Health and Human Services board keeps monthly schedule, reports rising caseloads and local pertussis cases

The Sawyer County Health and Human Services board debated whether to reduce its meeting frequency but decided to keep monthly meetings because of program demands and costs. The board discussed possibly changing meeting times after the April election if membership changes.

Members received reports that the new LCO health clinic has added staff and services, including food‑shelf work, site meals and programs for elders and veterans. The senior resource center adjusted meeting times to accommodate committee members.

Staff outlined strategic-plan goals: implement electronic health-record software to create more efficient processes, improve employee engagement and retention, reduce out‑of‑home mental‑health costs and increase HHS revenue streams.

The board received case and program counts: 55 clients in children’s long‑term care, 46 consumers served through that program (with 412 of them court‑ordered noted in the transcript formatting), 34 referrals in youth diversion and truancy (10 of those had 100% school attendance to date), and adult protective services caseloads increased after Thanksgiving. Public health reported flu and COVID cases as low but rising, RSV very low, and that pertussis is active statewide with 696 cases and 11 reported in Sawyer County.