Dr. Lillian Ney (photo courtesy of Jamestown Community College)

The Chautauqua County Board of Health President is expressing concern for the County Health Department with the departure of Christine Schuyler.

Schuyler’s last day as Director of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services was Tuesday, November 29 following Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel‘s decision not to renew her contract.

Health Board President Dr. Lillian Ney said she learned from local school district representatives who attended the Board of Health’s meeting Monday, November 28 that Schuyler was an incredible asset to districts in the county during the COVID-19 Pandemic, “The State Health Department was changing rules right and left, and guidelines right and left. It was very confusing. It was a dilemma. It was a tremendous dilemma. And she (Christine) had a calming and common sense of approach to it that the schools really, really appreciated. And as the time grew nearer for her leaving, they were reaching out and saying, ‘Oh my goodness. What are we to do now?'”

Ney said one of her concerns is that there are three major illnesses going on in the public health arena currently with the surge in Influenza A cases, an increase in RSV, as well as COVID still being an issue in the county, “And now we have a deficiency I say, I don’t know if that’s the right word. But we’ve lost two outstanding performers in the Health Department. One is Christine, because Christine is now gone. And Bree Agett, who was our epidemiologist, who is really outstanding as well, she’s now gone. And I just heard yesterday, much to my despair I guess I would say, that we’re losing another of our outstanding nurses.”

Ney added that it is difficult to recruit people to work for the Health Department and that she prays there isn’t another major public health problem, “You know, to recruit to the Health Department at that level in terms of Christine’s ability and Bree Agett’s ability in epidemiology, how are we going to find folks like that in the county? Thankfully, Dr. Michael Faulk, who is a great guy, is going to be chairing the department. I think it’s on an interim basis for now perhaps, but more than likely maybe more going forward.”

Wendel has said further details about the reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services with the Department of Mental Hygiene are expected in early 2023.

WRFA’s Julia Ciesla-Hanley spoke with Chautauqua County Health Department Epidemiologist Bree Agett about why the department wants you to get your Hepatitis A vaccine

County Health Department Epidemiologist Bree Agett said the county has seen a dramatic increase in Hepatitis A cases over the last nine months, “We typically see about one to two cases a year, but since October of 2020 we’ve had about 56 cases in Chautauqua County. And when we do see cases, they’re typically among people who have high risks and within high risk groups. But we’re starting to occasionally see some that are not in high risk groups.”

Agett said there was a food-related outbreak of Hepatitis A back in May, and that they fear it could happen again “And it’s concerning when there’s a restaurant worker or a grocery store worker, somebody who is frequently touching ready-to-eat foods. When somebody within those groups contracts Hepatitis A, there’s a great risk for potentially spreading that to the broader community.”

Agett said while the Hepatitis A vaccine has been included in the child immunization schedule since 2000, anyone over the age of 22 typically does not have this vaccine, “So we’re encouraging people to reach out to their provider to check their vaccination status against Hepatitis A. And if they haven’t been vaccinated and they enjoy going out to eat and eating foods from the grocery store there’s no really harm in getting that Hep A vaccine and adding that level of protection within our bodies.”

The Chautauqua County Health Department will be offering the Hepatitis A vaccine along with the COVID-19 vaccine at its community vaccination site at the Chautauqua Lake Bus Garage in Mayville from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Tuesdays in July.

Univera Healthcare has supported breastfeeding initiatives in Chautauqua County since 2014. Pictured (L to R) are Art Wingerter, President of Univera; Andie Krenzer; Breeanne Agett, Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services Epidemiology Manager; Christine Schuyler, Chautauqua County Director of Health and Human Services; and Rick Vienne, DO, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Univera.

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services (CCDHHS) has been working to create community supports for breastfeeding in Chautauqua County since 2013. Thanks to funds from Univera Healthcare, this project allowed for resources to be distributed to local worksites to make environmental adjustments favoring breastfeeding mothers. Each of the worksites worked to improve or create lactation rooms.

“Returning to work after having a baby is one of the main barriers to mothers meeting their breastfeeding goals,” said Chautauqua County Director of Health and Human Services Christine Schuyler. “The health and social benefits of breastfeeding are too important for us all to ignore. How an employer and fellow employees treat a breastfeeding mother is directly related to how successful a breastfeeding mother will be. I challenge all Chautauqua County employers to talk with young women about and support their goals to breastfeed.”

The CDC reports that individual employers can do a great deal to create an atmosphere that supports employees who breastfeed. Such an atmosphere will become easier to achieve as workplace support programs are promoted to diverse employers. Workplace support programs can be promoted to employers, including managers of human resources, employee health coordinators, insurers, and health providers serving many of a particular organization’s employees.

Each of the Chautauqua County worksites who were awarded a grant worked to create or update spaces for breastfeeding mothers.

Director of Outreach for Venture Forthe, Melanie Booth, said, “We at Venture Forthe have fully embraced helping new moms and young families succeed in the workforce.”

A nursing mothers’ room was created in their office located on East Second Street in Jamestown.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE) Executive Director Emily Reynolds understands firsthand the struggles of breastfeeding and pumping when returning to work full time.

“I commend the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services and Univera Healthcare for their support to new moms throughout the county,” said Reynolds. “This mini grant was a significant help to CCE in providing adequate and comfortable space to support breastfeeding. CCE is happy to support our staff and program participants by providing an environment that encourages breastfeeding and eases the transition for working mothers.”

If you are a nursing mother having trouble with your employer providing an appropriate space or time to pump, contact the NYS Department of Labor. All complaints are confidential and a filed complaint will not be shared with the employer. Call the DOL at 1-888-52-LABOR, send to LSAsk@labor.ny.gov, or visit the nearest Labor Standards office to personally file a complaint.

Need help with breastfeeding? Call the Chautauqua County Breastfeeding Help Line: 1-844-4BF-BABY (1-844-423-2229.

For additional information, please contact Bree Agett at the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services at 716-753-4771.