HomeMy WebLinkAboutShaping OC Tax Force memo 090501 Shaping Orange County ' s Future
Progress Report
Orange County Health Department
September 5 , 2001
Goal 4 : Improve government efficiency and effectiveness
Objective 44e) Explore new water/waste water technologies created over time and
proven effective.
• Environmental Health Services staff are active in state and national organizations that
regularly explore new technologies in depth . Several staff members have been
faculty at national meetings in environmental health in the past two years .
Goal 5 : Adopt policies to move the community toward sustainability
Objective 5 - la) Create a set of sustain ability indicators using the SOCF Sustain ability
Committee indicators as a starting point.
• The Board of Health discussed potential modeling aspects of growth and public
health infrastructure needs during its spring work session in 2001 . Invited speakers
included the Director of Planning from Orange County and faculty from the UNC
School of Public Health .
• The Health Department is currently exploring the possibility of a doctoral student
assignment from the UNC Public Health Leadership Program to further develop
public health indicators and a model for predicting future needs . May begin in the
spring of 2002 .
Objective 54b ) Create a permanent County database for these key indicators.
• No indicators as yet developed for public health .
Objective 5 - 1 d) Use the indicators to help determine effectiveness of current policies
and identify needed policy changes.
• No indicators as yet developed .
Objective 5 -2b ) Establish a general guide of standards and criteria based on resource
limits that will help to define parameters of sustainability in Orange County.
• No knowledge of work by ERCD in this regard .
ENVIRONMENT AND LAND USE
Goal 4 : Pollution prevention and waste reduction
Objective 4 - lb) : Fund expanded inspection programs to insure individual water
systems are not polluted and individual waste water systems and underground storage
tanks are non polluting.
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• Board of Health proposed an expanded Wastewater Treatment Management Program
Expansion that included two phases , one primarily educational and the second
inspection-based . Commissioners approved concept but no funding provided to
implement to date .
Objective 4 - le) : Continue to improve well construction methods.
• Board of Health adopted modified local well construction rules in spring of 1999 that
are more stringent than the statewide well construction rules . For example , new wells
that are constructed are required to be cased to a minimum depth of 63 feet to prevent
shallow water source contamination of wells .
Objective 44f) : Identify wellhead protection areas that should be protected for
ground water quality.
• The Wastewater Treatment Management Expansion Proposal included elements of
wellhead protection through the effective management of on- site wastewater disposal .
Objective 4 - 1g) : Develop an ongoing, long-term groundwater monitoring program .
• No action to date .
Goal 5 : Protect our water supply
Objective 54a) : Continue current methods and develop new methods to ensure that
planned communities have sufficient water.
Objective 5 - lb ) : Protect groundwater and limit use to recharge rates/carrying
capacity . . .
Objective 5 -2a) : Establish a water conservation program for all waterproviders in
county.
• No activity, however there is some concern about the use of cisterns for water
conservation given the potential threat of mosquito -borne viruses on the rise in the
nation.
Objective 5 -2b ) : Develop a water reclamation program for all water providers,
identifying possible users of reclaimed water and providing incentives for use.
Objective 5 -2c) : Permit use ofgray-water for landscape watering, flushing toilets and
other appropriate uses.
• Reclamation is currently allowed by state rules . There are current legal barriers to the
reuse of residential graywater.
HUMAN SERVICES
Goal 2 : Promote public safety
Objective 2 - la) : Develop a major public relations campaign that focuses on
eliminating child abuse and spousal abuse and promoting positive family relationships.
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• No activity on the major public relations campaign but there are several programs that
focus on eliminating child abuse and promote positive family relationships such as
the Families in Focus intensive home visiting program (focus on eliminating child
abuse) and the Child Service Coordination Program ( focus on positive family
relationships) at the Health Department ,
Objective 2 -3b ) : Develop relationships between the public safety providers and other
service providers who have special ties to those populations. See also Goal 1, Objective
1 -2c)
• Health Department staff meet regularly with El Centro Board .
• Extensive outreach effort surrounding rubella outbreak in 2000 has led to ongoing
relationships with Hispanic community and development of infrastructure for Health
Department response to community needs .
• Health Department has an established Spanish Outreach Liaison ( SOL) group that
meets to advise and recommend program additions and enhancements to the
department . Spanish voice mail line added as result of this group . New maternal and
child health clinic started in fall 2001 in Chapel Hill because of long waiting times
with other providers for services (recommended by this group ) .
Goal 4 : Promote health and mental health
Objective 44 Focus local policies, priorities, and funds on creating a healthy
environment for residents and on promoting Health behaviors. Policies and funding
should support: A -F
• Orange County Healthy Carolinians brings together many health, human service , and
public safety organizations and citizens to formulate plans for all six of these areas .
Notable accomplishments are the implementation of a Youth Behavior Risk Survey in
both school systems this year ; support for tobacco - free schools policies ; eliminating
"junk food" in school vending machines ; support for tobacco settlement funds being
designated for tobacco prevention efforts ; beginning project in healthy dining in
restaurants .
• Numerous public awareness campaigns mounted throughout year on topics of major
interest including : breast cancer awareness , smoking cessation , car seat safety, bike
safety, HIV awareness , influenza and pneumonia prevention, West Nile virus
awareness to name a few . Efforts have been limited by funding and staff limitations .
Objective 4 -2 : Evaluate adequacy of health care facilities in northern Orange County.
• No activity.
Objective 4-3 : Encourage and continue provision and enhancement of community-
based services that meet the demand for treatment for mental health, mental illness,
and substance abuse for: A -D.
• Health Department continues to provide services for children with developmental
disabilities/delays through its Child Coordination Services and offers single portal of
entry services for these children . Care is coordinated with a multitude of community
agencies for preschool children .
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• Health Department and OPC Mental Health are currently in process of exploring
stronger ties in the provision of seamless services to clients .
Objective 44 : Advocate with the legislature and employers to provide adequate
coverage/funding for health/mental health services. Particularly address A - C.
• Orange County has been extremely successful in implementing the Health Choice for
Children insurance program, exceeding the state target for the county by 136 % of
enrollment . Moratoriums on re- enrolling children and limiting enrollment are
threatening the continuity of coverage for these children . The program was also very
successful in increasing the number of children enrolled in Medicaid who had not
been covered by any insurance .
• Board of Health is supportive of prescription drug coverage for seniors , however the
source of funds projected to be used is from the tobacco settlement and should be
used for tobacco prevention programs , not for prescription drug coverage .
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