Stronger Together Carroll County initiative advances with focus on collective community health

Carroll County Health Commissioner Kelly Morris led a continuing education session on collective impact for the Board of Health at its Oct. 15 meeting. She explained that collective impact is the framework being used, while the initiative itself — Stronger Together Carroll County — focuses on building health, resilience and well-being in the community. Morris described collective impact as “a structured way of solving complex social challenges.”

The health department identified the need for a collective approach during last summer’s strategic planning sessions on youth resiliency, realizing the effort was too large to tackle alone. The department is now forming partnerships with local organizations, including faith-based groups, to pursue shared goals.

The second in-person session for Stronger Together Carroll County was held Oct. 7 and focused on defining the initiative and reviewing draft mission and vision statements. Participants generated key words during group discussion, and You Thrive, the consulting group assisting the board, developed statement options. Morris asked board members and health department staff to vote on which statements should be adopted.

Morris said she believes that by adopting a collective impact model, the county can “move from a ‘we can’t’ attitude to ‘we can together.’” Another in-person session is tentatively planned for December.

In other reports, Amy Campbell said a new death module for local health departments, part of the Ohio Vital Records System, will go live Oct. 22. Once fully implemented, Ohioans will be able to obtain a death certificate from any local health department as long as the death occurred within the state.

Tina Bernard reported that interviews are continuing for the Environmental Health Specialist and Administrative Assistant positions. Jessica Slater, director of nursing, was absent, and Morris delivered the nursing report on her behalf. The Ohio Department of Health is closing one of its warehouses and liquidating inventory, which allowed the health department to secure 500 warming blankets for distribution through Meals on Wheels and its own resource boxes. Slater also participated in a suicide fatality review that examined 911 call data, which showed that mental health and suicide-related calls are overwhelming dispatch centers. The department is encouraging the community to use 988 for mental health crises.

For the month of September, there was one case each of campylobacter and E. coli, two cases of salmonella, one case of Rocky Mountain spotted fever and 13 cases of COVID-19. As of Oct. 1, only hospitalized COVID-19 cases are required to be reported.

In the budget report, Campbell said year-to-date revenue totals $1,501,656, with expenses of $1,326,084, for a positive balance of $175,572. With carryover from 2024, the total balance is $857,280. For September, revenue totaled $90,007 and expenses were $4,500.

The board approved the September 2025 budget and payment of September expenses totaling $120,442.44. The board approved a $165 refund to Michelle Kostich with Shell’s Confections LLC for a temporary food license and approved the first reading of a resolution to amend food and retail service program fees for the 2026 license year. The board ratified the health commissioner’s signature on an amendment with Minerva Local School District for telehealth nurse funding through Oct. 31, and ratified her digital signature for an agreement with the Stark County Health Department for a $27,000 Injury Prevention Grant for the 2026 grant year. The board also approved an addendum extending the Cribs 4 Kids program timeframe through June 30, 2026.

The board approved the hiring of Yvonne Cook, RN, as a full-time public health nurse at $23.55 per hour starting Oct. 27. It also approved a five-year agreement with HS GovTech for an online system for Environmental Health programs. The agreement includes an $8,000 initial license and configuration fee and an annual $3,600 fee, with a 6 percent annual increase beginning in year three.