JCHD to facilitate Parents as Teachers program

A special Jasper County Board of Health meeting was called Monday to review the contracts for Parents as Teachers and the grant coordinator position for emergency preparedness. The board voted remotely to approve both the contract and new position for the Jasper County Health Department.

The JCHD has agreed to take over the responsibilities of Parents as Teachers, a nonprofit organization that promotes early development, learning and health of young children by supporting and engaging their parents and caregivers. Previously, the Jasper County Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse has run the program but with two employees retiring, the JCCPCA Board of Directors felt the small agency could no longer survive and the JCHD would be the appropriate venue for the services.

“If JCHD did not take over Jasper County Parents as Teachers Program there is a high chance that the program would no longer be in Jasper County and numerous high risk, needy children would no longer receive services,” JCHD director Becky Pryor said. “The board of health reflected on the Community Health Needs Assessment noting that child abuse and neglect is one of the top issues in Jasper County and felt it is essential that Jasper County should continue the Parents as Teachers program because the need is evident.”

The program is 100 percent grant-funded by the Jasper, Marion and Poweshiek Early Childhood Iowa Area Foundation Grant. Currently, the amount the grant would cover is 1.5 positions or three part-time staff members. Pryor has requested the positions change to one full-time and one part-time to better fit the organization’s needs.

“Do you feel the 1.5 versus the three part-time will be enough and be able to function and do the contract?” chair of the board Margot Voshell asked.

Pryor said yes and requested approval from the board on the change.

Also discussed was filling the position of emergency preparedness grant coordinator for Jasper County. Pryor proposed hiring Michael Morlan with a start date of Jan. 2 and at a salary of $65,000.

“He’s been working with emergency management for a number of years, Story County EMA,” Pryor said. “Right now, he is working with the flooding in Houston, so he is moving back to Iowa, where he is from.”

This position is also 100 percent grant-funded through the Iowa Department of Public Health Emergency Preparedness grant.

Voshell said they would follow up the public conversation during the meeting with a correspondence to the remainder of the board. Pryor later emailed the results of the votes with approval given to each measure. The next board of health meeting is scheduled for noon on Jan. 11.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com