Thread by @DocumenterK

Hi, I'm Keith and I'll be live-tweeting today’s Monday, April 12, 2021, Cleveland City Council's Health and Human Services Committee starting at 9:30 AM for #CLEDocumenters @cledocumenters @NeighborUpCle

For a brief description including the current serving Council members on the Health and Human Services Committee, see below:

The Public Notice for the Health and Human Services Committee meeting may be accessed here and read below,

cityofcleveland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&…

Join us at 9:30 AM & watch today's Cleveland City Council's Health and Human Services Committee meeting here,

Note: You my have to refresh the Videos page around 9:30 AM as they will have to update it with a new stream.

Or you can watch Cleveland City Council's Health and Human Services Committee live via TV 20,

tv20cleveland.com/watch-now/

Today’s Cleveland City Council's Health and Human Services Committee’s agenda may be accessed here,

cityofcleveland.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=A&…

If you're just tuning in & would like a refresher on Council Agendas read @cleocumenters "A Guide to Understanding a City Council Agenda” with annotations by Cle Documenter’s Civic Reporter @Doug_Pitorak

documentcloud.org/documents/2052…

As reviewed in the agenda, today’s meeting will focus on 2 topics,

(1) an update on COVID-19 activities by the Cleveland Department of Public Health.

(2) Approving or denying $242,864 funding to Merrick House for an expansion of service of their Moms First program

The meeting is live and Ward 3's Kerry McCormack is introducing the comitttee and its practices.

Chief Martin-Thompson is present and notes,

"Director Kimball will provide a brief update on COVID-19 vaccination efforts.

Commissioner Francis Mills who give an overview of Ordinance No. 130-2021

Brian Kimball is interim director of Public Health

Director Brain Kimball,

"3000 doses administered. Over 50,000 doses administer First and second doses. Partnered with Medwork for neighborhood pods at churches. They launched their ice cream truck model and administered 24 doses."

Director Brain Kimball continues,

"They also had vaccine sties at CMHA and JFK high school.

There was a slow uptake of registering to take the vaccine. It is not just an issue in the City of Cleveland but throughout Ohio. It is less than anticipated."

Director Brain Kimball continues,

"They are partnering again with CWRU to administer doses. On Friday, a second pod will be at Thurgood Marshall to administer 700 doses and a pod at the Westside on April 17 at Cudell Rec Center."

Director Brain Kimball concludes,

"The massive vax site has entered their 2nd dose of Moderna & will then administer the Johnson & Johnson vax .

There is a clinic established at McCafferty health center for those that have missed their 2nd dose. Give them a call at 664-2222."

Ward 8 Council man Michael Polensek asks,

"Is there any chance at establishing another round of vaccine administration at the Collinwood Recreation Center due to the high level of seniors?"

Dir Kimball, "Yes, we can set that up with a pod."

There was an additional remark for the representatives by Ward 17 Council member Charles Slife.

There were no further questions and the committee has moved on to the second order of the meeting.

Ordinance No. 130-2021 can be accessed and read here,

cityofcleveland.legistar.com/LegislationDet…

Per the Executive Summary provided by Council,

"MomsFirst is a program designed to reduce disparities in infant mortality in the City of Cleveland utilizing three approaches:

1) improve women's health,
2) improve family health and wellness, and promote systems change."

Merrick House is a nonprofit Cleveland neighborhood center serving the Tremont neighborhood & surrounding area.

merrickhouse.org

Merrick House offers various programs and services including:
Early Childhood Education, Youth Programs, MomsFirst™ Program, Adult Education Classes, Community Outreach, Recreation, Volunteer Opportunities.

Merrick's MomsFirst Program can be read about here,

merrickhouse.org/programs/moms-…

Megan Walsh is present and is fielding questions from Ward 7's Basheer Jones.

Ward 7's Jones comments that recipients petitioning funding from Cleveland such as Merrick House should provide information on how these funds will help combat and encourages them to provide marketing materials so the Council can help spread awareness of services.

Ward 15's Council member Jenny Spencer is present and has the floor, she asks,

"What percentage does this funding help MomsFirst? Are these essential for the program?"

Mrs. Walsh responds,

"Yes, they are essential. As far as percentage the city is roughly 20 to 30% of overall project. It is not just for Merrick House, but it also funds staff at the Health Department. "

Ward 15's council member Spencer asks,

"What are other sources of funding?"

Mrs, Walsh's responds generally that they lost federal funding in 2019.

