<H1>CECIL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES</H1>
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
QUARTERLY REPORT
CECIL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES
JULY – SEPTEMBER 2004
FY 2005For more information, contact the Health Officer, Dr. Virginia Bailey, at 410-996- 5550.
Division of Addictions
In July, the Alcohol and Drug Center began a new fiscal year for the Purchase of Care Program for detoxification services. These services are funded through Cigarette Restitution Funds. During the quarter, 36 individuals were referred for detoxification services through this program. Aftercare referrals for appropriate levels of care are completed for all clients referred for detoxification services in order to provide ongoing support for recovery.
During the quarter, clinical staff attended several trainings relating to clinical practices, research, and Limited English Proficiency clients. The Adolescent Team attended in-service training for the Maryland Student Assistance Program (MSAP) prior to the beginning of the school year. The three Adolescent Counselors serve as members of the MSAP teams in thirteen middle and high schools. As a result, the beginning of the school year saw an increase in adolescent referrals for evaluation, education and treatment services. Assessment services continue to be provided by Alcohol and Drug Center staff at schools, at District Court and at the Department of Social Services.
A new service has been developed through the Jail Based Treatment Program at the Community Adult Rehabilitation Center (CARC). The CARC Alcohol and Drug Education Program has been expanded to offer education to inmates at lunchtime. The CARC Unit has been trying to find openings in 12 Step Program meetings in the community for their population. The education program has been expanded to provide a resource for information and support until a 12 Step Program is available for these inmates.
During the quarter, 2,613 visits were provided to 503 clients; 133 were clients newly admitted to the Center.
Division of Administration
The Medical Transportation Program provided 2,408 trips during the quarter. In addition, 35 ambulance trips were authorized and 164 wheelchair trips were provided.
The vital records unit issued 542 birth certificates and 918 death certificates during the quarter. Birth and death certificates may be ordered on-line at www.cecilcountyhealth.org.
The Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP) processed 529 new applications for children and 110 new applications for pregnant women this quarter. The number of insurance re-determinations processed was 468. MCHP applications were mailed to county physicians’ offices, schools, and organizations for distribution to clients in need of health insurance.
Division of Community Health Services
The Judy Center, a statewide program founded in memory of Judith P. Hoyer, (an advocate for early childhood intervention) and funded through the Maryland State Department of Education, promotes school readiness for children and families in the Holly Hall School District. The program has grown to serve 195 children.
Through partnerships with local agencies, Judy Centers provide direct services to targeted children and their families. Included in Cecil’s partnership are: Cecil County Health Department, Cecil County Public Schools, Cecil Community College, MRDC Head Start, YMCA, Cecil County Public Library, Cecil Partnership for Children, Youth, and Families, and Cecil County Department of Social Services. The program is housed at three different locations in Elkton including Holly Hall Elementary School, Cecil County YMCA, and the Family Education Center.
A Health Department Community Health Nurse provides in-home psychosocial nursing case management and in-center nursing assessments and referrals for Judy Center children from birth to five years old. A Health Department Nurse Practitioner at the Holly Hall Elementary School-Based Wellness Center provides school health services for Judy Center children and their families, including physical exams, health assessments, immunizations, diagnosis and treatment of acute illness and injury, referrals for specialty care and management of chronic illness.
In FY 2004, Health Department staff conducted 248 screenings for this group of children.
Division of Environmental Health Services
The Environmental Health Services Division reviews proposals for new development and subdivisions for compliance with Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) requirements governing water supply and sewage disposal. These proposals are reviewed under the delegated authority of MDE regulations governing subdivision of land (COMAR 26.04.03) and governing on-site wells and sewage disposal systems (COMAR 26.04.02 and 26.04.04), where applicable. The Health Department’s review is coordinated with that of other County and State Agencies through the monthly meetings of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the Cecil County Planning Commission. For this quarter, a total of 37 development proposals were reviewed for the TAC meetings and 41 proposals were reviewed for the Planning Commission meetings. In comparison, during the same quarter last year, 17 proposals for the TAC and 21 for the Planning Commission were reviewed.
This year’s Bathing Beach Sampling Program concluded in August with a total of 18 “public” and “community” beaches surveyed and sampled. For this season, rather than the previous monthly sampling of all beaches, beach monitoring was prioritized for potential health risk; high priority beaches were sampled weekly, medium priority beaches were sampled bi-weekly and low priority beaches were sampled monthly. During the season, ten out of a total of 96 individual sampling events showed bacteria levels exceeding Federal and State standards; nine of those elevated results were in June, none in July and one in August. A tabulation of the results for the season along with more detailed information is available on the Cecil County Health Department website at www.cecilcountyhealth.org.
Division of Health Promotion
During the summer, 150 children attended Safe Kids Summer Camp, a collaborative day camp effort of the Health Department and the YMCA of Cecil County. In addition to traditional day camp activities, the children learned drug resistance skills, self-management skills and general social skills using the Life Skills Training Program, a science-based model program approved by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. The program made a positive impact; parents commented that they were pleased about the health and safety messages their children received and children remarked how much they enjoyed the program and the camp.
Training was held on September 15, 2004 at the Cecil County Board of Education for 25 Tobacco Use Prevention Coordinators for Cecil County Public Schools grades K-12. The coordinators, with student participation, will implement school-wide tobacco prevention activities for each of the public schools during this school year.
Health outreach community volunteer training was held at Cokesbury United Methodist Church in Port Deposit on September 29, 2004. Twenty-four volunteers attended, representing four faith communities. The training focused on how to provide one-to-one education to minority community members, tobacco cessation programs and resources available at the Health Department, and Colorectal Cancer Screening Program services available to Cecil County residents.
The Breast Cancer Screening Program provides services for women over age 40 who have no health insurance, a high insurance deductible, or Medicare. In FY 04, 268 women received breast cancer screening services through this program. The “Just Us!” Women’s Outreach Project, funded with a grant from the Maryland Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, covers the cost of a clinical breast examination and a screening mammogram and/or breast sonogram for women in Cecil County under age 40.
Division of Special Populations Services
A new PATH Grant (Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) of $5,000 was awarded to the Cecil County Core Service Agency for a part-time outreach worker to link homeless persons with public services. Core Service Agency staff has been trained to use the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), a system required by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for data management and future funding.
The Tri-County In-Home Respite Program continued in FY2005 for children with mental health needs. Due to an increase in referrals and a reduction in the allotment hours, it appears that available respite hours will be exhausted by December 31, 2004.
On Our Own of Cecil County celebrated its first anniversary at the current drop-in center on East Main Street in Elkton.
The Developmental Disabilities Program has been licensed by the Office of Health Care Quality to operate and maintain a resource coordination service. The Developmental Disabilities Program followed approximately 300 people during the quarter. There were 27 new referrals, 12 of which entered resource coordination and case management.
The Adult Evaluation and Review Services (AERS) conducted 92 evaluations during the quarter. The AERS staff continues to work closely with the Department of Aging.
The Division of Special Populations Services and the Department of Social Services (DSS) entered into an agreement to have a Health Department Community Health Nurse provide oversight/monitoring of DSS In-Home Aide Service (IHAS) aides who give personal care to clients in the DSS-IHAS program.
The Medical Assistance Personal Care Program held a care provider awards luncheon in September. All 18 providers were nominated by their clients for a CareHeroes award. During the luncheon, the providers and the care recipients and their families shared what the program has meant to them.