Commissioners approve 3 MOUs for County Health Department

Sandy Dunfee, Administrator for the Marshall County Health Department, presented three memorandums of understanding for commissioner approval during last week’s meeting.

The first MOU was with Dustin’s Place. Dunfee said their director, Viki Brown, is looking for financial assistance in expanding their services with a move to their own larger space in the LifePlex, but the County Health Department is not able to assist that way. She said, “I am able, as the Health Department with our Health First Indiana funding to offer some of the cost for grief support, she offers.”  They created a contract to cover the cost of grief support services for 20 Marshall County children at an annual cost of $30,000.

The second MOU is with Marian University at Ancilla. Dunfee said a space will be formed in the Health Department for clinical rotation for the nursing students, giving them community health experience. There is no financial cost, the Health Department will host students two days a week to let them see what community health nursing is.

The final MOU is with the Ladybug Foundation. This new organization out of Fulton County offers prenatal yoga workshops. Dunfee said this programming will be in line with the Health Department's future goals of prenatal care with the new space they hope to move into this spring. These workshops not only offer yoga but will include discussions about healthy eating and the development of the baby along with safe sleep with a certified OB nurse practitioner. The hope is to sponsor the workshops around the county, but the first one will be in Culver. Health First Indiana funding will cover the costs for Marshall County mothers at $5,600 per session.

County Attorney Sean Surrisi has reviewed all three Memorandum of Understandings.

Attorney Surrisi said he forwarded the contract to Mike Miley, the Insurance Consultant who assisted with some of the language in the agreements. Miley told Dunfee and the commissioners the county requires a certificate of insurance for those doing business with the county. There is a standard letter sent to vendors explaining what the county requires. Miley suggested Dunfee send the letter of request to all three organizations.

The County Commissioners approved all three MOUs pending approval of their insurance information.