Early learning, drug abuse top issues at Clallam health summit

PORT ANGELES — Improved access to early childhood learning and parenting skills information as well as addressing substance abuse in Clallam County were the top two priorities at a multi-agency health summit last week.

Summit organizers determined these priorities after about 75 attendees were informally polled on the most important topics of the six public health issues presented at the meeting, said Dr. Tom Locke, public health officer for both Clallam and Jefferson counties.

The other four were availability of primary care providers, mental health care, chronic disease prevention and oral health care.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The summit, organized by the county health department and Olympic Medical Center, brought together medical professionals, nonprofit workers, elected representatives and non-elected Clallam County government officials at the Peninsula College Longhouse on Wednesday afternoon.

The information gleaned will help finalize a community health improvement plan for Clallam County, the first of its kind, and a community health-needs assessment for OMC, Locke said.

Locke said a similar health summit for Jefferson County is in the planning stages.

“It would be something that would be mid-2014 at the earliest,” Locke said.

Jody Moss, executive director of the United Way of Clallam County, said the nonprofit works with other agencies to run classes on parenting skills, though limited grant funding can restrict class size and expansion.

Improving these programs could help ensure children have a healthy start to life, which likely would prevent future health issues, Moss said.

“We’re trying to set that healthy stage early on,” she said.

Jude Anderson, treatment coordinator for the Clallam County health department, said only a small percentage of addicted county residents are able to get treatment.

The North Olympic Peninsula, for example, does not have a dedicated opiate-abuse treatment clinic, Anderson said.

According to figures from the University of Washington, Clallam Count ranked third in 2009 to 2011 among all state counties in heroin and opiate-related prescription drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people.

Anderson urged that addicts be steered toward treatment rather than being forced through the legal system.

“Recovery from addiction is the solution,” Anderson said.

Locke said the development of Clallam County’s health improvement plan, expected to be completed by early January, will include the creation of various partnerships among community groups involved in specific aspects of public health.

“This is not a one-shot process,” Locke said. “This is something that will continue over time.”

Partnerships will focus on specific public health issues and work to complete pinpointed tasks, he said.

The county health department will follow up in the next few months with health summit attendees and others to determine what concrete solutions should and can be tackled first, he said.

“[The] next step is to match up solutions with problems,” Locke said.

“The real measure of success of this is favorable impact [on] one or more of those problems.”

Other presenters at the summit were:

■   Peninsula Behavioral Health CEO Peter Casey on mental health care

■   Dr. Bill Kintner of Olympic Medical Physicians on primary care provider availability.

■   Larry Little, Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics executive director, on dental health care access.

■   Locke on chronic disease prevent and management.

________

Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Mason Combs is 4 feet, 3 inches tall and has red hair, according to the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office. (Clallam County Sheriff’s Office)
Child located after agencies partner on search

A 10-year-old boy who had been missing since Tuesday has… Continue reading

Sequim research lab testing ways to use seaweed, resources

PNNL is only Department of Energy lab with marine facilities

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow visor, Sarah Maloy, left rear, Paulette De Llario, right rear, and Mary Claire Hunt, rear, helped clean up the Salish Coast Production Garden at the Salish Elementary School in Port Townsend on Saturday. The garden produced more than 5,000 pounds of produce used for the school lunches last year and farmers are aiming for 7,000 pounds in 2025. Hunt will be honored as a community health hero by the Jefferson County Public Health department for her efforts in bringing together farmers and gardeners who donate their crops to the Jefferson County food bank with a presentation on Thursday at the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Garden cleanup

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow… Continue reading

Foundation purchases hospital equipment

Linear accelerator to be installed in May

Port Townsend updated on city’s workplan

Forty-five of 61 projects on track, city manager says

Welfare for Animals Guild receives $1,500 to provide spay and neuter services at the guild’s free veterinary clinics. Pictured, from left, are Laura Nieborsky, Barb Brabant, Emily Murphy and Mel Marshall.
Garden club makes donations through local grant program

The Port Angeles Garden Club has announced donations to… Continue reading

Facilities district for pool paused

Jefferson County does not receive grant

From left, Port Angeles school board members Sarah Methner, Mary Hebert, Stan Willams, Superintendent Marty Brewer, Kirsten Williams, Sandy Long and Nolan Duce, the district’s director of maintenance, turn the first shovel of dirt on Saturday at the location of the new construction just north of the present Stevens Middle School. An estimated crowd of 150 attended the ceremonial ground breaking. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles School District breaks ground at new middle school

Building is expected to open to students in 2027

Family displaced following house fire

A Clallam County family has been displaced due a… Continue reading

Two investigated for burglarizing home

The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office has arrested two individuals… Continue reading

Beach cleanups set for Earth Day weekend

Beach cleanups, a seed exchange, seed planting and music will mark Earth… Continue reading

Easter egg hunts scheduled for Saturday

Easter activities, including egg hunts and pictures with the Easter bunny, are… Continue reading