Board of Health

JOSEPH A. HAVLICEK, M.D. City of Middletown Director of Health Department of Health 245 deKoven Drive Middletown, CT 06457 TEL: (860) 638-4960 FAX: (860) 638-1960 TDDL: (860) 344-3521 Middletown Board of Health Minutes from January 14, 2020 Meeting Present: Patricia DiStefano, Kevin Elak, Raven Fenmore, Yvonne Joy, Stan Opalacz, Linda Salafia Absent: Joseph Havlicek, Anthony Mangiafico, Aaron Roome Guests: Dr. Michael Kalinowski, Rev. Robyn Anderson Call To Order:  Meeting was called to order at 6:09PM by Chairwoman DiStefano. Approval of Minutes:  Minutes from December 10, 2019. Motion by Yvonne Joy, 2nd by Raven Fenmore. Approved. Public Hearing for Agenda Items:  None  Guest Speakers: Dr. Michael Kalinowski and Reverend Robyn Anderson, gave a presentation of the Health Enhancement Community (HEC) initiative. Middletown was one of nine communities in Connecticut to be awarded a Health Enhancement Community (HEC) Grant. Middletown is the only community where the HEC grant is school based. The priorities of HEC are to improve health equity, child well-being by preventing ACE’s, and improving heathy weight and physical fitness. More community partners are needed for input. Several board members suggested creating a youth board. A question was also asked if Wesleyan University has a public health program. The next meeting will be held on January 7th at 6PM at AME Zion Church. Directors Report:  Director of Health not in attendance – no report.  Division Report: No questions or comments Old Business: None. New Business:  The application for FY2020-2021 Health Block Grant funding has been posted on www.middletownct.gov. A press release was also sent to local media. The Hartford Courant included an article about the health department block grant in their paper.  The deadline for applications are February 28th;  Grant proposals will be distributed to the board members at the March meeting;  Agencies seeking grant funding can be asked to attend an April or May board meeting to make a presentation about their proposed programs;  Voting on allocation of grant funds will take place at the June meeting;  Middlesex Health is holding a community conversation on January 28th from 1:30 – 4:00 at AME Zion Church. The results from the 2019 Community Health Needs Assessment will be discussed. Community feedback is needed to develop an improvement plan.  Representatives from the CT Department of Public Health will be in city hall on January 27th to conduct an assessment of the Middletown Health Department. DPH has been conducting similar assessments of all local health departments throughout Connecticut.  Other: None Adjournment:  Motion to adjourn by Yvonne Joy. 2nd by Raven Fenmore. Motion Carried. Meeting adjourned at 6:55PM Respectfully Submitted: Kevin Elak R.S. Public Health Manager