Ordinance No. 130-2021 is presented and voted on by the committee. It passes and will advance to the Finance Committee for review, which will be at 2:00 PM today.

Before leaving Chief Tracy-Martin Thompson will have Dr. Scott Frank and Daniel Tisch from CWRU review the COVID-19 numbers report.

Here are bios on Daniel Tisch and Dr. Scott Frank

Daniel Tisch is present and begins to review the report.

As seen below,

From March 28 - April 3 there were 485 new cases and 21 new hospitalizations.

We have 28,9348 total cases, 2,012 total hospitalizations, & 438 total deaths."

Dr. Tisch continues and reflects on what matters most.

1. Increase in cases in past 2 weeks
2. Younger people are being infected.
3. UK variant B.1.1.7 is present in Cleveland

Dr. Scott Frank has the floor and is reflecting on the recent trends,

Demographics of who contracted C19:

45% black Americans
39% white Americans
1% Asian
14% Other

55% female
45% male

Ward 8's Council Member Michael Polensek has the floor and questions,

"Have you detected any hotspots in the City?"

Dr. Scott Frank answers,

"The Cleveland hotspot identification has primarily been focused on the west side of Cleveland but that may be an artifact of lack of testing on the east side in particular due to the highly segregated communities. ...

If the Council would like for more granular details, we can invite Professor Curtis to answer these questions specifically."

Professor Curtis's bio is below.

Here is WKYC reporting reflecting on CWRU's partnership with the City of Cleveland.

wkyc.com/article/news/h…

Ward 8's Polensek states,

"Data is power. Data is knowledge. I don't believe there is enough testing on the East side of the City. The last director of public health seemed to blow me off. We need more data. It seemed like they said 'We can't tell you due to Hippa.'"

Ward 8's Polensek continues,

"It's been frustrating. I want to commend Chief Tracy Martin-Thomspon for her transparency. Again, information is power. ... It seems like poor people are always the last to receive anything. ...

Ward 8's Polensek continues,

"Covid-19 has exposed all the weakness of our Health Care system. Hopefully, the powers that be understand this. You either pay now or later. You either provide health care now so you don't have sicknesses and mass deaths. ..."

Ward 8's Polensek concludes,

"The more data that can be provided to us, the better of we will be. Information is power. We need more testing and vaccine distribution on Cleveland's east side."

Dr. Scott Frank responds,

"We agree with you and support the strive towards transparency and accountability. ..."

Ward 9's Kevin Conwell is present & states,

"I sent out a newsletter informing them that I received my 2nd shot. We've dropped around 10,000 flyers in our wards. I've done robocalls and notes to the residents. We've got to show leadership. ...

Ward 9's Kevin Conwell continues,

"For a lot of African-Americans, it's about trust. I can't tell them to get a shot if I don't demonstrate that I received the shot. My wife also received the shot. Our residents have got to see it. I want to get to herd. What can I do?"

Chief Martin-Thompson responds,

"Leaders must communicate. ... We are finalizing a comprehensive communication outreach. We have found it is about targeting those who are reluctant to get the vaccine. ... We will work with each council member in implementing plans."

Ward 9's Kevin Conwell asks,

"Some people will take the shot but are apprehensive about their children taking the shot, what can we do about that?"

Chief Martin-Thompson responds,

"We have to educate."

A conversation continues about education and Ward 9's Conwell sharing a personal story about cancer and how it influenced him.

Ward 9's Conwell states, "It's about family and friends. It's a family issue. Keeping things together. Whatever I can do. We will be out there."

Read more about Kevin Conwell's experience here,

redcross.org/about-us/news-…

Meeting adjourned at ~10:38 AM. This concludes the Cleveland City Council’s Health and Human Services Committee.

A summary for Monday, April 12, 2021, Cleveland City Council's Health and Human Services Committee.

H&HS heard an update about COVID-19 where they learned that

· there has been a 2 week increase in C-19 cases
· younger populations are increasingly receiving C-19

· UK variant B.1.1.7 is present in Ohio

They reviewed demographic trends of those who have contracted C-19, breaking it down according to race and gender. Please, see earlier tweets for that data or the stream.

H&HS's reviewed and passed ordinance No. 130-2021 that if approved will provide $242,864 in funding to assist Merrick House's Moms First program. It will expand the service to the greater West Side of Cleveland. The ordinance will now be heard in Finance Committee.

To become involved and for more meeting coverage, check out documenters.org.
Have questions? Think we got something wrong? Send any enquiries on the meeting or these tweets to @cledocumenters
Or email us at [e-mail]

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