End-of-Life Dialogue Matters

I joined several guest speakers, on July 8^th, at the Older Women’s League (OWL) Montgomery County Chapter meeting, exploring the topic “End-of-Life: Who Decides?”  The subject wasn’t an unfamiliar one, and I shared, with those gathered, my own experience with my family when my mother was ill and passing on, several years ago.  It’s extremely important that families and individuals have a plan, and I’ve found that the Living & Thriving in Montgomery County Guide for residents 60 and over is a very concise resource worth reading.

I additionally spoke about ‘Comfort Care,’ as family members sometimes discover that varying levels of resistance exists with regard to the provision of pain management in hospice versus hospital settings; and the discussion is not only important for parents but also among siblings and spouses.  My final contribution was to highlight the services available to Montgomery County residents through the Health and Human Services Aging and Disability Services office.

One of the more critical discussions held among the group was about the Advanced Directives form, the fact that there are several versions of the form (including its being available in multiple languages), and that it differs from a Living Will.  For more information on Advanced Directives visit http://www.oag.state.md.us/Healthpol/AdvanceDirectives.htm#know, and on Maryland’s Health Decisions Policy go to http://www.oag.state.md.us/Healthpol/index.htm.

The additional speakers included Donna Wagner, the national president of OWL; Paul Ballard, Assistant Attorney General (Counsel, Health Decisions Policy), State of Maryland; and Karen Northwood from the Montgomery County Coalition on End-of-Life.

Meeting with the County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs

Last night, I had the pleasure of joining the County’s Commission on Veterans Affairs for their meeting. I was invited to talk about the possibility of establishing a community-based outpatient clinic (CBOC) for our veterans in Montgomery County. I shared my ideas about a possible new public-private partnership that could provide needed medical and mental health services to the nearly 70,000 veterans who live in the County. I suggested that we consider a project similar in concept and design to the Family Justice Center that we created in 2009 to meet the needs of victims of domestic violence and their families.

Commission members were very thoughtful in their suggestions about possible locations for such a facility, possible private and public sector support, and ways to obtain critical and valuable information about the number of Montgomery County veterans and their health needs. Our conversation and our collaboration on this important issue will continue.

Thanks to Bill Gray, Commission Chair, and to Betsy Luecking, staff liaison, for their hard work and dedication to the needs of our veterans.

Gandhi Brigade Launches Teen Pregnancy Awareness Campaign

The Trachtenberg Office attended the launch of the Gandhi Brigade’s "Youth Moving Forward" Campaign in which Latino/a youth address the issue of teen pregnancy. The program was held at the City Place Mall and included introductory presentations by Carlos Pinto of the National Campaign and Susan Cruz of the University of Maryland, as well as the much anticipated debut of the campaign video and poster unveiling.

The Gandhi Brigade is a youth voice project that was started in Silver Spring, Maryland. Inspired by the vision of Mohandas Gandhi to create local peace brigades, the project uses the media arts as a tool for connecting youth to their community and to critical issues in their world. The mission of Gandhi Brigade is to prepare the rising generation to become whole leaders in a broken world. Adults with experience working with youth or media coach teens and young adults how to use video and graphic arts to explore a variety of social justice issues. Since its beginning the Gandhi Brigade has created dozens of social justice media pieces and is recognized in the Washington DC metropolitan area as a leader in the field of youth led social change.

In January 2010, the Gandhi Brigade convened a group of youths and launched a 13-week, youth generated, teen pregnancy prevention video production and graphic design project. For two hours every Friday afternoon through May, Heather Kubo and Hawa Touré from the Gandhi Brigade worked with at-risk teens from the community to produce three posters for print and three 30-second public service announcements (PSAs) for television. The target audiences for the posters and PSAs include Latino parents, youths, and community leaders. Susan Cruz, from the University of Maryland's School of Social Work, is responsible for initiating the project. Recognizing the need for Latino teen pregnancy prevention messages in Montgomery County, Ms. Cruz brought together the Gandhi Brigade and the Latin American Youth Center, located in Washington, DC, as core partners. Together, each of these organizations was responsible for providing the youths with the knowledge and resources necessary to complete the project at hand.

For more information call: (301) 588-1399 or email heather@gandhibrigade.org or visit the Gandhi Bridge on the web at http://www.gandhibrigade.org/.

