Robertson County Health Council
October 9, 2019
Members Present: Anne Marie Bryant, Lisa Cobb, Brad Edwards, Stephanie Evans, Rachel Goodman, Lauren Patterson, Jackie Pipes, Rachel Wright (*Non-Voting)
Members Absent: Deshnell Cobbin, Tony Cowan, Kathy Finley, Kelley Harris, Donny King, Rebecca Macfarlane, Ryan Martin, Johnny Norton, Jackie Rawls
Staff: Shirley Corker (Community Development Coordinator)
Guests: Katie Creighton (Erika’s Safe Place), Bettina Jones (TN Child Care Resource & Referral), Crystal Lemus (TN Dept. Of Health), Dana Powers (Coordinator Student Service &Vol State Highland Crest), Rachel Ragsdale (UT Extension), Margaret Smith (RHA Health Services), Maria Smith (TAADAS), Lorena Tello and Celeste Jackson (RCHD), Asailio Timmermeier (United Way of Metropolitan Nashville)
Business: The meeting was called to order by Co-Chair Rachel Goodman.
Housekeeping/Announcements:
- Welcome was extended and introductions were made.
- The September 11, 2019 minutes were approved as submitted with a motion from Lauren Patterson and a second from Anne-Marie Bryant.
New Business:
- Katie Creighton, Director for Erika’s Safe Places (ESP) discussed their at-risk youth program. She gave her background, work experience and how she came to create the curriculum for ESP that opened their doors in 2015. The program provides a safe environment for at-risk youth. It is offered Monday and Thursday evenings for boys at 3:00-4:00 and for girls from 4:15-5:15. It is located at 514 East View Circle Suite B in Franklin, Tennessee. The program is offered in group sessions that focus on everyday issues throughout the 5-week course. It offers weekly groups, mentoring, clothing closet, life skills classes and supervised visits. The program was named after a youth who had at-risk behaviors who took her own life at age 26. They are a 501-C3 organization that has plans to expand to Robertson County. Since Ms. Creighton was unable to get her slide presentation to work it will be emailed at a later date.
Old Business:
- The 2020 Robertson County Health Plan was tabled until the November 13 meeting due to the absence of the Chair.
- Health Educator Rachel Wright reported an advisor was still needed to take over the leadership for the Acting for Life Program. She felt that since no one was coming forward the AFL might not be able to operate this year. The troupe has plans to do skits for Bransford’s afterschool program and the kid’s library but no dates have been set.
- The Healthier Tennessee Program will officially end in December. The program has been turned over to the community.
- Rachel Goodman made the suggestion the Robertson County Resource Directory be turned over to United Way’s 211program to maintain. United Way Impact Director Ace Timmermeier said there was a group that operated out of Florida that had the staff to manage the system. There was considerable discussion with some members acknowledging they had quit giving out the 211 number because the clients could not access the things they needed and a lot of the numbers or services given were not in close proximity to the area. A question was also asked if local areas were still being charged for the 211 calls they received. Before a decision is made, it was suggested someone from United Way be scheduled to speak to the council on the 211 system as it would pertain to Robertson County and answer questions and concerns. Then the Council could make the decision as to what they wanted to do. Ms. Goodman made the suggestion that since the directory could be downloaded by United Way the two could operate independently for a while.
- Susan Cope with TCCY reminded everyone of the Legislative Breakfast scheduled for November 4 at the William O’Beach Civic Hall in Clarksville, Tennessee. She also announced a job opening for a State Baby Court Coordinator.
Adjournment
- The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 pm.