Editor's Note: This is part two and the final part of the Monday, April 20, quarterly meeting of the Grant County Community Health Council.

The first member to give her sector report was Marilyn Alcorn, who represents Silver Adult Care Services. "We facilitate adult care. We will offer caregiver respite training. We need volunteers to commit to at least one four-hour shift a week to allow family caregivers to get a break and to help senior clients with depression and social isolation. And to an earlier comment on Bridge Community and its plan to bring in a long-term care facility, the town of Silver City has offered support for the organization and they are looking at properties."

"I am also part of the Community Connections Consortium, which is actively working on transportation issues for seniors," Alcorn said. "We are participating in Give Grandly, which is one major fundraiser effort, trying to focus on the needs and what non-profits are doing. You can donate at Gough Park on May 5 or go to givegrandly.org."

Gila Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Brian Cunningham, who represents the hospital sector on the Health Council, announced that on March 2, the Gila Family Practice, with Dr. John Stanley and Nurse Practitioner Cynthia Moreno, opened. "It's not just another hospital service line. It allows us to move into the direction set by the Affordable Care Act to better serve the community."

Evangeline Zamora of LifeQuest, representing disabilities, stressed the Disabilities Resource Center is for everyone. "Call me for more information."

Kathleen Hunt, representing mental health, said with the integration of mental health with primary care, and with La Frontera leaving the community, Hidalgo Medical Services would be filling the gap for mental health services. "The community is coming together for that."

Alicia Edwards of The Volunteer Center said they are joining with Center for Health Innovations to do a health impact assessment. She said with The Emergency Food Assistance Program, the quantity and quality in commodities is a struggle. "We want substantial policy changes at the state level."

Tony Trujillo, representing mining, said Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. had recently awarded a total of $500,000 to 18 recipients, through the Freeport McMoran Foundation's Community Investment Fund.

Terry Anderson, representing early childhood, said the Community Partnership for Children had received funding from a CIF grant to pursue shared services among childcare providers.

"I was a board member of the CPC," Anderson said. "I resigned my position to become the coordinator of the project. It will be interesting. People have to come together to determine how it will work."

Maria Elena Jaurequi of the CPC said: "We were ready to run when we got the funding."

Edwards said she would be interested in seeing the outcomes of shared services, as it could benefit groups of non-profits. "I have been pushing it within non-profits in order to control costs."

"I think it can roll out to benefit lots of groups," Anderson said.

Cindy McClean, representing prevention, said she had given a presentation at the Detention Center. "We are working with the inmates on resiliency and life skills. We also do similar work at Yucca Lodge."

"This time of year, we see major underage drinking," McClean noted. "I want to stress to parents not to start out their children's lives with alcohol. It is a felony if you provide alcohol to a minor. Think about setting good examples."

Lon Streib, representing Silver Schools as superintendent, observed: "We made it through prom."

Jim Helgert, representing substance abuse recovery management, said the Recovery Management Center had applied for an adolescent management program that will begin June 1.

Armando Amador, representing veterans, said veterans continue to have federal and state issues. He said on the federal level, Senate Bill 701 and House Bill 1769 address the toxins to which soldiers are exposed in wartime. "They can pass them on to the families. These bills will affect veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. At the state level, 10 veteran-related bills were sent to the governor. I don't know if any have been signed."

He talked about the changes to the V.A. Choice Card, which allowed veterans living more than 40 miles from a clinic to seek local health care with community physicians. "It was not actual mileage from Point A to Point B, but it will be changed to the road mileage. Locally, I met with Melanie Goodman (Sen. Tom Udall's local representative) in reference to the Fort Bayard National Cemetery. The issue about whether to use grass or gravel is up for study. The National Cemetery personnel said it is an issue with water, but Rudy Martinez said there is plenty of water. I have heard from vets in Fort Bliss that they don't like the gravel. I support grass."

"We have asked to use the National Guard Armory for meetings," Amador said.

Mary Alice Murphy, representing media, said changes had occurred and were occurring with local print newspapers, and would be occurring over the next few months with The Grant County Beat. She said the Beat has a community calendar that includes many of the items sent out twice weekly to a large group of community members, and the column Health Council Happenings is open to notices from Health Council members, as well as posting portions of the weekly council updates.