Trachtenberg to Begin Review on Montgomery County FY11 HHS Operating Budget

On Monday April 12th, 9:30AM, the Health and Human Services Committee, on which Councilmember Trachtenberg serves, meets to begin deliberations on the FY11 HHS Operating Budget. The following is on the agenda:

• Health and Human Services: Administration and Public Health Services (includes Minority Health Initiatives)

The meeting will be held in the third floor Council Conference Room [3CCR] of the Council Office Building in Rockville; and will be televised live on County Cable Montgomery.

Please contact Saschane Stephenson, Legislative Aide for Health and Human Services, at 240-777-7963 (direct dial) or saschane.stephenson@montgomerycountymd.gov with any questions regarding this HHS Committee session.

Action in Montgomery – Trachtenberg Office Attends Public Meeting

Naomi Bloch represented Councilmember Trachtenberg last evening at the Action in Montgomery’s (AIM) Public Meeting which took place at St. Martins Catholic Church, located at 201 South Frederick Avenue, in Gaithersburg.

The purpose of this gathering was to present to County Executive Leggett and the County Council AIM’s Top 4 Budget Priorities:

• Equality for all County Residents
• Universal Access to Higher Education
• Affordable Housing
• Ensure that basic needs are met for the most vulnerable in our county.

Action In Montgomery is a multi-racial, multi-faith, strictly non-partisan, County-wide citizens’ organization, rooted in local congregations and associations. AIM is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), the oldest and largest national, congregation-based, community organizing network in the United States. Founded more than 50 years ago by Saul Alinsky, the IAF works with more than 55 community organizations like AIM across the United States, and in Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. These organizations have produced impressive results in training thousands of ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse leaders to take action on community, city, and state issues.

Action in Montgomery’s website is http://www.actioninmontgomery.org/.

Trachtenberg Office Attends African American Advisory Group Meeting

The Trachtenberg Office was represented at the annual budget meeting of the County Executive’s African American Advisory Group in Rockville, Maryland.

At the meeting, County Executive Isiah Leggett received the AAAG’s recommendations regarding the FY11 Operating Budget to be submitted to the County Council in March 2010. The Group’s recommendations addressed issues of spending reductions; new revenue sources; efficient, effective operations; collaboration on state budget cut mitigation; critical services prioritization; and strategic management of the financial crisis.

The County Executive was accompanied by Bruce Adams, Director of the Office of Community Partnerships, Reverend Timothy Warner, Staff Liaison, Office of Community Partnerships, and Joe Beach, Director of the Office of Management and Budget.

The AAAG is co-chaired by Dr. Sheryl Brissett-Chapman and Julian Norment. Our Chief of Staff Alan Bowser, who is a member of the Executive’s African American Advisory Group, represented Councilmember Trachtenberg.

Trachtenberg Office Attends African Affairs Advisory Group

Naomi Bloch attended last evening’s meeting of the Montgomery County African Affairs Advisory Group representing the Trachtenberg Office.

The guest speaker was Brenda Lockley, R.N, M.S., and Program Manager of the African American Health Program within the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority & Multicultural Health. Ms. Lockley updated the Group on all of the various efforts being done to address the health disparities that exist within this community with regard to infant mortality rates as well as other life-style related concerns.

Ms. Lockley also said that, due to the current budgetary challenges facing the Department, they have also decided to develop a new strategy will be more sustainable toward achieving and maintaining good health in this community. The five points emphasized in this new approach are: 1) Social Determinants; 2) Access to Competent Care; 3) Wellness & Prevention; 4) Ways to Increase Community Involvement; and 5) Better Data Collection & Monitoring

Ms. Lockley gave the website for getting further information: http://www.onehealthylife.org/

Other topics discussed in the meeting were the importance of developing better outreach strategies into the various African communities in order to get everyone counted in the 2010 Census.

There is presently one Census outreach program scheduled for January 31, 2010 to take place at: Bethel World Outreach Ministries, 8242---52 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910, Phone 301 588 8099, fax 301 588 4947

Finally, they revisited an ongoing discussion and goal of the Group’s to eventually be able to open an African Community Center somewhere in Montgomery County. It was decided that they needed to form a small sub-committee to develop both a short-term and long-term strategy to be presented to the Group in a future meeting. The attendees voted on three members as a start to this committee with the goal to reach out and add additional partners as the plan developed further on this project.

