<h2>CECIL COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ACTIVITIES</h2>
<h3>QUARTER: JANUARY – MARCH 2006
FY 2006</h3>
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For more information, contact the Health Officer, Dr. Virginia Bailey, at 410-996-5550
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Division of Addictions
</h3<p> During this quarter, the Alcohol and Drug Center implemented a new treatment approach based on the Stages of Change Model. The newly revised approach will create a more individualized system of care that examines a client’s readiness to change drug-related behaviors. Once readiness is determined, clients are placed in treatment groups along with others who are assessed as having the same level of readiness. Research indicates that an emphasis on readiness combined with more homogenous groups provides a better foundation for recovery. Clients have responded well to this restructuring of treatment services and the success of the new model will be monitored through client treatment data.
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The Center continues to collaborate with the Alcohol and Drug Council to identify strategies to improve substance abuse-related systems in the county. The council is anxiously awaiting word regarding state funding that was requested to expand existing treatment resources. The Center continues to participate in the planning efforts for an Adult Drug Court through Cecil County Circuit Court. It is anticipated that the first Drug Court session will be held in May.
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The Center’s Detox Program continues to provide detoxification services, through purchase of care from approved providers, for uninsured and underinsured individuals. Since July 1, 2005, 337 days of detoxification services were provided for 59 Cecil County residents. The Detox Program is funded with Cigarette Restitution Funds.
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During this quarter, 3,064 visits were provided to 537 clients, 253 of which were clients newly admitted to the program.
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Division of Administration
</h3<p> The Medical Transportation Program provided 2,400 trips during the quarter for a total of 20,975 miles. In addition, 349 wheelchair trips were provided for a total of 6,075 miles. Ambulances were authorized for 77 transports. There were 859 scheduled transports that were incomplete due to same day cancellations or no shows.
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The Vital Records Unit issued 589 birth certificates and 809 death certificates during the quarter. Birth and death certificates may be ordered on-line at www.cecilcountyhealth.org.
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The Maryland Children’s Health Insurance Program (MCHP) processed 487 new applications for children, 129 new applications for pregnant women and 509 redeterminations during the quarter.
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Division of Community Health Services
</h3<p> The purpose of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is to improve the status and overall health of its participants. Currently the Cecil County WIC program serves approximately 1800 residents. The goal of the program is to provide nutritious supplemental foods, nutrition education, health referrals, breastfeeding education and support.
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Persons eligible for WIC services include pregnant, breastfeeding or post-partum women, infants and children until age five who are residents of Cecil County and have family income 185% of the federal poverty level or are currently receiving Temporary Cash Assistance, food stamps, Medical Assistance, free/reduced school lunches or energy assistance. Eligibility is also determined through health and nutritional screening.
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In an effort to educate families about the importance of breastfeeding, the WIC staff has initiated and continues to provide group and individual counseling along with ongoing support for breastfeeding mothers. The program was awarded grant funding to start a breastfeeding peer counseling program and, in August 2005, implemented a workplace education initiative to support working mothers who breastfeed.
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In the last quarter, Cecil County WIC provided service monthly to an average of 252 pregnant women and 175 post partum women, 59 of whom were breast feeding. An average of 1,357 infants and children were seen during the same time period.
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Division of Environmental Health Services
</h3<p> Soil evaluations for proposed on-site sewage disposal for properties requiring wet season testing were initiated this year on February 1st, as the Department’s water table monitoring wells were at or above their normal seasonal levels at that time. Due to minimal precipitation after mid-February and falling groundwater table levels, the Department stopped scheduling additional seasonal testing appointments as of March 13th and then suspended further seasonal testing effective March 27th. Due to continued falling groundwater table levels in April, seasonal testing was not resumed for 2006. Those applicants who were unable to have testing conducted this year will be given priority for the 2007 seasonal testing period.
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The Environmental Health Services Division conducts water sampling inspection activities for those public water systems which are classified as “transient non-community systems” under a Delegation Agreement with Maryland Department of the Environment. Transient non-community systems are those systems that serve at least 25 people per day, typically not the same individuals, in a non-residential setting. This type of system includes restaurants, marinas, campgrounds and churches. (Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) maintains regulatory authority over other public water systems such as municipal supplies, mobile home parks and schools.) The division presently samples and inspects 181 of these systems in the County. The Health Department will receive $20,170 funding for this program from MDE under the Delegation Agreement this fiscal year.
