Kosciusko County Board of Health approved three initiatives on Tuesday.
The board held a special meeting to discuss items approved by Health First Kosciusko Committee at its Dec. 4 meeting.
The reason for a special meeting was that HFK wanted the costs of the initiatives to be taken out of its 2024 budget and not its 2025 allocated monies.
At the Dec. 4 meeting, HFK approved having two local radio stations advertise in English for the Kosciusko County Health Department’s Early Start Prenatal Clinic for periods of six months and three months at a combined cost of $5,400.
The committee approved having Radio la Raza advertise in Spanish at a rate of $1,680 for three months.
The committee also approved having a school health liaison, at a cost of approximately $78,000 with $10,000 extra possible if needed, to communicate between the health department and Sacred Heart Elementary School, Lakeland Christian School, Warsaw Community Schools, Tippecanoe Valley School Corp., Whitko Community Schools and Wawasee Community School Corp.
At Tuesday’s special meeting, the board asked for clarifications on the requirements of the school liaison position. HFK Executive Director Kurt Carlson said there are no formal requirements, but they would prefer a nurse and would prefer a nurse who had experience working in schools. The board approved this expense.
Then the board asked for confirmation on the content of the radio ads. Carlson said it would be spreading the word about HFK's prenatal services. The English radio station request was approved.
Advertising on Radio la Raza was then also approved.
The next Kosciusko County Board of Health meeting is 6 p.m. Jan. 27 in the Old Courtroom.