RESEARCH DIVISION
PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY
SPECIAL COMMITTEE MINUTES
November 1, 2016
City Council Chamber
Ground Floor, City Hall
117 W. Duval Street
Attendance: Council Members: Sam Newby (Chair), Bill Gulliford (Vice Chair), Aaron Bowman, Anna Lopez Brosche, Katrina Brown, Tommy Hazouri, Joyce Morgan; Assistant General Counsel Paige Johnston; Assistant Council Auditor Kyle Billy; Jordan Elsbury, Administration; John J. Jackson, Yvonne Mitchell, Council Research Division; Legislative Assistant Philip Zamarron.
The Chair called the Special Meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. and announced that the topic of the special meeting was wellness issues in Duval County and a Zika update. In addition, the Jacksonville Children’s Commission will brief the Committee on its wellness programs for children.
Dr. Kelli Wells, Director, Department of Health-Duval County, explained the Health Department’s Diabetes Prevention Program. She also described DOH’s tobacco cessation program that consists of anti-smoking classes. DOH is partnering with AHEC (Area Health Education Center) in the anti-smoking initiative. Dr. Wells noted the work that DOH is doing in a breast cancer prevention program.
Dr. Wells described an immunization program for young people whose objective is to immunize against cancer and other health threats in the early, young years so as to forestall encountering diseases later in life.
In a brief Zika update, Dr. Wells stated that DOHA continues to discourage people from traveling to countries where Zika is known to be prevalent. People are encouraged to avoid travel to the Miami area as well. She said that locally, DOH is disseminating Zika information and is targeting the Hispanic community with the thought that some in that quarter may be traveling back and forth to Puerto Rico.
Jon Heymann, CEO, the Jacksonville Children’s Commission, described the Commissions numerous initiatives to enhance child health and safety.
Mary Nash, Manager of JCC’s Healthy Families Jacksonville Program, reported that the Healthy Families Program serves 1,084 children in 25 different zip codes.
Healthy Families Jacksonville initiates home safety visits to make sure that homes are safe for children. There is an immunization component. There are mental health services and screenings.
Domestic violence between parents or directed toward children is addressed.
JCC’s Nutrition Services program was described by its director, Laretta McCoy. She reported that there are 63 Afterschool Meals Program Sites – 48 school-based, 2 for special needs and 13 that are community-based. On an annual basis, 736,118 suppers are served and 409,513 snacks are served.
The Nutrition Services program partners with UF Health and others.
Mr. Heymann said that the Children’s Commission’s wellness and nutrition (and other) programs are not giveaways. Rather, it is a form of reciprocity. JCC expects something back from the children. If the children are no different from the day before, it means that we are not doing a good job.
Mr. Heymann and his staff fielded numerous questions from the Committee.
There being no further business, the special committee meeting adjourned at 9:49 a.m.
John J. Jackson, Council Research Division (904) 630-1729
11.07.16
Posted: 7:30 a.m.