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‘Meet people where they are'

County officials tackle health ranking

Isabel Braverman - Staff Writer
Posted 5/10/21

SULLIVAN — “We've got to invest in the problem, and take action on it every single day,” said John Liddle, Commissioner of the Division of Health & Family Services.

He was speaking about …

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‘Meet people where they are'

County officials tackle health ranking

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SULLIVAN — “We've got to invest in the problem, and take action on it every single day,” said John Liddle, Commissioner of the Division of Health & Family Services.

He was speaking about Sullivan County's health ranking—61 out of 62 in the state—during a special meeting of the legislature on Thursday afternoon.

Legislature Chairman Rob Doherty has made the health ranking a top priority, and discussions will continue to be held during meetings.

“This is an ongoing issue,” he said.

The 2021 ranking, provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is based on a number of factors, and Sullivan ranks particularly high in injury deaths and premature deaths, many of which can be attributed to opioid overdoses.

The factors fall under the categories of Health Behaviors, Clinical Care, Social and Economic Factors and Physical Environment.

Sullivan County has a high rate of children in poverty, which has increased over the last few years.

While the ranking shows unemployment figures from 2019 (4 percent), the current unemployment rate is much higher due to the pandemic, at 6.7 percent for the month of March, 2021.

“Besides it being a health issue, I think it's a socio-economic issue as well,” Doherty said, adding that they should try to reach similar rank as surrounding counties.

Liddle said he is working on an overarching plan to bring the county up in the rankings and to address many health factors.

“Ending the opioid crisis is key to this overall plan,” Liddle remarked. “But we're also going to look at what we have to do to enhance the community.”

This includes improving access to care, working with community partners such as Sullivan 180 to implement healthy behaviors and more.

Liddle said they are working very well together and he will present the plan next month.

The county along with District Attorney Meagan Galligan and Deputy Health Director Wendy Brown implemented new strategies with the Opioid Task Force in October that takes a pillar approach.

Similar to the Task Force, Liddle said his plan will also use pillars to take a focused approach and identify priorities, working one step at a time.

The opioid crisis continues to wreak havoc and Sullivan County Coroner Albee Bockman reported during the legislature's Public Safety Committee that there were eight overdose deaths in April, the most he's ever seen.

Bockman also said there is a new drug on the street, MDMA laced with fentanyl. He said it is neon pink and is packaged in small plastic bags.

Getting people to drug treatment has been an ongoing issue, and Liddle reported that the nearest methadone clinic is in Newburgh.

Many residents who utilize that clinic use Medicaid transportation, which comes at a high cost to the county.

There is currently discussion to open a clinic in the county, and they are looking to find a location.

“We have to meet people where they are,” Liddle said. “We have to look at it from all the different angles.”

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