Trachtenberg Office Discusses Veterans Issues at Easter Seals in Silver Spring

The Trachtenberg Office discussed veterans issues with representatives of Easter Seals and the Montgomery County Commission on Veterans Affairs.

After a tour of the Easter Seals’ new complex in Silver Spring, meeting participants discussed the critical needs of the County’s veterans and the resources that are available to meet them. There are over 60,000 veterans in the County and, currently, there is no VA-certified community-based outpatient clinic or County veterans service office to address veterans needs.

The Easter Seals Greater Washington-Baltimore Region has an increasingly robust program to meet the needs of veterans and military families. Among their active programs are an Air force and Navy Respite program and a “Little Warrior” program. This year, East Seals will initiative a program called “Veterans Count,” that will help wounded service members, veterans and their families navigate the multitude of public and private support systems.

The meeting was held at the The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Inter-Generational Center on Spring Street in Silver Spring.

Trachtenberg Chief of Staff Alan Bowser represented our office.

For the website of the Easter Seals Greater Washington-Baltimore Region, click here.

For information on their services for veterans and military families, click here.

County Launches Online Appointments for H1N1 Vaccinations

County officials announced today that residents can now make appointments for H1N1 vaccinations online (www.montgomerycountymd.gov/h1n1flu). The H1N1 vaccination is FREE and clinics are open to all County residents. Both nasal spray and injectable vaccine will be available.

“It’s not too late to be vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus,” said Dr. Ulder J. Tillman, County health officer. “The typical season for influenza is the winter months and the best way to prevent illness is to be vaccinated. There is ample vaccine available and I urge all residents to get vaccinated.”

Those who prefer to make appointments by telephone can call the flu appointment line (240-777-4040) on Monday, January 11 and Monday, January 25 from 1 to 4 p.m.

The clinics will be held:

Tuesday, January 12
4 to 7 p.m.
Davis Library
6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda

8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.
Germantown Health Center
12900 Middlebrook Rd., Germantown

Wednesday, January 13
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
White Oak Library
11701 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring

Thursday, January 14
3 to 6 p.m.
Gaithersburg Library
18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg

Wednesday, January 20
4 to 7 p.m.
Damascus Library
9701 Main Street, Damascus

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Davis Library
6400 Democracy Blvd., Bethesda

Thursday, January 21
4 to 7 p.m.
Marilyn J. Praisner Library (Fairland)
14910 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville

Tuesday, January 26
1 to 4 p.m.
Germantown Library
19840 Century Blvd., Germantown

Wednesday, January 27
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wheaton Library
11701 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring

Thursday, January 28
5 to 8 p.m.
Rockville Library
21 Maryland Ave., Rockville

Clinics will be cancelled in case of inclement weather based on the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) schedule. If schools have a delayed opening, clinics that begin before noon will be cancelled. If school is cancelled, all clinics will be cancelled.

Check Montgomery County’s website, www.montgomerycountymd.gov/h1n1flu, for up-to-date information about vaccine availability and sign up for email updates about H1N1 by clicking on the “Public Health Alerts” icon. The Flu Information Line— 240-777-4200—is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m

Duchy Trachtenberg Meets with Latino Health Steering Committee of Montgomery County

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg met with members of the Latino Health Steering Committee—Fernanda Bianchi, Phd, Richardo Flores, J.D., Evelyn Kelly, MPH, Eduarto Pezo, JD, MA MPH, along with Sonia Mora, MPH, Manager of the Latino Health Initiative (LHI) staff--to discuss the mission of the LHI, its recent accomplishments, community health challenges, and FY11 budget issues.

The Latino Health Initiative of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services was established in July 2000 with the support of the County Executive and the County Council.

Its mission is to improve the quality of life of Latinos living in Montgomery County by contribution to the development and implementation of an integrated, coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent health wellness system that supports, values, and respects Latino families and communities.

Councilmember Trachtenberg is a member of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee.

To read LHI’s FY 2009 Annual Report, click here. To visit LHI’s website, click here.

