HHCC board accepts proposed organizational chart changes to split from Public Health MOU to be terminated effective April 15

The Healthy Henry County Communities board is making decisions about their future after county officials were advised by the state auditor in October 2018 that paying the director of a nonprofit with county dollars is a violation of the Iowa Constitution.

During a meeting on Tuesday, March 5, the board accepted a proposed organizational chart that will be recommended to the Board of Health for approval. The proposal is for HHCC to be split into a board of directors and a countywide wellness coalition, and for Kelly Carr to step down from her position as director of HHCC and become an employee with Public Health.

'I love what I do, and I'm trying to adapt so we can keep doing the same work,” Carr said, who has served as the director of HHCC for eight years.

A Memorandum of Understanding that allowed Carr to work as the director of HHCC and as an employee of Henry County Public Health will be terminated between HHCC and the Board of Health on April 15. Carr will become the community health promotions coordinator at Public Health.

The new HHCC board of directors will possibly hold an agreement or partnership with the Board of Health and maintain control of grant dollars they've received. An HHCC executive committee is already in place and will become the HHCC board of directors.

Carr said the HHCC board of directors should continue to look at the big picture of health in Henry County.

'Are there any gaps that need to be addressed? Can it be taken to the Board of Health? How can we work together to address that?” Carr said.

The HHCC board of directors will maintain the 501(c) 3 status of the organization and be made up of five to eight members. They will partner with local organizations and interested citizens to identify emerging issues, conduct community assessments, coordinate existing programs and implement and evaluate new initiatives to improve the overall health and wellness of Henry County residents.

The HHCC board of directors will be accountable to bylaws are in accordance with the Iowa code Chapter 28 that promotes good management practices, ethnical conduct and public accountability.

The countywide wellness coalition will report to Public Health and be doers at events like the Healthy Halloween Walk, the Henry County Fair healthy choices booth and Swedesburg-Olds Fun Days. The coalition will be made up of volunteers.

Any expenses Public Health incurs on behalf of the countywide wellness coalition would be reimbursed to Public Health by the HHCC board of directors, Carr said.

Carr said the HHCC board already acts more as a coalition than a governing board. Wellness initiatives like 5-2-1-0, which encourages five or more fruits and vegetables, less than two hours of recreational screen time, at least one hour of physical activity and zero sugary drinks are asking counties to form steering committees.

Another wellness initiative is Wellmark's Healthy Hometown's initiative, which requires a coalition - in Henry County's case HHCC - to create and work toward healthy community goals.

'We already have that,” Carr said.

Carr said that the HHCC board of directors and coalition will provide guidance to the Board of Health when possible.

'As Public Health, we can't do all the work,” said Shelley Van Dorin, director of Public Health. '(The HHCC board) has been the boots on the ground, getting the work done on behalf of wellness. You are priceless in what you've already accomplished and what you can accomplish.

'We have to work together to keep growing and making Henry County a better place to live,” Van Dorin continued. 'Public Health can't do it without all you guys.”

Ed Kropa, treasurer for HHCC, said that if the county didn't already have a wellness coalition, they would have to create it. That's why HHCC was created in the first place 20 years ago, he said.

HHCC's nonprofit status has helped them be even more successful, said Anita Hampton, HHCC board president. 'We've been able to draw down more funds than we ever could before,” she said.

Hampton said the proposed organizational chart is a little confusing, and she isn't sure how it can be made less confusing other than 'trying it on and seeing how it works.”

The next HHCC board meeting is Tuesday, April 2, at 1 p.m.