Minutes - May 20, 2021 - Board of Health Meeting

Members Present: 

Ms. Maureen Cassidy (Chair)
Ms. Aina DeViet (Vice-Chair)
Mr. Matt Reid
Mr. John Brennan
Ms. Arielle Kayabaga
Mr. Bob Parker
Ms. Kelly Elliott
Mr. Mike Steele
Mr. Aaron O’Donnell
Ms. Tino Kasi

Others Present:

Dr. Christopher Mackie, Medical Officer of Health (Secretary-Treasurer)
Ms. Stephanie Egelton, Senior Executive Assistant to the Medical Officer of Health/Associate Medical Officer of Health (Recorder)
Dr. Alexander Summers, Associate Medical Officer of Health
Ms. Emily Williams, Director, Healthy Organization/Interim CEO
Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications
Ms. Carolynne Gabriel, Communications Coordinator/Executive Assistant to the Board of Health
Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start/Chief Nursing Officer
Mr. Stephen Turner, Director, Environmental Health and Infectious Disease
Ms. Maureen MacCormick, Director, Healthy Living
Ms. Ronda Manning, Manager, Early Years
Ms. Tana Turner, Principal, Turner Consulting Group
Mr. Joe Antone, Manager, Health Equity and Indigenous Reconciliation

Chair Maureen Cassidy called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.

Disclosure of Conflict of Interest

Chair Cassidy inquired if there were any disclosures of conflicts of interest. None were declared.

Approval of Agenda

It was moved by Ms. Kelly Elliott, seconded by Mr. Aaron O’Donnell, that the AGENDA for the May 20, 2021 Board of Health meeting be approved.

Carried

Minutes

It was moved by Ms. Aina DeViet, seconded by Mr. Matt Reid, that the MINUTES of the April 15, 2021 Board of Health meeting be approved.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Reid, that the MINUTES of the May 3, 2021 Special Board of Health meeting be approved.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. DeViet, seconded by Mr. Reid, that the MINUTES of the April 15, 2021 Governance Committee meeting be received.
Carried

Reports and Agenda Items

Diversity and Inclusion Assessment: Employment Systems Review (Report No. 24-21)

Ms. Heather Lokko, Director, Healthy Start/Chief Nursing Officer presented this report, and introduced Mr. Joe Antone, Manager, Health Equity and Indigenous Reconciliation and Ms. Tana Turner, Principal, Turner Consulting Group. It was also noted that this meeting was Mr. Antone’s last meeting as an MLHU employee as he has taken a new opportunity.

Discussion about this report included the following:

• The work of the Employment Systems Review was slated to begin in 2019, but due to the proposed restructuring of public health and the pandemic, this work was delayed.
• Data collection was done through a policy review, all-staff survey and an assessment of culture/physical space. Additionally, the results were compared through competition files at other organizations and provincial legislation.
• There were 88 recommendations for a safe and inclusive workplace.
• Four strengths of the health unit were: that there is a large health equity focus; staff commitment for diversity and inclusion; board commitment to diversity and inclusion; and human resources in place to support this health equity work.
• There were 3 main priorities for the health unit: diversifying the workforce; creating equitable policies and practice; and to have a more inclusive and respectful workplace.
• An implementation plan for these recommendations will be put in place, starting in 2021.
• The Employment Systems Review is the first deliverable of the Diversity and Inclusion Assessment, and the second deliverable is the Workforce Census (nearing completion).

It was moved by Ms. Elliott, seconded by Mr. Mike Steele, that the Board of Health:
1) Receive Report No. 24-21 re: “Diversity and Inclusion Assessment: MLHU Employment Systems Review “for information;
2) Endorse the recommendations within the Employment Systems Review for implementation at the Middlesex-London Health Unit.
Carried

COVID-19 Recovery Recommendations: Organizational & Individual Wellness, and Sustaining Positive Changes (Report No. 25-21)

Ms. Lokko presented this report. Discussion about this report included the following:

• This report involves recommendations 3 and 4 (Organizational & Individual Wellness and Sustaining Positive Changes) of the COVID-19 Recovery Recommendations for the Middlesex-London Health Unit, post pandemic.
• 61% participated in a survey in July 2020, conducted by an external consultant to receive feedback on post-pandemic recovery.
• There were 20 recommendations for organizational and individual wellness and 34 recommendations for sustaining positive changes.
• Senior Leadership will be tasked with ensuring these recommendations are implemented.
• In 2018, the Board of Health supporting hiring health unit leadership within the Health Equity field, and as a result of this important work, there will be more asks to the Board regarding health equity work and implementation of said work.

