The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON-The Columbia County Public Health Administrator shared information about COVID-19 at last week's meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, and it was mostly positive.

Martha Lanman said the last time anybody in the community tested positive for COVID-19 was on Sept. 2, and that person has since recovered.

The schools are open for in-person learning, Personal Protective Equipment supplies are stable, and a strong collaborative partnership has developed between the Health Department, emergency management officials, school officials, and the business community over the past six months.

"I think we've done a good job," she said.

Lanman said she has been sitting in on calls with state officials regarding the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, and plans for its eventual distribution after an effective vaccine is identified.

The County Public Health Department has begun a Mental Health Promotion program.

On Sept. 15, staff provided 170 bags of personal care items to people passing through the food bank at the county fairgrounds. The bags have contact numbers for the Crisis Text Line and Suicide Crisis hotline on them. They were distributed to people at the Dayton Senior Center last week and distributed to Project Timothy and the local YWCA soon. Dental hygiene items will be distributed at the food bank next month.

Lanman said there is a "real need" for these resources in the community, as witnessed by an increase in the number of requests for food stamp assistance last month.

Chelsey Eaton, Coordinator for the Coalition for Youth and Families, said there are between eight and nine members regularly attending the monthly meetings. A member orientation meeting is scheduled for Oct. 13. The goal is to increase membership and discuss the purpose and objectives of the Coalition. The results of a community survey, required for the Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative grant, will also be discussed.

Delphine Bailey is the Health Department's Community Health Worker/Insurance Navigator and a certified Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) volunteer through the state Office of Insurance Commissioners. Open enrollment for Medicare begins on Oct. 15 and Bailey can help people navigate the system. Open enrollment for the Affordable Health Care health insurance program begins on Nov. 1, and she can help people with that, as well.

Bailey also helps community members with their food stamp benefit applications and renewals. She also coordinates the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. Funding for WIC is through the Dept. of Agriculture, which provides nutritious foods and education for pregnant women, infants, and children, along with breastfeeding support for new mothers.

Jan Strohbehn is the Program Coordinator for the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) grant for Asotin, Garfield, and Columbia counties, working to align telehealth and care coordination resources and activities across the region. The lead agency is the Southeast Washington Alliance for Health.

She is also the coordinator for a Washington State Department of Commerce emergency housing grant for Garfield and Columbia counties. The funding addresses the quarantine and isolation needs for people experiencing homelessness and other people who cannot isolate at home. This includes individuals needing to be isolated or quarantined due to testing positive for COVID-19 or have been in direct contact with someone who has tested positive.

"At times, it is not practical for someone to stay in their homes as a result of shared bathroom or bedroom spaces," Strohbehn said.

She said the Public Health Department provides supplies and meals to those people when the facilities are in use.

Lanman said Public Health Department nurses would be at Dayton Elementary School in the next few weeks to demonstrate proper handwashing techniques.

Lanman also wants people to be aware that the cost of vital records is going up to $25 on Jan. 1., and there are new restrictions on access to them. Only family members can apply for them.

There are two new employees in the Health Department, Jackie Tetrick RN, Public Health Nurse, and Michelle Benavides, who will begin work on Oct. 1, as the Public Health Nutrition/Prevention Educator.

Staff in the Columbia County Public Health Department can be reached by phone at (509) 382-2181.