Board of Health

Skokie Board of Health November 8, 2018 Present Absent Excused Trustee Bromberg Dr. Prince Mr. Abbasi Mr. Pandya Dr. Dave Dr. Shim Ms. Nickisch Duggan Dr. Sood Dr. Drachler Dr. Topouzian Ms. Urbanus Dr. Gaynes Dr. Usman Ms. Varma Ms. Haido Dr. Vernon Ms. Jones Dr. Werner Ms. Moy Wooten Dr. Williams Dr. Catherine Counard, Director of Health Alison Kiboi, District 69 Mr. David Clough, Staff Souzan Barkho, District 69 Sarah Rankin, District 69 Giselle Kuc, Benedictine College Dr. Megan Aseltine, District 69 Duncan McGeoch, Benedictine College Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by Dr. Drachler, Chairman. Approval of Minutes – Minutes from the October meeting were approved. Community Schools and Health Service Partnerships in District 69 Sarah Rankin reported on the Community Schools initiative in District 69. District 69 is a school district with an enrollment of almost 1,700 that draws from Skokie and Morton Grove. There are three schools serving pre-school through 8th grade. Half of students qualify for free and reduced lunch and about 64 students are experiencing homelessness (3.8%). English language learners represent 30% of students, three times the rate in Illinois overall. The community school model is gaining in popularity with nearly 5,000 community schools in the nation. The two primary principles of a community school are 1) seeing the family as the focal point of the school and 2) working with community partners to provide resources to meet family needs. By understanding the barriers that families face in accessing resources the schools can help address problems such as health, hunger, and housing issues which impede a child’s ability to learn. Ms. Rankin made the analogy of a traditional school being like a rotary phone, with one purpose and one use, and a community school model being like a smart phone with multiple uses and applications in a single location. Ms. Kiboi reviewed the history of the community school model in District 69. It began in 2013 with a Community Schools Manager position hired in partnership with the Youth and Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) organization. By 2014 they had begun health partnerships including school physicals, vision screenings, dental screenings, and flu vaccinations. In fall 2016, the Community Schools Action Team launched to develop the vision, guiding principles, and focus areas for the model. This led to the creation of three workgroups: Family & Community Engagement, Expanded Learning Opportunities, and Health & Wellness. Ms. Kiboi then focused on the impact of health partnerships in the school. The Advocate Children’s Hospital Care Mobile Van provides physicals for uninsured students twice a year, and is partnering with 545797v1 the Skokie Health Department this year to offer flu shots for students. Preferred Dentistry also sends a mobile van to the schools. These onsite health clinics help families by eliminating the transportation barrier many of them face, and have provided services for 900 students from 2014 to 2017. Of these students, 43% were English language learners and 73% were on free and reduced lunch. Ms. Souzan Barkho spoke about her role as a family liaison to Arabic and Assyrian families. She invites parents to meetings and encourages them to be proactive in their children’s education. Families feel that the community school initiatives help them access services without having to take the child out of school and lose a day of work. Ms. Barkho gave the example of her own child who was afraid to get on the exam table at a doctor’s office but willing to get the exam at school where she saw her friends doing it. Dr. Drachler asked about funding for the extra hours the school remains open. Ms. Rankin replied that partnerships with other entities such as Y.O.U. and the Park District help to pay for those expenses. Dr. Dave added the SAHELI team met with District 69 leadership to explore collaborating, and the South Asian family liaison was extremely helpful. District 69 is open to holding SAHELI classes in the schools. Dr. Shim expressed surprise at the number of homeless students and asked how they define homelessness and what resources are available for students in that situation. Dr. Aseltine responded that the guidelines include situations such as families having to double or triple up in one house or living in a shelter. Some Title 1 funds are available to support homeless families by providing assistance with food, transportation, and other basic needs. The district feels very strongly about providing transportation to ensure that children are in school, because for many homeless students school is the one stable place in their lives. Dr. Drachler asked about addressing child hunger and instilling the importance of eating a healthy breakfast every day in children. Ms. Rankin replied that the district has grant funding from the Greater Chicago Food Depository to provide breakfast. The grant allows them to provide