Fairhaven Health Agent recognized for mentorship program

Press Release

On August 13-14, the eighth cohort of the FDA-NACCHO Mentorship Program for the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards (Retail Program Standards) gathered in Washington, DC for their end-of-the-year meeting. The Retail Program Standards promote national uniformity and foster continuous quality improvement for regulatory programs responsible for retail food protection in the United States.

The peer mentorship program provides an important opportunity to (a) share best practices in food safety and (b) learn, share experiences, and acquire the tools and resources re­lated to the Retail Program Standards.

The program pairs retail food regulatory program practi­tioners who are experienced in applying the Retail Program Standards with those newly enrolled and/or looking for assistance, guidance, tools, resources, and recommendations for continued success.

This year’s cohort, running from December 2018 through August 2019, includes 23 local health departments from jurisdictions of varying size in 13 states.

The end-of-the-year meeting pro­vided an opportunity for participants to expand their network beyond their mentor/mentee pairings. Many jurisdictions walked away with potential collaborations with other jurisdictions and a plan to sustain their momentum in improving their retail food regulatory program.

Participants at the meeting included mentorship program participants, NACCHO staff, and FDA representatives. During the meeting, participants networked, presented on their accomplishments, shared ideas and lessons learned, heard about FDA and NACCHO events and updates, and provided feedback on the mentorship program.

NACCHO presented all partici­pants with a certificate of completion to recognize their achievements during the mentorship program.

Fairhaven completed their Self Assessment of the nine Standards, Passed the audit for 2 of the 9 standards. Standard 3 and 9. They will continue to work to meet the remaining Standards.

Three representatives from the cohort scheduled meetings with their local officials in Washington D.C..

Mary Freire-Kellogg, Fairhaven Health Agent, met with repre­sentatives from Congressman William Keating and Senator Edward Markey’s offices in Washington. During that meeting they spoke of Opioid abuse and addiction remediation programs and resources, hoarding disorder and lack of funding, Emergency Prepared­ness programs and the vital role of MRC; what can be done to help our youth population become part of solutions to society’s problems instead of feeling like victims; what resources and strategies can we implement to increase and make our resources and treatment programs available to the public; increasing programs and funding to increase awareness of Food Borne illness and how to prevent and protect our residents, workers and food at home as well as in a retail setting.

What can be done to retain Local Health Dept employees. Why is the turnover rate so high?

Increasing minimum staffing levels for local Health jurisdictions due to the excessive workload and increasing responsibilities taxed to the Local Board of Health.

Have co-operative service sharing agreements with other communities. Work together while still maintaining home town rule. Fairhaven works in this manor with Tobacco, Overdose Addiction, Community Crisis team, Mass Statewide Steering Committee on Hoarding, Fresh Start, Hoarding Remediation/Buried in Treasures programs, Textile Recovery Programs, Mattress recovery through Mass. DEP, Food Advisory Committee meetings with Mass. DPH.

Through these programs we combine resources and knowledge to reduce issues and streamline resolu­tions in our respective communities without taxing our local staff.

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