It was moved by Ms. Tino Kasi, seconded by Mr. O’Donnell, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 25-21 re: “COVID-19 Recovery Recommendations: Organizational and Individual Wellness, and Sustaining Positive Changes” for information.
Carried

COVID-19 Disease Spread and Vaccine Update (Verbal)

Dr. Alexander Summers and Dr. Chris Mackie presented the verbal COVID-19 update.

Discussion about this verbal report included:
• Rates are trending downward slowly (COVID-19 case counts).
• Cases were falling below 100 cases in a 7-day period (7-day incident rate).
• Province is contemplating a “reopening” framework currently.
• Vaccine coverage is high within older-age populations.
• 80-90% of cases are UK variant cases.
• More than 50% of adults in the region have been vaccinated.
• Vaccination would also begin for those aged 12-17 by May 31st.
• The AstraZeneca vaccine was pulled from first dose administration last week in Ontario.

It was moved by Mr. Bob Parker, seconded by Mr. John Brennan, that the Board of Health receive the verbal report on COVID-19 Disease Spread and Vaccine Update for information.
Carried

Medical Officer of Health Activity Report for May 2021 (Report No. 26-21)

Dr. Mackie presented Medical Officer of Health Activity Report for May 2021.

It was moved by Mr. Parker, seconded by Ms. Kasi, that the Board of Health receive Report No. 26-21 re: “Medical Officer of Health Activity Report for May 2021” for information.
Carried

Program Update: Communications

Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications provided an update on his program. Highlights of the program included:

• Development of a new strategy to engage newcomer and non-English speaking communities in London and Middlesex County.
• 2000% increase in daily users to the MLHU website (30,000 per day), nearly 13.7 million-page views since the start of the pandemic.
• More than 100% increase in Facebook and Twitter followers; 700% increase in Instagram followers.
• Weekly alerts and community stakeholder updates through the HCP program, twice weekly webinars with Dr. Summers for HCPs/ weekly for community stakeholders.
• 165 Virtual Media Briefings held since the start of the pandemic. These are carried live on Global News Radio, Rogers Television and the CTV London website. All of the media briefings have been posted to the Health Unit’s YouTube channel.
• Issued 108 COVID-19-related media releases and advisories.
• Held a virtual Staff Day in November of 2020, to recognize staff marking milestones in their public health careers.

Correspondence

It was moved by Mr. Steele, seconded by Mr. Reid, that the Board of Health endorse correspondence item a) re: National Child Care Strategy and #IAmEssentialCampaign.
Carried

It was moved by Ms. Elliott, seconded by Mr. O’Donnell, that the Board of Health receive items b) and c).
Carried

It was moved by Mr. Steele, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the Board of Health refer item d) to staff for a report.
Carried

Program Update: Early Years

Ms. Ronda Manning, Manager, Early Years provided an update on her program. Highlights of the program included:

• Improve the physical, emotional and social growth and development of children from birth to school entry.
• Breastfeeding support, postpartum support, mental health screening, etc. - phone, virtual, home visits.
• MLHU website information for all early years-related topic areas, as well as social media initiatives.
• Healthy Growth and Development Telephone Line information support and referrals provided by a public health nurse.
• Collective action with various community partners (e.g., Child and Youth Network; Mother Reach; Middlesex Children’s Services Network).
• Implementation of the new Early Years Outreach Initiative.
• Will focus on supporting priority recovery areas with families with infants and young children
• Looking to increase engagement in healthy public policy work.

Other Business

• The next Board meeting is Thursday, June 17th, at 7 p.m.

Confidential

At 9:24 p.m., it was moved by Ms. Elliott, seconded by Mr. Parker, that the Board of Health will move in-camera to consider labour relations or employee negotiations, a trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial, financial or labour relations information, supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board, to approve confidential minutes from the April 15, 2021 Board of Health meeting and personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.
Carried

At 10:13 p.m., it was moved by Mr. O’Donnell, seconded by Mr. Reid, that the Board of Health rise and return to public session.
Carried

Adjournment

At 10:14 p.m., it was moved by Mr. O’Donnell, seconded by Ms. Elliott, that the meeting of Board of Health be adjourned. 

Maureen Cassidy
Chair

Christopher Mackie
Secretary-Treasurer