Board Structure & Members

Meeting Dates and Minutes

Goals and Objectives

1. Monitor health care delivery issues in Santa Cruz County including managed care, hospital services, and emergency services.

1. Invite SCCHO representative to give a report

2. Onsite visits as appropriate

3. Emergency Room back-up at hospitals by specialists.

2. Monitor and advocate for immunizations for all residents.

3. Continue to monitor and respond to a variety of Public Health issues such as Maternal Child Adolescent Health (MCAH), environmental health (air and water quality issues and restaurant issues), jail medical care, HIV, tobacco education, violence and harassment, domestic and workplace violence prevention, and cancer incidence.

4. Monitor public implications of State and National Welfare Reform.

5. Advocate for prenatal care for all residents.

6. Continue to monitor and support anti-tobacco efforts and work of Children and Families First Commission.

7. Review community assessment data including updated United Way survey results.

8. Continue to respond to the Board of Supervisors request and emerging issues.

Accomplishments

January-December 2000
During the year 2000 the County Public Health Commission members continued to work on a number of important public health concerns. This was done, despite the persistent two vacancies on the Commission and the difficulty in maintaining a quorum. The Commission focused on the following areas of concern:

• Smoking and Health

• Sewage Spills

• Hepatitis C

• Influenza Pandemic Planning

• Outbreak of Skin Infections at a Local Nail Salon

The Commission continued to demonstrate their concerns about smoking and health monitoring the progress of the program funded by the $100,000 grant awarded to the County in the "Joe Camel" litigation settlement. The Commission recommended and the Board of Supervisors subsequently approved a Youth Art Project for elementary students as the most favorable proposal. The Commission was pleased to see photographs of the murals that were made by the selected schools, and were featured on County buses.

The Commission continued to speak out in favor of the California law that banned smoking in bars, taverns, and gaming clubs. The Commission supported efforts to enforce the law and opposed legislative efforts to change the law. The Commission is supportive of new efforts to enforce the existing smoking restrictions and will follow the progress of the enforcement program proposed for the tobacco settlement funds in 2001.

The Commission continued to follow the changing status of Watsonville Community Hospital. The new CEO of Watsonville Hospital, who was appointed as a Public Health commission member in 2000, hosted a meeting of the Commission at the hospital in May of 2000. The Commissioners toured the facility and heard a presentation about the work of the hospital and their future goals.

In 2000 the Commissioners were asked by a member of the local Hazardous Materials Advisory Board to monitor the occurrence and response to local sewage spills. The Commission agreed to undertake this task. They were briefed by a representative of the County Environmental Health Unit on the nature of these incidents and the terminology used in describing the incident and the response. The Commission receives reports on sewage spills as a regular Agenda item at their monthly meetings.

The Commission heard a detailed presentation about the emerging problems of persons infected with Hepatitis C. They received copies of the letter sent to the Board of Supervisors in the spring of 2000, regarding this serious health problem. The Commission supported the additional funds approved in the Health Services Budget for 2000/01 for Hepatitis screening and education. The Commission plans to visit the Drop-In Centers in Santa Cruz and Watsonville in 2001, where the programs will take place.

The Commission saw films and had a lengthy presentation about the problems caused by influenza and the potential for a worldwide influenza outbreak. They followed the influenza vaccine shortage in the fall of 2000 and supported the County's plan for distribution of the limited amount of vaccine available in the fall and early winter months.

The Commission closely followed the outbreak of skin infections caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum that was linked to a local nail salon. The Commissioners were eager to learn more about the monitoring of these establishments by the State and the potential for risks to the public health. They will continue to follow this matter in 2001.

Reports

• 2005 Public Health Commission Annual Report

• 2004 Public Health Commission Annual Report

• 2003 Public Health Commission Annual Report

• New Requirements for County Commissions