The Latino Health Initiative Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Report

The Latino Health Initiative (LHI) of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services was established in July 2000 by the County Executive and the Montgomery County Council, with the support of Latino leaders. Charged with the development and implementation of a plan of action that would be responsive to the health needs of Latinos in the county, the LHI created the Blueprint for Latino Health in Montgomery County, Maryland, 2002-2006. The Blueprint, which was updated during FY08, identifies seven major health priorities and policy recommendations and provides strategic direction for addressing Latino health issues in the county.

The Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Report documents the accomplishments of well-established and effective programs which yield positive outcomes, such as:

• Smoking Cessation Program
• “Ama Tu Vida”(Love your Life) Health Festival and Soccer Tournament
• Asthma Management Program
• Emergency Preparedness Project
• Foreign-Trained Health Professionals Program
• Latino Youth Wellness Program
• System Navigator and Medical Interpreter Program
• Vías de la Salud Health Promoters Program
• State Workshop on Latino Health
• Latino Health Initiative in the Media
• Education Materials for Lay and Professional Audiences
• Presentations at Professional Events
• Latino Health Initiative Awards

To view the complete report, please click here.

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg commends the Latino Health Initiative’s effort to protect the environment by making the report only available in an electronic version. The Portable Document Format (PDF) version is in compliance with Federal regulations section 508, which enables people with disabilities to access the document with or without screen readers and other special devices.

Councilmember Trachtenberg looks forward to meeting the LHI’s leadership and Steering Committee in January to address and discuss their objectives, needs and priorities for Fiscal Year 2010.

County schedules free swine flu clinics - Gazette

Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009 | County News | Erin Cunningham

Montgomery County has scheduled a swine flu vaccination clinic Dec. 20 at Montgomery College's Rockville Campus.

About 5,000 vaccines will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Those hoping to be vaccinated will receive a ticket when they arrive.

The clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 51 Mannakee St. and will target people in high-risk groups. Those include: children and young adults ages 6 months to 24 years, pregnant women, adults 25 to 64 years with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, HIV/AIDS or cancer, adults who are caretakers of infants younger than 6 months of age, and health care and emergency medical services workers.

Free nasal spray and injectable vaccine will be available, according to a news release.

The clinic will be at the Physical Education Center, on the North Campus Drive side of the Rockville campus. The waiting line will be partially outdoors, and residents should plan accordingly.

The county also has scheduled three clinics at which free swine flu vaccinations will be available by appointment only, said spokeswoman Mary Anderson. The location for the clinics will be given when an appointment is made.

The first clinic will be Monday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Silver Spring. Call on Friday from 3 to 4 p.m. for appointments (240-777-4040). The second clinic will be Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon, in Silver Spring. Call Dec. 7 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. for appointments (240-777-4040). The final clinic will be Dec. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Germantown. Call on Dec. 7 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. for appointments (240-777-4040).

Additional details can be found at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/h1n1flu or through the Flu Information Line, 240-777-4200, which is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

http://www.gazette.net/stories/12022009/montnew183403_32530.shtml

Duchy Trachtenberg en Espanol!

The Trachtenberg Office is pleased to announce the launch of our new blog, Duchy Trachtenberg En Espanol!

Through our blog, we hope to expand out connections to the Spanish speaking community and to inform and educate our neighbors about the work of Trachtenberg Office and the Montgomery County Council and Government.

"Duchy Trachtenberg en Espanol" is edited by Wil Gutierrez, a graduate of Goucher College and a resident of Silver Spring, who has joined the Trachtenberg Office. The blog includes links to important community resources such as Montgomery County Public Schools, Montgomery County Library System, Montgomery County’s Latino Health Initiative, Spanish-language media, and other important federal, state and local internet sites.

You can view the Duchy Trachtenberg en Espanol at http://duchytrachtenberg-espanol.blogspot.com/

Our other online resources are Duchy Trachtenberg’s Blog, Duchy Trachtenberg on Twitter, and Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg

Montgomery Council Approves Establishment Of Hiring Priority for People With Disabilities

Bill for Hiring ‘Preference’ to be Drafted; Creation of Special Hiring Authority Referred to Charter Review Commission

ROCKVILLE, Md., November 24, 2009—The Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved moving forward to establish a “hiring preference” that would permit a job candidate with a disability to receive a hiring preference for a vacant County merit system position if the candidate is among the highest rated candidates in a normal competitive process. The Council’s action was based on a review of the County government’s hiring of persons with disabilities by the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO).

