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Home My WebLink About12-11-1997 Board of Health MinutesBOARD OF HEALTH MEETING DECEMBER 11, 1997 In a "called" meeting of the Plainview -Hale County Health Department Board of Directors on December 11, 1997, at Plainview Country Club, Irene Favila, Director of the Motivation, Education and Training Program, gave a presentation on an "Associates of Farmworkers Opportunity Program" called National Farmworkers Environmental Educa- tion Those attending the meeting were: John Castro, Cezar Cervantez, Margaret Kay, Larry Dickerson, Dr. Michael Hinze, Benny Cantwell, Earl Mc Donough, Mike Hutcherson, Dr. Stephen L. Turner, Mayor Lloyd C. Woods and the speak- er, Irene Favila. Also present was a guest, Christina Castro and the secretary, Billie Standefer. Mr. Castro asked Ms. Favila to present her program, though there was no Quorum_ Ms. Favila explained the N F E E Program was to teach migrant farmworkers and laborers (and their families) how to protect themselves from insecticides used to spray crops. She stated since Texas was the largest homebase for migrant farmworkers, the plan to use the N F E E Program would impact "thousands" of farmworkers Other field offices, she stated, were located in Corpus Christi, Laredo, Mc Alien and Weslaco, all of these locations have large concentrations of migrant and seasonal workers. Ms. Favila explained each site would be responsible for $3,200.00, which would be provided by local sources. She stated the program would make sure they got competent people to train as presenters of the program. She said they would train and graduate together. Mayor Woods asked Ms. Favila if she was asking the City/ County to be a sponsor for the program. Ms. Favila answered,"Yes." The Mayor was concerned how the $ 1,600,00 proposed funds would be budgeted. Mr. Castro stated no arrangements had been made, at that time, for the proposed funds. He then asked Benny Cantwell if Pioneer Seed had their own program on pesticides. Mr. Cantwell stated he had heard they did have a program, but it required the workers to come; into Pioneer Seed for the educational programs. Mr. Castro said the N F E E Program would probably reach more workers. Dr. Hinze asked if there were other programs in place that would accomplish the same end results, and if OSHA was not required to work with workers in this respect by supplying materials and safety data sheets. Mr Castro said HASMAT (Hazard Material Program) probably did this, but for the employers. Ms. Favila explained with N F E E, the trained workers would contact the farmer and ask permission to talk to the workers for one hour. Larry Dickerson asked what response the program had had from the farmers. Ms. Favila said she didn't know, since this was the first year for MET to participate in the program_ Margaret Kay stated, as a farmer's wife, she felt the farmers had so many regulations, already. She agreed the insecticide problem was something to be concerned about, but, she stated, if a spray plane was two miles away, an individual would not get a great amount of spray. Dr. Hinze stated, since the program would serve eight to ten other counties, it might be possible to seek assistance from those counties. Mr. Mc Donough said the possibility of sponsoring the program had already been presented and turned down by the County, Commissioners. He stated the farmer is already regulated, by law, to mark sprayed fields. He said, "Program, after program could be added, but it would still notbe enough to reach everyone. There was a lengthy discussion of concerns about the program_ It was decided very few cases of insecticide exposure were reported by doctors_ Ms. Favila said to educate more people to the dangers of insecticides would be worthwhile. Mr. Castro asked Board members present how they felt about sponsoring the program, Their response was, at the present time, they could not say they were in favor of sponsoring the program. Mr. Castro said, since the members present could not support the program, the Board would not go any further with the proposal° ing was a journed. Billie Standefer Secretary