By Mary Alice Murphy

The first item of business was the director's report, which had been sent out to all members.

Cari Lemon, Grant County Community Health Council director, added that she had been approached by Anna Daggert, the new FORWARD New Mexico program director.

"She asked me how she could help with the Red Hot Children's Fiesta, coming up in September," Lemon said. "It will be our 17th year."

When asked how she was promoting it this year, Lemon said she had sent out a save the date to past participants, as well as an application for a booth.

"Word of mouth often works best," she said. "People come to me that want to be involved."

Lemon also reported that Doug Oakes, the Gila Regional Medical Center marketing director, has been helpful in getting the word out on the ongoing Community Health Assessment.

Health Council Member Marilyn Alcorn noted that Hidalgo Medical Services has public service announcement time they can use to promote it.

"We are over our goal of 400 and still growing," Lemon said. "We may have more online. I didn't check today."

In another bit of news, Lemon said she had received notice of the Department of Health funding in the 2018-19 fiscal year for the health council. The amount is $4,730 for the year, down from this year's $4,855.

Because of this continuing lack of sufficient funding for the health council, members have participated in discussions for several months on how to tackle the continuation of the organization.

It will not be able to pay a full-time director/coordinator, so the term of that contract will expire at the end of the first quarter, Sept. 30, 2018.

The health council will accept the DOH funding and plans to hire a contractor to meet the deliverables, which include continuing to meet and providing the DOH with the roster of members, along with bylaws and monthly agendas and minutes; attendance at Southwest Region Quarterly Leadership Health Council and Health Promotion Team meetings; and submission of a final report from the data gathered from the Community Health Assessment. The last item is part of Lemon's task up until she leaves.

The Health Council will continue to be under Grant County, as its name indicates. The Steering Committee members will develop a scope of work for the next contractor to include the afore-mentioned deliverables.

Lemon said she hoped the Community Calendar, which she puts out weekly can continue, as well as the continuation of updating the about-to-be updated website, which has already been invoiced. Another item of Lemon's concern is the collaboration of the Health Council with SHARE New Mexico to provide an online version of the regularly updated Resource Directory, which will also reside on the council's website.

She suggested the council embark on an educational campaign to consumers on how to get to the Resource Directory and navigate it to get to information they need on local health care services available in the community.

In sector reports, Member Terry Anderson said in the childcare sector, the Partnership for Children is strengthening, along with the expansion of the Shared Services Network. An upcoming training will provide help to childcare providers.

In the senior sector, Alcorn said the Bridge Community is about to discontinue its efforts to bring in a continuum of care facility for seniors, to begin with assisted living and go through hospice care. "The group will invest the money received through donations and fundraisers in the hopes a senior living facility can be brought to the community."

The next meeting is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 20, at 4:30 p.m.