The Council decided to refer to the Charter Review Commission the question of whether to amend the County Charter to allow the Council to create a special “hiring authority” to recruit and hire persons with disabilities into County government merit positions outside of the merit system. The Council asked that the Charter Review Commission to report back to the Council on the proposal by July 1.

“The combined unemployment and under-employment rate for people with disabilities is 70 percent or more,” said Council President Phil Andrews, who requested the report be compiled by the Office of Legislative Oversight. “That is a staggering waste of talent. With today’s landmark action, the Council has unanimously indicated its commitment to substantially expanding employment opportunities in County government for people with disabilities.”

A bill requiring a new County personnel regulation establishing a hiring preference for certain individuals with a disability will be drafted and is scheduled to be introduced before the Council on Dec. 1.

OLO’s report “Hiring Persons with Disabilities: A Review of County Government Practices” was released in 2008. On Nov. 23, the Council’s Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee recommended the actions taken by the Council today.

“The United States has been making considerable progress in improving the hiring of persons with disabilities over the past 20 years,” said Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, who chairs the MFP Committee. “Now, Montgomery County is stepping up to implement some of the most progressive policies in the nation, allowing us to improve the quality of our work staff with highly qualified persons of any ability status.”

If a special authority is established (which would require voter approval of a Charter amendment), it likely would resemble a model used by the federal government known as “Schedule A.” Under that federal hiring program, federal agencies are allowed to directly hire qualified people with specific types of disabilities into vacant positions while bypassing many components of the federal government’s competitive hiring process. In the federal government, a hiring manager may hire a Schedule A applicant without advertising the job. A job applicant can apply for a position directly to the agency rather than through the federal USA Jobs program.

Because a special hiring authority and a hiring preference would be complementary and not duplicative, the MFP Committee suggested the Council pursue both.

Contact: Neil H. Greenberger 240-777-7939 / Jean Arthur 240-777-7934 / Delphine Harriston 240-777-7931

Montgomery Council Unanimously Approves Expanded Uses of Drug Forfeiture Funds Bill

Montgomery Council Unanimously Approves Expanded Uses of Drug Forfeiture Funds Bill 35-09, Whose Chief Sponsor Was Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, Will Allow Money Seized From Drug Criminals To Be Used for Drug Treatment and Prevention Programs

ROCKVILLE, Md., November 17, 2009—The Montgomery County Council today unanimously approved Expedited Bill 35-09 that will allow money seized from criminals convicted of drug-related crimes to be used for drug treatment and prevention programs. The bill, whose chief sponsor was Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, was co-sponsored by Council President Phil Andrews, Council Vice President Roger Berliner and Councilmembers Marc Elrich, George Leventhal and Nancy Navarro.

The bill amends current law that restricts the use of Drug Enforcement Forfeiture Funds to “expenses related to enforcement of laws regarding controlled dangerous substances.”

The Drug Enforcement Forfeitures Fund (DEFF) contains money that is forfeited to the County under state law as drug-related contraband. The fund includes cash and the proceeds of the sale of real and personal property seized during drug enforcement actions. The DEFF had a balance of $2,686,145 at the beginning of Fiscal Year 2009 and had approximately $2.3 million at the beginning of FY10.

Councilmember Trachtenberg, who chairs the Council’s Management and Fiscal Policy Committee and serves on its Health and Human Services Committee, said a change in the law regarding how forfeited funds could be spent will be important as the County continues to face budget shortfalls that are impacting programs, such as drug prevention and drug treatment programs.

“Drug prevention and treatment programs, and the operation of the Drug Court, are important parts of a successful campaign to reduce the use of controlled dangerous substances,” said Councilmember Trachtenberg. “Recent severe shortfalls in County revenue make it important to look for alternative sources to fund these critical programs. It is hard to think of a better use of money seized from drug offenders than to allocate it toward people who want help for their drug-related problems.”

Allocating DEFF funds for drug treatment and prevention programs will increase the non-tax supported alternative funding available for these critical programs.

“This is a timely and most appropriate use of these funds,” said Council President Andrews. “At a time when we are forced to make difficult fiscal decisions, it is essential that critical programs such as rehabilitating drug offenders continue to have adequate funding.”

