Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Nov. 9, 2017, edition 1 / Page 5
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A look at: the Board of Health BY 1UUU LUCK THE CHRONICLE The results of a study on the possibility of con solidating the local depart ments of health and social services, which may involve combining or elim inating their citizen boards, is expected soon. The results on the study of consolidation options are currently scheduled to be presented to commis sioners on Dec. 7. The Department of Public Health has the big ger of the boards with a dozen members that over see a department with a roughly $26 million budget and 250 full time employ ees. The Health Board has a variety of responsibilities including hiring the health director, voting on the department’s operational matters and providing oversight for health servic es. The large size of the board and the expertise of those on it are mandated by state law with a variety of skill sets to help with the diverse issues a health department deals with. liThey wanted to, in my mind, put together a multi disciplinary team that could come together with the department to get a handle on the many health related issues that exist in the community,” said Health Department Director Marlon Hunter, who is the board’s staff member. Other members that meet required positions are John Davenport (engi neer), Dr. B. Keith Cash (optometrist), Amanda Kistler (registered nurse), Charles Massler Jr. (den tist), Dr. Peter Robie (physician), Dr. Scott Schroeder (veterinarian), J. Phil Seats (pharmacist) and County Commissioner Gloria Whisenhunt. There’re also three mem bers that represent the gen Photo by Todd Luck Mayor Allen Joines, right, presents a procla mation to Bethesda Center board member Eric Proctor during Monday's City Council meeting. Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week starts Monday CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT ' r. • • During Monday’s City Council meeting on Nov. 6, a proclamation recognizing next week’s National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week was pre sented to the Bethesda Center for the Homeless, which has the only day shelter and emergency night shelter for men and women in the city. Bethesda’s events for the week include a commu nity kickoff on .Monday, Nov. 13 at 8 a.m. that will be held at Bethesda, 930 N. Patterson Ave., where a new initiative will be announced. On Wednesday, Nov. 15, the Heroes for the Homeless breakfast fundraiser will be held at 7:30 ajn. at the Bridger Field House at BB&T Field, 499 Deacon Blvd., with Trulliant President Marcus Schaefer as the speaker. There will be a Sleep Out Winston-Salem fundraiser at Bailey Park, 445 Patterson Ave., on the evening of Friday, Nov. 17. Reservations for the fundraisers can be made at www.bethesdacenter.org/a bout-us/f undr ai sing events/. ■ . ' o> Photo by Todd Lock The Forsyth County Board of Health conducts its meeting as nursing students from Winston-Salem State Universitv look on. eral public: • Heather Parker, a business manager at Vienna Village Assisted Living; Veterinarian Calvert Jeffers Jr., and Chiropractor Ricky Sides. “We all bring to the table professional perspec tives and that allows diem to represent their areas of expertise and then we come together to do what’s best for the citizens of the county,” said Parker. The health board’s Nov. 1 meeting showed just how diverse its agenda can be. They voted for staff to find a collections agency to collect overdue pay ments owed by some fami ly planning patients. They heard updates on changes in state lodging laws that health staff enforce through inspections and on changes in rabies regula tions, another issue the department deals with since it’s after an illness humans can catch. There was an update on tracking cases of Hepatitis B in the county and testing for a possible case of mumps. Hunter also informed them of plans to hire a nurse to monitor inmate healthcare in the Forsyth County Detention Center and new funding for the Nurse Family Partnership, which helps improve pregnancy outcomes for first-time mothers. Board members said the work on the board is challenging but rewarding and praised Hunter and his staff for the job they do for public health. “They’re heroes every day to a lot of people in Forsyth County,” said Seats, who is chair of the board. “They make lives better every aay ana mat s why I’m happy to be asso ciated with the board.” Dr. Robie said he was also glad to be able to give residents a voice in the health department’s activi ties. “Speaking as a physi cian, I work for the patient,” he said. “I think the Board of Health should reflect the same idea, we work for the citizens.” If county commission ers did decide to consoli date the departments of health and social services, the commissioners could eliminate the governing boards and take direct con trol of the departments but an advisory board with the same required positions as the Board of Health would have to be appointed. There’s also the possibility of a combined board, which would have 20-25 members featuring some of the current required posi tions on the health board plus new ones, including those who are Social Services clients. Consolidation mainly involves the governing structure of the depart ments, not their services . Building futures. One home at a time. At BB&T, our local lenders keep us close to our clients. And our commitment to outstanding service helps make buying a home a little easier. So when you're looking to buy, build, renovate or refinance a home, look first to BB&T. Our door is always open to share more than 145 years of financial knowledge - helping thousands of clients open doors of their own. Let’s get started today. BBT.com/Mortgage Harvey McIntyre, Mortgage Loan Officer 336-733-3378 | HMclntyre@BBandT.com NMLS# 415498 bb&i Home Mortgage Branch Banking and Trust Company is a Member FOIC and an Equal Housing Lender, til Loans are subject to credit approval. Only deposit products are FOIC insured. © 2017, Branch Banking and Trust Company. All rights reserved. V *
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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Nov. 9, 2017, edition 1
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