County pushes forward with health plans

Indiana’s Health First Initiative infused $801,000 in funding into Wayne County to help address 16 core services.

The Wayne County Health Department continues work toward building partnerships to help achieve Health First Indiana’s goals. Becca Alliston, the department’s clinical director, updated Board of Health members on Health First Indiana progress during the board’s Feb. 20 meeting.

Alliston said the department’s Health First Indiana budget has about $356,000 this year for distribution to partners. That includes funding for Richmond Fire Department to expand its integrated mobile health program countywide. RFD currently serves the city of Richmond by having social workers respond to emergency situations to help individuals when it’s not appropriate for first responders to take them to Reid Health for emergency detention or take them to jail.

The health department also has identified student health and injury and trauma prevention as areas in which it needs assistance meeting the state’s key performance indicators. Funding applications, especially in those two areas, will soon be accepted through a portal, with funding to begin for the second half of 2024.

The board voted 6-0 to establish the partnerships for 18 months, lasting through 2025. Health First Indiana was established with funding for 2024 and 2025. State funding is doubled for 2025.

Other business

Auditor Mark Hoelscher recommended the board hire a consultant he used last year for his office to assist the health department with grant management, handling money and meeting state board of accounts requirements. He said the assistance would also help him.

Hospitalizations for flu and RSV dropped from January to February. Alliston said there were 10% fewer flu admissions and 2.5% fewer RSV admissions.

Mark Broeker and Dr. Jim Swonder attended their first board meetings as new board members. Broeker replaces Bob Coddington, and Swonder replaces Dr. Jon Igelman.