The Beaumont Enterprise published a story on June 30^th noting litter control efforts being made on Bolivar Peninsula beaches.  Garret Foskit with the District’s Nuisance Abatement services was interviewed for the article that can be found at http://www.gchd.org/press/2005/06BeachCleanUp.htm.

Plans are being made for the 4C’s open house to be held on the afternoon of September 14, 2005 at both clinic locations.  Public Information staff designed and distributed a promotion poster for the redesign of the clinics.  “Redesigned with You in Mind” is the message displayed.  More information on the open houses will follow as plans are developed. 

Fox 26 News contacted the District on July 19^th while working on a West Nile virus story.  No staff was interviewed but they were informed that we have had three birds test positive for WNV in Galveston County, and at this time there have been no reported human cases locally.

Beach Watch advisories continue to garner attention from the public and elected officials.  Dr. Guidry along with Kurt Koopmann participated in a conference call on July 21^st with the City of Galveston’s mayor, city manager, public information officer, city attorney, and management from the local beach patrol.  There were concerns about the large number of advisories posted and how the city should handle questions.  Dr. Guidry provided them explanation on what the advisories mean for most people.  As a result of this call the District’s web page for this program has been modified to make language consistent with the signs that are actually posted on local beaches.  To view these changes please visit  http://www.gchd.org/pollution/BeachAdvisory.htm.

Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) Exercise for Community Health Nursing staff.  In anticipation of a SNS Exercise that will be conducted on August 16^th in conjunction with the Kids Health Fest, the SNS Coordinator conducted training on July 13^th.  The purpose of the exercise will be to test clinic flow, organization, and communications during a mass vaccination clinic.

WIC - Texas City WIC offices moved to Suite 631 in the Community Family Center in July.  Texas City WIC clients were sent a letter announcing this move. In general, the move went smoothly and clients and staff seem pleased with the new space.  WIC will be celebrating World Breastfeeding Month with a program at the Island Community Center, 4700 Broadway on August 3, 2005.  The program will include speakers such as a breast-feeding mother, a representative from La Leche League, a pediatrician, and others. 

Community Health Services Program Business Meeting and other projects.  This month, CHS staff discussed ways to 1) increase WIC participation, 2) improve TB services (ex: evening clinics), and 3) enhance breast cancer screening services.  CHS staff will also be planning a Senior Health Summit to be held in the fall 2005.

Storm Debris Management – Garret Foskit and Ronnie Schultz met with officials from the Galveston County Office of Emergency Management and the State Division of Emergency Management to discuss finalization of the County’s Debris Management Plan.  This plan describes the County’s responsibilities to remove and safely dispose of storm event debris from the unincorporated areas. The Health District will play a key role in providing expertise in the proper disposal of the debris that includes the disposal of hazardous waste. All storm debris will be transported to regional debris sites that are currently being identified.  It is important to get the debris out of these communities and properly disposed of to reduce the risk of disease transmission caused by harboring of rats in these materials.

High Island Sewage Problems – Marty Entringer and Michelle Belco, an attorney working with the Houston-Galveston Area Council met with the Bolivar Special Utility District (SUD) Board to discuss the possibility of the SUD sponsoring a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP).  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality allows monies generated from fines for violations of environmental laws to go toward funding these approved SEPs.   These monies generated under this SEP would be used to assist low-income households with correcting their on-site sewage facility problems.  The Health District will be working with the SUD in the future to help identify persons eligible for this funding and assisting the SUD in identifying resources for these environmental needs.

Public Health Laboratory Activity – The Public Health Laboratory has seen an increase in current workloads due to additional beach water testing.  Recent elevated bacteriological levels along both Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula has required the re-testing of our local beaches.  These additional samples have increased the workloads in our Public Health Laboratory.  Part of the laboratory’s responsibilities is to input the analytical data into the Texas General Land Office’s statewide database.  This system automatically updates the information on the GLO’s website and sends email notifications to identified parties alerting them to beach advisories. With this system, we can provide accurate data in a timely manner to our public health partners.

New Provider – The Clinic welcomed a new provider to the staff on July 25, 2005.  Jean F. Lein is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner and Certified Nurse Midwife.  She has eight years of experience working as a Maternal Child Health Specialist and as a Nurse Midwife in Texas and Colorado, as well as many years in practice as a clinical nurse.  Ms. Lein will be working with both adults and children in both clinic sites.

The 4 C's Clinic Case Management Services will take over new offices at the La Marque Headquarters as of August 1, 2005.  The Department recently gained two new Resource Coordinators in connection with the Hogg Grant to help support mental health and substance abuse patients.  They will coordinate case management activities to free the 4 C's Counselor to pursue individual and group counseling duties.  The two Case Managers that work in the Texas City clinic will move to the new offices, but will continue to be available to patients in person at both clinics as well as by telephone.  A phone number for the La Marque location is (409) 938-2328. 

County committee working on future solution for Mainland EMS – A committee was formed after Goldstar began shutting its doors to coordinate the contingency EMS plan. The committee is putting together solutions for the future of EMS for those areas vacated by GoldStar. The top three plans being considered are forming an Emergency Services District that would contract the EMS, expanding GAAA to cover the entire area, and creating a cooperative effort where La Marque, Dickinson, Texas City, and GAAA provide service to the area. These solutions will be presented to the public and appropriate elected officials for their review.

Ambulance Responses – in June kept GAAA busy with 887 emergency calls and 178 non-emergency transfers.

National Medical Reserve Corps - On July 13^th the Public Health Planner and SNS Coordinator participated in a telephone interview with a Coordinator from the National Medical Reserve Corps to seek approval to form a Galveston County Medical Reserve Corps Team. The mission of the Medical Reserve Corps is to establish teams of local volunteer medical and public health professionals who can contribute their skills and expertise throughout the year as well as during times of community need. We should know in a couple of weeks if our application will be accepted. If it is, we will have our own nationally recognized group and will have considerable latitude in operations and training.

Volunteers - The Volunteer Coordination Office recruited 18 volunteers for the month of July. In an effort to increase volunteer services at the Health District, Shirley Carr met with Mara Smith. M.S.Ed., Director of Student Engagement and Student Orientation Programs at College of the Mainland on July 19, 2005.  Ms. Smith was given an overview of the Health District Services and volunteer opportunities for students. Ms. Smith is developing community service opportunities for students participating in clubs and organizations on campus. She feels that the volunteer program is an excellent way to get the students involved and will be actively recruiting volunteers for two big events that are being held during the month of August; The Children’s Health Fest and Strategic National Stockpile Smallpox exercise.