Montgomery County Commissioners signed a resolution Monday that will enable more funds to flow into the county health department.
Montgomery County Health Department Administrator Adrienne Northcutt explained the new state legislation and described how the county plans to use the new funds.
“The state is willing to place more money into public health,” Northcutt said. “The state also wants the new funding to be administered by local health departments.”
Northcutt reported that each county pursuing the new funds were required to perform a gap analysis of core public health services.
Northcutt reported that one area the local study identified was a need for a second public health nurse. Demands on the current nurse have increased and a second nurse is needed.
The analysis also shows a need for an environmental case manager and a translator.
The study identified more of the population struggles with mental illness, substance abuse, generational trauma and generational lack of education. Northcutt said the addition of an environmental case manager could offer assistance in those areas to residents who are struggling. The case manager also could perform home lead testing and offer education and resources.
Northcutt added that with the area’s increase in the Hispanic population, there is a need for a translator to help bridge the language barrier.
Northcutt said the new funding also would help retain current health department employees. Since September the health department has lost five employees. The top reason for their departure has been salary issues.
In addition to higher salaries, Northcutt said the additional funding will allow the MCHD to expand its services. With added funding, it intends to offer tobacco prevention and cessation, chronic disease prevention, trauma and injury prevention, fatality reviews, maternal and child health, school health liaison,
tuberculosis prevention and case management, health related issues during emergencies and disasters, immunizations, infectious disease prevention, vital records and food protection.
The new funding amount in 2024 will be anywhere from $412,000 to $550,000, according to state estimates. In 2025, the new funding will increase from $852,100 to $1.1 million
The county will be required to match 20% of the funds.
In the past, funds from the state came with restrictions and requirements on how the county could spend the money. The new program enables counties to spend the money with fewer requirements.
“This is opposite of what usually comes from the state,” Montgomery County Commissioner Jim Fulwider said. “Usually the state has strings attached, but this seems to be the opposite of that.”
Northcutt said state legislators believe health issues should be administered by county health department since each county is different and local departments are in the middle of health department needs.
Dr. Scott Douglas, who serves the MCHD, supports passage of the county resolution.
“With the new funding, we will be able to address more public health issues,” Douglas said.
Once funding is secured in 2024, the county will begin the process of hiring more employees to help meet the increasing health needs.