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Division of Health Promotion
</h3<p> The Basic Alcohol Education and Prevention Program is a cooperative effort of the Department of Juvenile Services and the Division of Health Promotion. This program addresses the needs of youth offenders who have engaged in at-risk behaviors such as: possession of alcohol, dangerous driving, and DUI and/or DWI. These youth, who are selected by the counselors from the Department of Juvenile Services, participate in program sessions that review topics such as the dangerous effects of alcohol use and the consequences of marijuana use. The program offers strategies to prevent the development of a serious, life-threatening addiction. To date, 33 young people have participated in quarterly sessions. The Department of Juvenile Services maintains the records of the participants attending the program, which documents that no re-offenses have occurred with its participants since the inception of this program.
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The Cecil County Maternal and Child Health Improved Pregnancy Outcomes Systems Issues Update Luncheon was held on March 15, 2006. Thirty-seven local and state representatives and members of the Child Fatality Review Board (CFR), the Fetal and Infant Mortality Review Board (FIMR), and the Perinatal/Child Death Community Action Team (CAT) attended. Presentations included the impact of oral health on pregnancy, bereavement programs provided by hospice to address the loss of a loved one, statistics updates for Cecil County, results from the workshop series for first responders, the “Back to Sleep” campaign, and an update of systems issues from 2005 case review recommendations.
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Division of Special Population Services
</h3<p> The Mental Health Core Service Agency (CSA) has submitted the FY 2007 Cecil County Mental Health Plan Update to the Mental Hygiene Administration (MHA), and has begun contract negotiations with mental health services vendors for FY 2007. The CSA has received funding from MHA to develop a new mentoring program for at-risk children, which will begin providing services in FY 2007.
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During the quarter, the CSA coordinated the annual Point-in-Time survey that involved local organizations and agencies conducting interviews with 97 homeless people. The survey collected data about homelessness and people who are homeless in Cecil County. These data are used to apply for federal funds to provide limited housing for individuals with mental health issues.
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The Adult Evaluation and Review Services (AERS) conducted 105 visits during the quarter to develop care plans to provide services for frail elderly persons in the least restrictive setting. The AERS manager conducted an education and information session for participants at the Department of Aging’s community provider roundtable meeting.
</p<p> The Medical Assistant Personal Care Program (MAPC) started the quarter with 26 clients. The MAPC nurse continues to provide consultation and training to two certified nursing assistants of the In-Home Aide Service (IHAS) personal care program operated by the Department of Social Services.
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The Developmental Disabilities Program continues to be involved with the Special Education Citizens Advisory Council (SECAC) group. The group is growing in both numbers and in its effectiveness to achieve positive outcomes for children in special education in Cecil County Public Schools. The new “Friendship Club” held its second meeting with good attendance. The club provides opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to socialize with one another and form friendships.
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Office of Communicable Disease Control
</h3<p> On April 3, 2006 the Office of Communicable Disease Control, as well as all Communicable Disease programs across the State, replaced the current Maryland Electronic Reporting Surveillance System [MERSS] with the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System [NEDSS]. By law, cases of a disease or condition must be reported to the local health department. The local health department investigates cases and transmits case findings electronically to the State health department. NEDSS reporting is designed to advance the development of an integrated, efficient and interoperable surveillance system at the federal, state and local levels. This system should further enhance data collection and the detection of emerging public health problems.
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Office of Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness
</h3<p> The Office of Epidemiology and Emergency Preparedness (OEEP) has been preparing, planning and enhancing pandemic flu efforts. Revisions to the Health Department’s Pandemic Flu Plan were made to align with the recently released <i>National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza</i>. OEEP has begun collaboration with Cecil County Public Schools in pandemic flu preparedness planning.
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Health Department staff continued further emergency preparedness training through the multi-day Public Health Emergency Response Training Program (PHERTP) II. This training hosted presenters from Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH), Johns Hopkins Center for Public Health Preparedness, and the Maryland Cooperative Extension Service among others. To complete PHERTP II, all Health Department staff were required to become certified in FEMA’s National Incident Management System (NIMS) IS-700 course.
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The first meeting of the newly established Cecil County Veterinary Advisory Council was held in March and is to be followed by further meetings and activities. Veterinarians from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Delaware attended to discuss veterinary public health and veterinary emergency preparedness issues in addition to learning about Health Department activities related to their practices. </p>