The State Department of Community
Health supports a pilot school nurse program and Calhoun County was
one of three counties chosen by the organization to be given a grant.
Health Officer Jim Rutherford, the head honcho of the county
health department shared that for the fiscal year beginning in
October, the Calhoun County Public Health Department is slated to
receive $100,000 in seed money. The news was relayed to Calhoun
County Board of Health members, by Rutherford, during their regular
meeting Monday.
The Calhoun County Public Health Department is slated to receive
$100,000 in seed money for the fiscal year beginning in October, said
Health Officer Jim Rutherford, who leads the county health
department. He reported the news to Calhoun County Board of Health
members at their regular meeting Monday.
County wide efforts are already under way to place Kellogg
Community College student nurses in public schools and the grant
would greatly help. The nurses-in-training would work as health
educators under health department nurse guidance.
Rutherford said at the previous Board of Health meeting in June 21
that the program would cost $857,000 annually.
The scheme to pay for the program includes: contracting of nursing
services with the health department by participating schools,
collectively contributing about $275,000. A $125,000 sum would come
from private benefactors while the health department would contribute
$173,000 in kind. The $100,000 state grant leaves just $184,000 to be
covered by new grants and Medicaid reimbursements from patients.
In an interview after the meeting, Rutherford reveals that the
state grant made it a little easier for the health department to
secure the final sum needed to start the program. He thinks it showed
two things. One is that they have extra revenue, but also thinks that
the state really supports the school nurse program.
Also during the Board of Health meeting held on Monday, the
members discussed their ongoing plans to track and measure vital
health indicators. The members also voted in favor of re-electing
Kathy Foerster to a three-year term on the Board of Health.
Due to an administrative oversight Foerster has continued to
serve as a current board member, even though her prior term should
have ended in December 2009.
Rutherford admits that they wasn't able to do a good job of
tracking key health indicators on an annual basis. With that, they
are committed to doing a better job.
The Calhoun County Board of Commissioners will make the final
approval of Foerster reappointment at a later date.