easy grab and go breakfasts for children in the morning even if they come in too late to go to the cafeteria. Dr. Werner asked how students are linked to a healthcare provider if an issue is discovered during their physical with the care mobile van. Ms. Kiboi answered that the children are referred to area physicians, either through Advocate or to the two Federally Qualified Health Centers serving Skokie (Asian Human Services and Erie Family Health Centers). Chair’s Report Dr. Drachler provided an overview of the Resilient Families event to be held at the Skokie Public Library on November 14th. He encouraged Board members to attend and volunteer if they can. He then wished a happy Diwali to all the Hindu members of the Board and the Skokie Community. Ms. Moy-Wooten was given the opportunity to introduce herself to the Board of Health. Ms. Moy- Wooten represents Erie Family Health Centers and works at the Evanston/Skokie location. She moved to Skokie with her family two years ago and lives in District 73 1/2. She hopes that by joining the Board of #545797 Health she can encourage increased collaboration between Erie Family Health Centers and the Board. She has a background working with immigrant families as a community organizer in Bolingbrook and other Chicagoland communities. Her mother and their family are from Hong Kong which gives her insight into the immigrant experience that many of their clients face. Dr. Counard asked her to speak about the expansion of the Erie Evanston/Skokie clinic. Ms. Moy- Wooten reported that the need for care has been great enough to require an expansion. Funding has been secured and the clinic will double in capacity. Construction is underway with a planned completion date of February 2019. Hard hat tours will be available for Board of Health members. Director’s Monthly Report – a copy is attached Flu Shots – Dr. Counard reported successful completion of another year of community flu shot clinics. Health Department staff, the Board of Health, Medical Reserve Corps, Oakton Community College School of Nursing, and numerous community partners come together each fall to ensure the success of the clinics. Roughly 1000 people are immunized per four hour clinic. Dr. Werner mentioned that this year no residents showed a reluctance to give their Medicare number due to the recent change to make the Medicare number different than their social security numbers. Vancouver Rat Project – Mike Lee, the PhD student working on the Vancouver Rat Project, visited Skokie to learn more about our rodent control program. They are attempting to create a program that creates real time knowledge of the location, sizes, and causes of rat infestations. The study is expected to be completed in two years. “Stop the Bleed” Training – At the quarterly Skokie Medical Reserve Corps meeting, Nurse Claudia Braden conducted a “Stop the Bleed” training, to share new concepts on how to stop traumatic bleeding. The Chicago Department of Public Health was kind enough to lend their equipment for the training. Dr. Werner attended the training and reported that the American College of Surgeons based training provided tourniquets for all participants so they are all prepared for an emergency. He also requested follow up on the issue of Skokie Police not having a “Stop the Bleed” kit in their vehicles. He recommended that they have one given that they are often on scene before paramedics and time is of the essence in a traumatic bleeding situation. Old Business Dr. Dave reported on the progress of the SAHELI study. At this point 112 out of the projected 550 participants have been recruited bringing them close to 1/5 of the total goal. There are multiple ongoing cohorts at multiple locations. The cohorts are becoming cohesive groups having started What’s App text groups to share recipes and other health tips. Dr. Dave encouraged others who knew South Asian residents who might qualify for the study to call the health department for a screening. Dr. Drachler asked about the progress of the Welcome Center. Dr. Counard reported that a group #545797 including the Skokie Cares members have been meeting and discussing the possibilities of developing the Welcome Center through the library or the English Language Learners center. New Business Next meeting will be at the Illinois Holocaust Museum. Dr. Drachler mentioned that he and Dr. Sood will be going early to view the museum before the official program. Dr. Drachler invited others to join him and Dr. Sood at the museum at 5:00 PM to look around the museum at their leisure. Note from Dr. Counard: I checked, and a general visit to the Holocaust museum is not included in the fee paid by the Board of Health for the private tour of the “Stories of Survival” and “Hologram” exhibits. If you arrive early, you will need to pay admission for the museum itself. The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 PM. Next meeting: Thursday, December 13 at 6:00 PM Illinois Holocaust Museum 9603 Woods Drive #545797