board reviewed the June minutes and the agenda; Tim Campbell moved to approve the agenda, Patty Lies seconded, and the motion carried.

Kayla Carlson delivered the Richland County Health Department’s overview, opening with budget and fee changes. The department will keep household fees at last year’s level (adjusted to updated poverty guidelines) and will add tuberculosis screening to its public-health fee schedule.

Carlson highlighted several grants the department is managing or pursuing. A Prevention Funding Services (PFS) grant will provide approximately $130,000 per year for four years to address alcohol and substance misuse; the department said the primary target population for that grant is college students, with secondary focus on children of individuals using substances and veterans. Carlson also described a $20,000 school-immunization grant intended to boost HPV and meningitis vaccine rates and a $40,000 grant to restore outreach immunization clinics at senior centers for RSV, COVID-19, pneumonia and shingles.

On immunization outreach, Carlson said the department increased outreach to six clinics this year, offering events at Colfax and Hankinson twice but without a measurable rise in uptake. As a result, staff plan to reduce the number of repeat outreach visits next year—returning to one visit per outreach site while adding a Saturday clinic to increase access.

Carlson reported other operational programs: a workforce grant that supports programming, staff professional development and onboarding; active Medicare open-enrollment assistance with a staff member (Angie) fully booked; and increased WIC participation after the department began calling newly reported births.

The department also reviewed child-safety work: two car seats were distributed, three were checked and corrected, two new-installations occurred, and a car-seat check event at St. Johns on Aug. 21 recorded nine seats checked. Staff hosted a car-seat training for social services.

Home health metrics were presented for the third quarter and showed relatively stable service levels. For Q3: July — 23 of 27 audited clients used med sets and 13 clients were certified with medication-assessment tabs completed (13/13); August — 22 of 26 used med sets and 15 clients certified with assessment tabs completed (15/15); September — 24 of 28 used med sets and 11 clients certified with assessment tabs completed (11/11). The average census for the quarter was 26 (July 28, Aug. 27, Sept. 28). New home-health admits numbered seven with six discharges and one evaluation reported for the period. Carlson said the department will update its quality-improvement plan for next year and will likely continue focusing on medication management.

Staffing changes were announced: Kaci Manikowski, LPN, is scheduled to begin Dec. 2. Two staff resignations were noted: Miranda Andel, effective Dec. 5, and Melissa Gaukler, effective Dec. 6.

On policy review, Carlson told the board there were no major policy changes this year and that the department has fallen behind on policy updates since the COVID-19 pandemic. Under environmental health, the board reviewed the Environmental Health Practitioner's Designation Form; Carlson reported that the state’s attorney’s office raised no concerns and the board proceeded to sign the form.

The meeting adjourned with the next meeting set for January or February (date not specified). Minutes were submitted by Kenzy Kaehler.