(Photo Source: Unsplash).
The four public health fellow positions and a program coordinator position funded through a state program resurfaced at the Cortland County Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday, garnering enough support from legislators to move forward.
The New York State Public Health Corps (NYSPHC) fellowship program, which if approved by the county legislature later this month, could fund five positions at $849,912. The recommendation was passed by the Health and Human Services Committee via a vote of 6-1. Legislative Majority Leader George Wagner (R-LD-15) opposed the measure, noting he wanted more time to make a decision.
The funding for the program comes from a grant provided by Health Research, Incorporated (HRI). HRI is a not-for-profit corporation affiliated with the State Department of Health (NYSDOH).
NYSPHC was started during the former Gov. Andrew Cuomo administration. The program aims to address staffing shortages at local public health departments in the age of COVID-19. Hiring for the program at the state level started in September last year and the funding is meant to last until July 31, 2023. If approved by the Legislature, the county would start hiring on March 24.
County Health Department Public Health Director Nicole Anjeski said she brought the proposal back to the Legislature again due to the changes that arose from further meetings with state officials.
“NYSDOH said we could use these positions to benefit the department as a whole and not just for COVID-19-related activities,” Anjeski said. “They are now saying these positions can also help with COVID-19 recovery activities. We could branch out the public health fellows into any position we may need at the department.”
If approved, one of the positions would also branch out to work with the county mental health department.
“These proposed positions have all been approved through the state,” Anjeski said. “We talked to the county mental health department about one of the fellows helping with Suicide Prevetnion Coalition efforts, and the state also gave us the go-ahead.”
Another previous stipulation of the program required the county to hire applicants from a select pool of qualified candidates that had to be vetted by the state.
“We don’t have to go off that list they sent us,” Anjeski said.
Wagner and Legislature Chair Kevin Fitch (R-LD8) asked Anjeski about the timeline for the positions.
“The state is still considering a time extension for these positions. They are hoping the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) can give them a go ahead to expand that timeline so that we can still have the funds to continue the program going forward,” Anjeski said. “We came up with these job descriptions at the county level with the understanding these are temporary until they are fully funded for longer than just next year.”
Anjeski added she is very optimistic about being able to find candidates despite the short timeline for the positions.
“Right now people are needing jobs and we are trying to do a partnership with SUNY Cortland for those who want experience,” she said. “They can get paid to build their public health knowledge and maybe down the line they can come in and stay on if we have funding.”
Legislators had fiscal concerns regarding the program.
“Next year, I don’t want the county to have to take over this program once the grant money has dried up,” Wagner said.
Anjeski responded that the job listings clearly mention the positions are temporary. She added the influx of fully-funded positions, even if just for a year, will help staffing get back up to numbers seen prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The program would really help to build the infrastructure we currently have,” she said. “Our medical services clerk just retired and we anticipate two more retirements by the end of the year. This could help us supplement these activities with those people going out.”
County administrator Rob Corpora also weighed in, speaking in favor of the program.
“If it is not going to put stress on the county health department and if it is going to help cover gaps in retirement, they need all the help they can get,” he said.
The state, Anjeski said, is expecting a decision from the county by the end of the month.
The measure will go to the county’s Finance and Administration Committee and subsequently to the county legislature for final approval.