Murphy also asked for community support for the Beat by being a daily reader, as items are updated constantly all day long; sharing articles on Facebook; linking the Beat URL to community websites; sending meeting and event notices to be posted; and financially by advertising and/or sponsoring features of the Beat.

Mike Trujillo, representing the financial sector as Regional President of First American Bank, warned those using the Internet in hotels to be aware of cyber-risk. "The risk has come mainly from using the Wi-Fi in hotel rooms. Use a secure hotspot or use your smartphone to keep hackers out. I said last meeting that the feds were talking about raising rates. I don't know when they will raise rates."

Judy O'Loughlin of the Grant County Extension Service said the office has a new hire, with Marley Runyan, who officially began April 1, although she had been interim since the former ag agent left. "She is young and energetic. She takes the 4-H, ag, and what's wrong with my rosebush calls. We started a Master Gardener class, which will run from April 4 through June 17. It's a commitment, but we have 21 enthusiastic students. The 4-H season is kicking off. Sixteen will be going to Raton for shooting sports. The state 4-H Rodeo will take place here June 12-13. And we are hosting district contests June 17 and 18. I had training in a Strengthening Families course, which I want to implement."

Streib said he would like to give the Silver School budget report. "We, as a district are down $107,000 in state funding. We have a $23.5 million dollar budget after cutting $785,000 out of the budget. We are trying not to do away with personnel or programs. We are staying away from cuts that will impact children. The state has a $6 million reduction in the the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test. This year we had to pay $48,000 to give the mandated test. It will be a surprise how much it will cost next time, and they will send me a bill. We are solvent, but some superintendents around the state are saying they don't have the funding to open their doors next year and are writing to the state for emergency funding."

Priscilla Lucero, co-chairwoman with Terry Anderson of the Health Council and representing the economic development sector, said the USDA has funds for families for water and wastewater tap-ins and to contact her for information. She again announced the Colonias Infrastructure Fund awards on May 7 for areas in southern New Mexico. The Community Development Block Grant program will award in June. "We should receive through the federal Economic Development Administration about $250,000 for implementation of the energy and efficiency plan."

Francesca Estevez, representing legal entities, asked where people could tap into water if in a rural area. Lucero said they would need access to a sewer or water system.

Under staff reports, Razanna Thomas, as coordinator of the Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition promoted the sale of Bingo cards at $5 each to play Bingo at Gough Park at 6 p.m. Friday, May 1. "The proceeds go toward the 101 Things for Youth to Do in Grant County over the summer. This is the last week to finalize to be on the list for your entity to offer something for the program. We'll help with funding your program. The end of the program will be from 6-10:30 p.m. Friday, August 7-a County Coachella-with a family movie and free food for up to 1,000 people."

"We have applied for a Drug-Free Community grant, which would provide $125,000 for five years," Thomas said. "We will find out in September.

"We are moving forward with the Youth Advisory Council, which will be a board of local youths to create actions and changes," Thomas said. "We will hold a meeting with school administrators on April 27 at the Health Council building. We want to know what we need to do to participate with the schools." The youth council will involve students from grades 6-12.

She referred to the previously mentioned fiscal agent change by the Health Council, and said the coalition was also looking at changing its fiscal agent.

To a question about the YSAPC and what the word youth indicated, Thomas said it addresses young people from ages 12 to 20 for underage drinking and from 12-25 for prescription drug abuse.

Health Council Assistant Coordinator said it was a wonderful day that brought her to the health council to write a news story. She announced that on April 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. would be the first orchard planting at Harrison Schmidt Elementary School. Another planting will take place May 23, and an orchard will be planted at Penny Park in September.

"Had it not been for the stewardship of Kendra that kept that part of the Health Council together, we would be in far worse shape," Coordinator Chris DeBolt said. "Change is hard, but I see it as an opportunity. We are working with the core group of the Steering Committee and working through determining the problem and developing our purpose statement. We at the hospital will continue to provide deliverables through the end of the fiscal year. We will send you a bill. We at the hospital will be with you as a department. It's all a matter of process."

Lucero said there might be a need to call a quick special meeting to make sure the core group has buy-in from everyone on the Health Council for the decisions it makes. "Our next quarterly meeting is set for Monday, July 20, from 3-5 p.m. at the Grant County Administration Center."

Tony Trujillo announced a special Gila Economic Development Alliance Roundtable to hear from Boutique Air at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, at Western New Mexico University's Light Hall.