Editor's Note: This is the final in a three-part series covering the Grant County Community Health Council meeting on Monday, Sept. 15, 2014.

Terry Anderson, co-chairwoman of the Grant County Community Health Council, chaired the meeting. Sector reports continued, with staff reports and public input following.

Alcorn for her senior sector report said Silver Adult Care Services would launch its pilot program for senior respite care at the Silver Senior Center this month. "We are looking for seniors and volunteers. We have no adult day care in the community. It is becoming a greater issue, as we have 1½ times the average number of those over the age of 65 years in our community. There could be an estimated 900 having dementia issues in the community. Those served will come by word of mouth or referred out by a medical service provider."

Alcorn said that changes in SNAP threaten seniors. She reported the Southwest New Mexico and Grant County food policy councils sent letters against the new SNAP rules.

According to Alcorn, Western and CARES are collaborating on mini-cognition assessments trying to identify people who are moving into cognitive impairment.

"I am also serving in an advisory position to Bridge Community," Alcorn said. "They have land and are in talks with the city to see if there is some more economically feasible way to put the project together. Licensing for a continuum of care is separate and makes it almost impossible to add an adult day care to the facility. No for-profit group will put in an adult day care."

Mary Stoecker of the public health sector said decades ago, people were talking about putting together child care and seniors.

Alcorn said it is now a regulatory issue, with barriers to do so. "And some seniors don't want kids in their mix. We need communication and to look at different ways to maximize the use of public facilities."

Anderson suggested looking at how it is done in other states.

Kathleen Hunt of the community mental health sector said, at Border Area Mental Health Services, they are seeing an increase in requests for service. "We are seeing people with bipolar issues, post-traumatic stress disorder, in addition to those with substance abuse. We are still taking referrals, have a sliding-fee scale and take most insurances, with the exception of Medicaid. A juvenile corrections program is helping youths learn how to be more productive. We took these kids fishing. Most had never been fishing. The other part is that many of the parents are working two or three jobs. The kids were tentative at first, but then they have whole-heartedly learned new skills they could do and not get into trouble. We took them on picnics. There is a lot we all need to do together. We're all broke and we need more collaboration."

Alcorn questioned who did take Medicaid, to which Hunt said La Frontera and private practitioners.

Alcorn also asked if BAMHS could keep up with referrals. "Yes, and we need more referrals," Hunt replied.

Cindy McClean of the prevention sector said a lot is going on, with a 10-week curriculum in the elementary schools up to sixth grade, and a six-to-eight-week program for older students. "It's hard for schools to let us in, but we have 100 students at Cobre in the health classes on Fridays." She said they also serve students at La Plata Middle School, Snell Middle School and the Opportunity School. "We are helping their ability to make better decisions."

She said they give evidence-based pre-tests, show short videos and do activities, and then give a post-test. McClean said Corre Cantinas over the past fiscal year, gave more than 8,000 rides. "That's how many impaired drivers we kept off the roads. Statewide, 20 percent of Friday and Saturday crashes are due to alcohol impairment. In Grant County, only 10 percent of the weekend crashes are alcohol-related."

McClean said the Life of an Athlete video is being shown to athletes at Silver High School prior to their participating in sports. "Several groups have watched it, except for football and women's soccer. Cobre is still working on implementing the video."

Stoecker deferred her report, as the meeting was going long.

Tony Trujillo of the mining sector said, as membership committee chairman, "I welcome new members to the committee and the health council. I encourage you to get involved in the committees. As for my sector, Freeport (McMoRan Inc.) is doing well, with more than 2,000 employees, and 4.400 jobs locally."

He noted Freeport's Community Investment Fund application process is open, with a December 1 deadline. More information is available at freeportinmycommunity.com

"I play a politics role for the company, because politics plays a role in all we do," Trujillo said. "Voting gives you a voice. Early voting begins Oct. 7, and Election Day is Nov. 4."

Juan Castañon of the community organizations sector said it was getting late, so he deferred his report.

Lon Streib, representing Silver Consolidated Schools, said he was listening more than talking.

