August 14, 2024 Meeting Minutes

Date: August 14, 2024
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CST
Location: UT Extension – Springfield Office

IN ATTENDANCE

In-person

Camila Rodriguez Coronado, Lauren Patterson, Pooja Chandelkar, Elizabeth Fletcher, Krystal Knight, Rachel Ellis, Canice Minor, Melissa Morse, Wayne Browning, Greg Keeling, Annie Burge, Tiffany Thomson, Anne Marie Bryant, Stephanie Evans, Donny King, Danielle Frazier, Michaela Willbanks, and Toby Swager

Virtual via Microsoft Teams

Darla Sampson, Darrell Bouldin, Jasmine Ramos, Victoria Valdez, Kristi Alary, Ashley Clinard, Jordan Sullivan, Danielle Dessingue, Russette Marcum-Embry, Alexis Dorris, Katherine Diaz, and Maria Smith

CALL-TO-ORDER

Lauren Patterson called the meeting to order on August 14^th, 2024.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes from the previous meeting (July 10^th, 2024) were approved with a motion from Melissa Morse and seconded by Michaela Willbanks. 

OLD BUSINESS 

Opioid Abatement Funding

• The council discussed several options to accept the opioid abatement funds awarded to the council by Mayor Vogle. The options considered included utilizing TN Public Health Foundation as a fiscal sponsor, finding another fiscal sponsor, or opening a bank account. 
• A first motion to open a bank account, in order to accept the opioid abatement funds and future grants awarded to the council, was moved by Tiffany Thomson and seconded by Krystal Knight. The motion carried with all in favor.  
• A second motion to vote Michaela Willbanks as the official treasurer of the health council, to oversee the budget and report out to the council during each meeting, was moved by Tiffany Thomson and seconded by Stephanie Evans. The motion carried with all in favor.  

Community Health Assessment (CHA) Updates

• Camila Rodriguez Coronado reported that 140 English responses and 6 Spanish responses have been collected thus far. 
• Lauren shared that she will be posting a new social media post on the council’s Facebook page to further promote the survey and reminded everyone to repost it on their own organizations’ pages. 
• Lauren reminded the council to continue to collect survey responses and for those that need flyers or need to borrow any other CHA materials for an upcoming event, please reach out to her to coordinate the pick-up of needed materials.  

ESSENCE Subcommittee Updates

• Stephanie Evans provided several updates to the council including:
  • United Way is still waiting to receive funds but were recently updated that funds should be available by September. 
  • The subcommittee will reassess what strategies they want to pursue moving forward since there has been a long delay in receiving funds. 
  • The latest ESSENCE report detailed that there were 2 recent incidences in Robertson County within the age groups 18-24 & 25-44.
  • Several 988 magnets were distributed during the recent Back-to-School Bash. 
  • TN’s Suicide Prevention Annual Report for 2021-2022 reported that the suicide rate in TN has increased from 17.5% to 17.7%. Compared to the national rate, TN’s suicide rate is 19% higher and rural areas have even higher rates than metropolitan areas. 
  • Dr. Evans will be facilitating a QPR training following the September Health Council meeting. 
  • Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) will be hosting their virtual 5K fundraising event throughout the month of September. 
• If anyone has any ideas of suicide prevention efforts that can be added to the subcommittee’s list or would like their organization’s current efforts to be listed, please send those over to Dr. Evans at stephaniedhevans@gmail.com.

PRESENTATION

Walking with Swager (Good Works) – Toby Swager 

• Toby Swager joined the council to share more information on the non-profit organization, Walking with Swager. Walking with Swager focuses on community engagement via cementing partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, churches, first responders, government agencies, and other community leaders and volunteers. The organization focuses on disaster relief, education/classes, blessing boxes, service projects, resource distribution, and much more. Toby is seeking to continue building partnerships in Robertson County. If anyone is interested in partnering with the organization or being a resource, please reach out to Toby at toby@walkingwithswager.com.  

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS

Robertson County Prevention Coalition 

• Tiffany Thomson shared the following updates with the council:
  • The coalition participated successfully in the Back-to-School Bash and will be participating in the upcoming Recovery Fest. 
  • United Way has partnered with the coalition and offered to fund a part-time position that will assist with the coalition’s activities and future grant writing. 

Making A Difference in Robertson County

• On behalf of Lt. Jennifer Holmes, Lauren reminded the council that the group will resume regular meetings starting on August 15^th at Vol State starting at 10 AM. 

Robertson County Health Department

• Krystal Knight shared the following updates with the council:
  • The WIC Department’s Breastfeeding Bash event will be held on August 15^th from 2 – 6 PM at Stokes Brown Public Library.
  • The HD is starting to receive their flu vaccines and the Fight Flu event will take place on October 15^th. 
  • There are still openings for an RN, LPN, and front desk receptionist position at the HD. 
  • Blood Assurance will be partnering with the HD to hold a blood drive on August 27^th from 11 AM – 3 PM.  
  • Renovations at the HD will be starting soon. 

Robertson County Interfaith Coalition

• Maria Smith shared the following updates with the council:
  • She is working with the pastors in the group to begin providing CPR trainings to their youth and working to form a disaster relief group among the pastors as well. 
  • A reminder that August 31^st is International Overdose Awareness Day. 
  • A reminder that September is Recovery & Suicide Prevention Month, and everyone should wear their purple. 

Creating Homes Initiative 

• Greg Keeling shared details of a new grant that was recently posted on the TN Dept. of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services and reminded everyone of the additional funds allocated towards the Opioid Abatement Funding pool. 

Vol State

• Annie Burge shared a flyer for Vol State’s upcoming CCMA Program that will be starting in the Fall. The program is currently on sale for $300. For more information about the program, please reach out to Kathryn Miller at kathryn.miller@volstate.edu. 

Stokes Brown Public Library

• Michaela Willbanks shared the following updates with the council:
  • A reminder that the community and board room are available for non-profits to utilize for their meetings or events, or study rooms if needed to meet with clients.
  • The library will be partnering with the Health Dept. to host a “Teens Talk” on August 19^th starting at 3:30 PM and then a “Kids Talk” on August 26^th starting at 3:30 PM. 
  • First United Methodist Church will be hosting a blood drive with the Red Cross on August 22^nd from 1 – 7 PM. 

ADJOURNMENT

• Lauren Patterson adjourned the meeting on August 14^th, 2024, with a motion from Stephanie Evans and seconded by Pooja Chandelkar.
• The council’s next meeting will be held on September 11^th, 2024.