Expedited Bill 35-09 also will require quarterly reporting to the Council on the DEFF revenue and expenses. The Council is responsible for appropriating the funds in the DEFF. Regular reports will provide important information to help the Council in appropriating these funds in the most effective way.

The quarterly reports on the fund, which will be made by the Police Department, will include an update on the current balance in the fund, information on recent deposits from forfeitures and details on recent expenditures from the fund.

“This legislation is another example of good government,” said Council Vice President Berliner. “We need to carefully manage our scarce resources—now more than ever—and this bill is a step in the right direction.”

In September, the Montgomery County Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Advisory Council (AODAAC) unanimously adopted a motion in support of what has evolved to become Expedited Bill 35-09. The resolution read: “Whereas addiction treatment is crime prevention, therefore be it resolved that the Montgomery County Drug Enforcement Forfeiture Fund regulations be amended to include as an authorized use of funds ‘drug abuse treatment and prevention services.’”

At the Montgomery County Council Session

Montgomery Council to Address I-270 Transportation Issues, ICC Tolls

Also Drug Enforcement Fund, Nutritional Labeling, Health Impact Assessment for Road Projects

ROCKVILLE, Md., November 16, 2009—The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday, Nov. 17, will make recommendations to the Maryland State Highway Administration and the State Department of Transportation concerning the scope of possible expansion for I-270 and the mode of transportation that should be used for the proposed Corridor Cities Transitway that would extend from the Shady Grove Metro Station to Clarksburg. The Council also is expected to make recommendations in regard to the range of toll charges for the Intercounty Connector that is being built to link I-270 to I-95 in Laurel.

The Council’s day will start at 9:30 a.m. with the dedication of a mural in the Third Floor Conference Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. The mural, “Building Strong Communities,” was created by Project Youth ArtReach, a program with youthful offenders at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. The regular session will begin at 9:40 a.m. in the Third Floor Hearing Room.

The morning and afternoon sessions of the Council’s day will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM—Cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon). The live broadcast also can be viewed via streaming through the County Web site at www.montgomerycountymd.gov. The broadcast will be repeated at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20.

During the morning session, the Council will discuss and take positions on several key issues concerning transportation in the I-270 corridor. In regard to the Corridor Cities Transitway, the Council will either recommend light rail or bus rapid transit over a dedicated line as the mode of transportation. The Council also will make a recommendation concerning expansion of I-270. Options include building two new lanes in each direction or building a total of two lanes that would be reversible depending upon the time of day.

The Council is expected to take action on Expedited Bill 35-09 would expand the possible uses for money seized from drug dealers and held in the County’s Drug Forfeiture Fund. The bill, whose chief sponsor is Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, would allow the funds to be used for drug treatment programs and to help fund the County’s innovative drug court.

The Council also is scheduled to take action on Bill 19-07 that would require certain County restaurants to post nutritional information on menus and menu boards. The legislation, whose chief sponsor was Councilmember George Leventhal, has recently been amended recently to reflect provisions being discussed in a similar bill now being considered in Congress.

At 1:30 p.m., the Council will hold a public hearing on a proposed resolution that would require a health impact assessment before major road projects are allowed to proceed.

Duchy on Cable: H1N1 Flu -- Just the Facts

I had the opportunity to work with Montgomery College's cable television producers to discuss the H1N1 flu that is affecting communities throughout the County and across the country. The program "H1N1 Flu: Just the Facts" is available on the internet through the college’s podcast directory http://podcast.montgomerycollege.edu/podcast.php?rcdid=246 and on the Montgomery College YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpvlXH7WFIY

Duchy Trachtenberg Introduces Bill to Expand Uses of Drug Forfeiture Funds in Montgomery County

October 13, 2009. Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg Introduces Bill to Expand Uses of Drug Forfeiture Funds in Montgomery County; Bill 35-09 Would Allow Money Seized From Drug Criminals To Be Used for Drug Treatment and Prevention Programs

ROCKVILLE, Md., October 13, 2009—Montgomery County Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large) introduced Expedited Bill 35-09 that will allow money seized from criminals convicted of drug-related crimes to be used for drug treatment and prevention programs. The bill, which is being co-sponsored by Council President Phil Andrews, Council Vice President Roger Berliner and Councilmembers Marc Elrich, George Leventhal and Nancy Navarro, amends current law that restricts the use of Drug Enforcement Forfeiture Funds to “expenses related to enforcement of laws regarding controlled dangerous substances.”

