In addition to all the health-related issues that Granville Vance Public Health Director Lisa M. Harrison monitors, lately she’s been keeping a close watch on what’s happening in Washington, DC as politicians consider cost-saving measures to address a focus on government efficiency and tax cuts.

For Harrison, what happens in Washington has a direct effect on what happens right here in North Carolina – and specifically in rural areas like the area her department serves.

“People don’t often realize that our federal tax dollars are so closely tied to programs and local jobs,” Harrison said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. There are many connections to the work done here in Vance and Granville counties that are federally funded, she said.

“It’s important to pay attention and give people advance notice” if funding cuts are recommended.

As health director, she’s especially interested in Medicaid and the WIC program. So far, so good, she said, adding that she’s hopeful both programs will be spared from cuts.

“If Medicaid goes away, we all pay the price,” Harrison said. Medicaid is not a handout, she said; rather, it’s an insurance option that enables the working poor, children and disabled individuals to have access to health care. She said it also helps keep premiums and costs down for those who have private insurance.

“The way we make payroll is by billing Medicare and Medicaid,” Harrison said. They take private insurance and self-pay clients as well, but about 50 percent of the health department’s clients use Medicaid.

Cuts in Medicaid and WIC – which provides vouchers to women with infants and children for nutritious foods, baby formula and more – would be felt sharply and quickly, she said.

But federal funds also make it possible for GVPH to administer programs like THRIVe, a grant-funded program that addresses behavioral health services from licensed clinical social workers to Vance County Schools and Granville County Public Schools for students from5-18 years of age.

There’s a licensed clinical social worker based at the health department who provides one-on-one counseling for children and families. In addition, Harrison said THRIVE connects with behavioral health professionals from UNC and Duke to help school staffs better understand how to assist or help students with behavioral health, including training teachers about trauma-informed care.

Children come to school and need a lot more than facts, Harrison said. The $4 million federal grant for THRIVe allows adults to help children with the resources they need to be their best selves, she said.

Grant funding has increased dramatically over the 50 years that GVHD has been in existence, Harrison said.

The health department published a report to celebrate and reflect on its 50 years of service to the two counties. In those 50 years, Harrison is only the third director. Dr. Charles Rollins was the first director and served from 1974 to 1991. Dr. Roddy Drake was the second director and served until 2012. Harrison became the director when Drake retired.

Harrison called Rollins “a passionate advocate” for bringing the WIC program to rural areas in the 1970’s. The health department oversaw seven programs and had a couple of dozen employees for both counties. Today, there are close to 60 programs and almost 100 employees.

“Our team is amazing,” Harrison said, “making a difference in the lives of others and health outcomes.”

Visit www.gvph.org to learn about all the programs GVPH offers and to read the 50^th anniversary annual report.

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