MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH

January 7, 2002

The Cecil County Board of Health met in the County Commissioner’s Board Room, 107 North Street, Elkton, Maryland, on Tuesday, January 7, 2002. The following members of the Board were present:

Nelson K. Bolender, President

Harry A. Hepbron, Commissioner

Phyllis Kilby, Commissioner

Mark H. Guns, Commissioner

William C. Manlove, Commissioner

Dr. Virginia Bailey

Constituting a full Board.

Dr. Bailey presented the Developmental Disabilities Program. Due to time constraints at the December 3, 2002 meeting, she was unable to present this program fully; therefore, a full report was presented to the Board.

The mission of the Developmental Disabilities Program is to provide leadership to assure the full participation of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families in all aspects of community life and to promote their empowerment to access quality supports and services necessary to foster personal growth, independence and productivity.

The Cecil County Health Department provides resource coordination to assist 268 individuals and their families with locating and obtaining services to meet their needs and interests. Types of services provided through private providers are family support services, residential services, individual support services, and day services.

There are currently seven staff members working with the Developmental Disabilities Program, not all of these positions are full-time. There are four case coordinators and one staff psychologist for the region. The State is in dire need of funding for this program.

The following is a list of Provider Agencies in Cecil County and the services they provide:

1. Bayside Community Network, Inc. – Serves individuals with disabilities including Mental Retardation, Downs Syndrome, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Prader-Willi Syndrome, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis, Traumatic Brain Injury, Dual Diagnosis of Mental Retardation/Mental Illness, Blindness and Deafness.

· Residential Services (Group Homes, Community Supported Living Arrangements & Alternative Living Units)

· Vocational/Supported Employment Program

· Day Services (13 Week Adjustment Training- DORS)

· Retirement Program

· Counseling Services (On-Site Psychologist)

· Sunny Acres Assisted Living Residence

· Day Habilitation Program

2. Chesapeake Care Resources, Inc.- Serves individuals with disabilities including Mental Retardation, Autism, Physical Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Dual Diagnosis of Mental Retardation/Mental Illness, Complex Medical Needs, Blindness, Deafness, Dear-Blind, Epilepsy, Traumatic Brain Injury and Muscular Dystrophy.

· Residential Services (Group Homes, Community Supported Living Arrangements & Alternative Living Units)

· Day Habilitation Program

· Vocational Assessment & Training

· Supported Employment

· Respite Services (Short-term)

· Children’s Services (Respite & Camp C.A.R.E.)

· David Lokey Center – Transitional Vocational Program

3. Shorehaven, Inc. – Serves individuals with severe Mental Retardation, Cerebral Palsy, Physical Disabilities, Complex Medical Needs, Blind, Deaf, Deaf-Blind, Epilepsy, Traumatic Brain Injury and Muscular Dystrophy.

· Residential Services (Group Homes)

· Day Habilitation Program

· Children’s Educational Services

4. The ARC of Northern Chesapeake Region – Serves individuals with Mental Retardation, Autism, Challenging Behaviors, Blindness, Cerebral Palsy, Complex Medical Needs, Seizure Disorders, Dual Diagnosis of Mental Retardation/Mental Illness and Physical Disabilities.

· Community Supported Living Arrangements

· Supported Employment

· Family & Individual Support Services

· Respite Services

In accordance with Health General Article 5-701-709 the Cecil County Child Fatality Review (CFR) Board reviews the deaths of all children and makes recommendations.

From the inception of the CFR in March 1999 through June 2002, the deaths of 42 children have been reviewed.

· Twenty-one of these deaths were due to accidents with seventeen motor vehicle accidents (where the child was the driver or a pedestrian); two were related to residential fires, one was a drowning and one child was hit by a train. Eight of the motor vehicle accidents involved alcohol and five involved not wearing a seat belt.

· Twelve of the deaths were Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as crib deaths. Some risk factors included unsafe sleeping arrangements and maternal smoking.

· The remaining deaths involved suicide, drug overdose, homicide and respiratory and heart disease.

Based on the reviews of these cases, the CFR found that the major problems contributing to childhood disease and death were: Inexperienced driving, not wearing seat belts, alcohol and drugs, mental illness, unsafe sleeping arrangements, lack of working smoke detectors on every floor of the home, and lack of gun safety.

Based on the findings of the CFR an informational brochure was distributed to many agencies informing the public of the CFR and its findings and recommendations regarding safety precautions for children.

The Cecil County Health Department FY 2002 Annual Report includes the functions of the Health Department: preventing epidemics; promoting healthy behaviors; assuring health care and emergency preparedness and response. One of the major accomplishments of the Cecil County Health Department in conjunction with Department of Emergency Services and the State Homeland Response Committee was to distribute potassium iodide tablets to residents within a ten-mile radius of the Peach Bottom Plant.

Some of the Task Force and committees are as follows:

1). Task Force Alcohol & Tobacco Use

2). Cancer Committee

3). Alcohol & Drug Abuse Task Force

4). School based wellness centers in place at Holly Hall and Bainbridge

Elementary Schools.

Dr. Bailey further reported that the seasonal testing would take place on time this year, beginning with the current waiting list.

There being no further business, motion was made to adjourn.