Unified agencies learn about health services

WINTERSVILLE -- A diverse group of local agencies convened for another morning of unity in the community through the Jefferson County Resource Network Monday, this time learning about the Jefferson County General Health District's array of services.

Looking to fill a last-minute cancellation, the resource network's Beth Rupert-Warren called upon JCGHD staff to speak at the network's community meeting at the Wintersville Methodist Church's Center of Hope.

More than two dozen individuals heard about the department's services from WIC Director Stephanie Chester and Nursing Director Kylie Smogonovich, who were joined by new hire Lysaih Rice, community health worker.

Service coordinator for the network, Rupert-Warren celebrated what she saw as another successful community meeting, the latest of a series of quarterly gatherings aimed at facilitating countywide and regional connection and collaboration.

"It's so good today to see so many different agencies here," she said. "This is just unity in the community, everybody coming together and working together."

The resource network is an online directory of local service providers, offering users a streamlined and comprehensive overview of available resources, divided by category. Financed using American Rescue Plan Act funds from the Jefferson County commissioners, the network was developed and is administered by the Jefferson County Educational Service Center.

Rupert-Warren said the network has expanded from 32 categories to 70 since its creation, with the potential for adding more. A community project, the network relies on agencies to submit their information to be listed, she said, encouraging agencies to spread the word and fill gaps on the network's list.

The network can be accessed at jcresourcenetwork.com and is available through a mobile app, downloadable from the App Store and Google Play.

Rupert-Warren said the network has been engaging with residents, schools and churches in the Bergholz/Amsterdam area to bring resources to the underserved area. Agencies wishing to expand into those communities should reach out to Rupert-Warren to get connected.

In the meeting's speaker portion, Chester presented a summary of Jefferson County's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

"WIC provides supplemental foods," she explained. "The WIC food package is not meant to satisfy all dietary needs but to supplement that. And it's with healthy foods."

The program serves women as early as their first confirmed pregnancy test and continues to serve them up to six months post-partum if they are not breastfeeding or minimally breastfeeding, and up to a year after delivery if they are mostly or entirely breastfeeding. The program serves children from birth to 5 years old.

Anyone enrolled in Ohio Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Ohio Works First qualifies for WIC, even if it's as a secondary program, Chester said. For those not on public assistance, WIC has income guidelines that can potentially allow them to qualify. WIC is also available to grandparents or other non-parents who care for children.

WIC provides breastfeeding education early in a woman's pregnancy, Chester said, recognizing that breastfeeding is "what's biologically normal for babies" and offers a number of health benefits to the baby and mother. Chester is an international board-certified lactation consultant specializing in clinical breastfeeding management, and she can offer her knowledge to WIC and non-WIC mothers.

Whether mothers choose to breastfeed or not, WIC provides supplemental formulas, Chester said.

WIC screens its mothers for health issues and offers support and guidance, including agency referrals. Establishing relationships with mothers is important, Chester said, noting that mothers return every three months to reload their WIC cards and every six months for follow-up visits.

"You build that rapport with them and you learn they want to do best for their families, and you learn how to help and guide them through that."

Smogonovich shared a broad overview of the JCGHD's nursing services.

The health department's nurses work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at their sixth-floor office in the Jefferson County Tower Building. Nursing services are provided by appointment, though walk-ins are accepted. On Mondays, nurses work by appointment only out of their Toronto clinic, located in the city building.

Nurses provide various immunizations for children and adults. Through the Ohio Department of Health, nurses can offer immunizations at no cost for those unable to pay or children who are on Medicaid or are underinsured or uninsured.

The JCGHD offers a number of screenings and tests, including urine drug screenings; HIV/hepatitis C screenings; blood lead testing; respiratory viral testing for influenza, RSV or COVID-19; tuberculosis skin testing and strep The JCGHD's medical director offers regular physicals for work, school and sports.

All of those services are open to the community, but others are directed by specific income guidelines such as those for WIC, Smogonovich said.

Of those income-guided programs, the JCGHD's Cribs for Kids program provides portable cribs for people whose children do not have a sleep space. Mothers can sign up for the program once they reach their third trimester of pregnancy. Each crib requires education until the baby is 1 year of age, Smogonovich said, adding that non-parent caretakers also can receive cribs.

The JCGHD's Pathways Hub connects women who are at risk of poor birth outcomes with resources that can improve those outcomes. Jefferson County's hub is based out of Mahoning County, Smogonovich said, and the JCGHD has a community health worker who acts as a care navigation case manager.

A resource through the Ohio Department of Health, the Complex Medical Health program connects individuals up to age 25 who have complex medical needs with care providers, while helping families obtain payment for the services. Individuals have different options, depending on their diagnostic, treatment and service coordination plans, Smogonovich said.

The JCGHD also operates a diaper bank that provides monthly supplemental diapers to eligible, low-income families in Jefferson County; supplies naloxone, fentanyl test strips and education through Project Deaths Avoided with Naloxone; provides child safety seats and booster seats to eligible low-income families through Ohio Buckles Buckeyes; and reports and monitors communicable diseases in the county.

Meeting attendees also heard from Cody LaRue, multimedia and design teacher at the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School.

LaRue said JVS students can help any agency in need of video, photography, animation or graphic design services. The students work by donation, making the service affordable, he added.

LaRue noted the multimedia and design program's ongoing "Hidden Gems of Jefferson County" video series, which highlights entities in the county that are often overlooked or that many people are not aware of. A previous entry in the series focused on A.R.M., an international amusement park ride manufacturer based on the Jefferson County Airpark property.

"That's what we are looking to highlight, is if you have a program or something that you think needs a spotlight, we would love to help you out. Feel free to get in contact with us," said Larue, who was joined by 12 of his senior students.

Rupert-Warren said a future "Hidden Gems" entry will focus on the Eastern Ohio Aspire program, which was adopted by the JCESC after Eastern Gateway Community College's closure. She added that future community meetings will see attending agencies' names picked at random to be featured in the series.