Maria Elena Jaurequi-Cross, Community Partnership for Children president, said the group plays a role in the family resiliency priority. "We have grand goals, and are looking to identify our strategies to keep the child care agencies going. We want to increase study of underlying reasons for children's behaviors to help parents and grandparents. At Red Hot Children's Fiesta, we had more than 300 children come to the booth. October is National Bullying Prevention Month and there will be a one-day statewide event on Oct. 18 to raise awareness. We want to come together to empower people to use their voices to stop bullying."

Connie Hostetler of the Senior Action Team said she was trying to get the word out on what's going on. "The Senior Jubilee is coming to Silver City. Pre-legal services held a session at the Senior Center. We are also compiling the lost services for seniors. We have seven sessions of caregiver classes. And the open enrollment for insurance plans is coming up."

Susie Trujillo of Gila Regional Medical Center Project Development talked about the substance abuse continuum of care. "The energy of Ron Hall is pushing this forward. It's why he ran for commissioner to push a continuum of care. The county will provide $2 million for a building and will go out for a request for proposal to provide services in the facility. We are taking the situation into our own hands to determine the gaps and needs. We are doing a comprehensive assessment of a continuum of care. Phase 1, we just finished the feasibility study, and not one person said there is no need. Phase 2 will be the RFP. Note that inpatient care is not covered by Medicare."

Jim Helgert of the substance abuse sector said no one locally does medical detoxification. "We do only emergency medical effort for stabilization. In this facility, we will treat the underlying disease and hope you can make referrals. Services will be paid by private contributions or third party-payer. We hope to participate with Yucca Lodge."

Kendra Milligan, health council assistant coordinator, serves also on the Disability Advisory Council. "We are working with the town and Western on the disabilities center. We need money for paint. Western is conducting a survey on the hours it will be open and what equipment is needed for the center. Safe Kids New Mexico is in town Friday (Sept. 19) from 1-4 p.m. at the Pubic Health Office."

Susie Trujillo thanked Streib for working with the town to get the building for the disabilities center.

Damie Nelson of Grant County CARES said they are changing their meetings to a quarterly basis on the third Thursday prior to the regular Health Council meetings on the following Monday. The group has taken part in the rainbow scarf project, with Nov. 20 set as Scarf Day. "Students are making scarves, too. We will replicate our referral forms and identify and contact agencies doing work on bullying. We want to combine a community resource person with SASS and will interview soon."

Milligan noted that a new report shows that one in three women and one in seven men will suffer sexual assault during their lifetimes.

Valerie Slover, health council intern, working with the Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, said the 101 Things for Youth to Do in Grant County was successful, with more than 50 businesses participating. The wrap-up event at Bataan Memorial Park fed more than 700 people. "The SYNAR program about illegal tobacco sales to minors has been added to what the coalition is doing. We are slated to begin it in the spring. We held grocery store tours and completed community gardens in Hurley and San Lorenzo. We also partnered with the farmer's market and the extension service on cooking and will partner on the master gardener program at the extension service."

Milligan said the Red Hot Children's Fiesta served, conservatively, 2,000 people. "It is a cleverly disguised children's resource fair. It was held at Penny Park this year."

Chris DeBolt, health council coordinator, exclaimed: "Look at how much is going on. I hope all of you will find partners. The Mimbres Fair is slated for Oct. 11. Our plan and profile delivery to area communities will be in October. We will contract a grant writer, Jim Coates, because we are looking for big bucks. Tony (Trujillo) suggested a community forum to get the assessment and plan and profile information out to the public. We will also work on a reception for the new county manager. I sent you the sector reports. I ask you to print and keep them, and read them for collaborations."

In public input, Althena Wolf, local practitioner, said she is a member of the Mimbres Valley Health Action League and substituted on the Community Panel, which advises Freeport. "We would like to ask the question of the mining sector, why it has had 35 deaths this year."

Tony Trujillo said that information is shocking to hear, and he doesn't know where she found the information, but he would be glad to sit with her and get her question answered. "I would like to know where you read that."

The next health council meeting is slated for 3-5 p.m., Monday, January 19, 2015.