The Drug Enforcement Forfeitures Fund (DEFF) contains money that is forfeited to the County under state law as drug-related contraband. The fund includes cash and the proceeds of the sale of real and personal property seized during drug enforcement actions. The DEFF had a balance of $2,686,145 at the beginning of Fiscal Year 2009 and had approximately $2.3 million at the beginning of FY10.

Councilmember Trachtenberg, who chairs the Council’s Management and Fiscal Policy Committee and serves on its Health and Human Services Committee, said a change in the law regarding how forfeited funds could be spent will be important as the County continues to face budget shortfalls that are impacting programs, such as drug prevention and drug treatment programs.

“Drug prevention and treatment programs, and the operation of the Drug Court, are important parts of a successful campaign to reduce the use of controlled dangerous substances,” said Councilmember Trachtenberg. “Recent severe shortfalls in County revenue make it important to look for alternative sources to fund these critical programs. It is hard to think of a better use of money seized from drug offenders than to allocate it toward people who want help for their drug-related problems.”

Allocating DEFF funds for drug treatment and prevention programs would increase the non-tax supported alternative funding available for these critical programs.

A Health Impact Assessment for Major Road Projects.

September 29, 2009. The Montgomery County Council will consider creation of a new Montgomery County Board of Health regulation that would require a “Health Impact Assessment” before new roadway projects are approved. Introduced before the Council today, the proposal, whose chief sponsor is Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg (At Large), would require a study of the potential health effects on at-risk populations in regard to increases in local air pollutants that would be generated by the new roads.

The measure was introduced before the Council on Tuesday, September 29, 2009. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 3. Council President Phil Andrews (District 3) and Councilmembers Marc Elrich (At Large), Valerie Ervin (District 5) and Nancy Navarro (District 4) are co-sponsors of the proposal.

Requiring a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) for major roadway projects is an innovative public policy tool that has been used in Europe, Canada and increasingly in the United States. The regulations help policy makers objectively evaluate the potential health effects of a project before it is built.

“There is a growing body of information that correlates a wide range of health problems with close proximity to high-traffic roadways,” said Councilmember Trachtenberg, who serves on the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee. “We need to start considering how roadway projects impact the health of nearby residents before we build these roads—rather than learn about negative effects after the projects are completed. An HIA will provide an important tool of analysis.”

The HIA would specifically consider how roadway projects would impact at-risk populations including individuals under age 18 or older than 65, women aged 18-45 and individuals with respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes or another disease that would make them more susceptible to harm from air pollutants emitted by motor vehicles.

National Recovery Month Proclamation

September 15, 2009. A proclamation for National Recovery Month was presented by Councilmember Trachtenberg to Laura Winton, Program Director of Avery Road Combined Care, and Patricia Sullivan, co-Vice Chair of the Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Advisory Council. Several individuals were also recognized for achievements at the Avery Road Treatment Center.

WHEREAS, alcohol and drug addictions have devastating health and societal consequences, and Marylanders are certainly not immune to these serious health problems; and

WHEREAS, 23.2 million people aged 12 or older in the United States needed treatment for a substance use disorder in 2007, and 5.4 million adults also suffered from a concurrent mental illness; and

WHEREAS, valuable resources exist online and in our community to increase people’s awareness about how substance use disorders affect children, families, and our society; and

WHEREAS, such awareness and education is essential to overcoming misconceptions, eliminating the harmful effects of stigma, and achieving long-term recovery; and

WHEREAS, National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month provides an opportunity to highlight the benefits of treatment and encourage people with drug and alcohol abuse issues to begin their journey of recovery—a journey that leads to sobriety, productivity and much hope and fulfillment; and

WHEREAS, to help achieve this goal, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the Alcohol and other Drug Abuse Advisory Council invite all residents of Montgomery County to participate in the 20th anniversary of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month (Recovery Month); and

NOW, THEREFORE, the Montgomery County Council does hereby proclaim the month of September 2009 as National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month in Montgomery County and calls upon the people of this county to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies supporting this year’s theme, “Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Learn, Together We Heal.”