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Show Should County Bow Out Of Home Health Care? By TOM BUSSELBERG FARMINGTON - two private agencies are quotto provide a ing about visit vs. $31 for the county. That must be weighed against the prestige of the Davis health $27-52- 8 If pri- vate agencies can do it better, maybe the county health department should bow out of providing home health care. THATS THE possibility being studied by Nursing Director Dolleen Jewett, supervisor of the county's home health program, as two longtime private groups whove dealt in that area for years in department maintaining a home health program thats rs old something neither Salt Lake or Weber-Morgacurrently operate, Mrs. Jewett told the board of health, recently, indicating it'll be up to that lay policy making body to decide the future for the countys home health program. Stressing she doesn't feel as though the countys involvement is a sacred cow that shouldnt be discontinued, Mrs. Jewett indicated several n neighboring counties, have started selling their w ares in Davis County, as well.- The Home Health Agency of Ogden and Community Nursing of Salt Lake City have worked with patients referred from hospitals for years but previously left follow-uto the county as was mandated by federal regulations that nowve been changed allow ing any certified group to "set up shop in the county. WHEN IT comes to cost, the options are available: the countys program could be gradually phased out and turned over to another agency p or the two county hospitals could initiate their own programs, similar to w hat both Weber County facilities operate. ITS (HOME health) supposed to pay its way--i- t has done at this point, but we feel we need to raise it to at least $34 to pay its way for at least the next few months. The Ogden and Salt Lake agencies said they would increase their staff and open offices in Davis County utilizing local people, possibly even hiring the countys home health staff, she said further. I DO have some feelings that it is good-I- m starting to see the handwriting on the wall. Constant competition for government agencies to provide when other can, it would require more staff for the county to expand to a a day call service. Noting the program is set up to help provide assistance for elderly that often keeps them from having to stay in nursing 24-ho- homes or hospitals, Mrs. Jewett said more supervisory aids are needed, more after-hou(office hours) coverage should be added and more coordination needed for the types of care needed whether its with a nutritionist, for respite care of relatives taking n care of elderly or for home health aides performing a variety of functions. SHE SAID the audit brought out such needs for expanded coverage coupled with an increase in those next-of-ki- semi-annu- al applying for Medicare assistance. The county council on aging also helps coordinate the program for its clients. Indicating a computer system may be needed within two years, Mrs. Jewett said We can hold on to our own, possibly. I have no question on the quality of service would be provided by at least the two agencies noa oierating. TO CONTLNUE the countys service ould mean competing, Health Director Enrico Leopardi said we either compete, and increase the spectrum beyond ase our what it is now-incre- County Budget Reopened - The FARMINGTON Davis County Commission transferred from revenue sharing funds to the general budget fund to pay for new computer and information systems and opened up the budget again to make room for some additional expected revenues and transfer some funds for improvements. AN ADDITIONAL $455,000 was added for flood costs that will be generated from the one mill increase in the flood control tax levy. About $83,000 was also added for flood costs which is expected to come from federal assistance. Approximately $52,000 was electrical equipment. , IN OTHER action, the commission also put their blessing on a contract involving over $50,000 of federal money to upgrade the countys Maternal and Child Health Program. Dr. Enrico Leopardi, Coun- ty Health Department director, said that the project would include the purchase of 50 chil drens car seats which will be rented to low income families. THE PROGRAM will also care for provide early mothers about 100 as well as fluoride tablets and pre-nat- A D THIS WILL be the only car seat rental program in the county, said Dr. Leopardi. Since it will be a non-prof- it program, he explained that the annual $5 rental fee would be used to buy additional seats. He added that another part of the program would be to help provide Health education to pregnant women and preschool children through audio visual materials in health department waiting rooms. e childrops for dren. The 15 month project will employ one part-tim- e nurse and a full time health aide, said Dr. Leopardi. He added that although the federal government is funding the project, only part of the money would be provided up frtnt." I had to bargain to get even partial up front money so as to buy the car seats, he said", mf (Story, Front 4- NLJHSets Registration Registration for North Layton Junior High School will be Tuesday, Aug. 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. NEW STUDENTS in the area should come to the school Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Page) Golfers Reach By MARK FOTHER1NGHAM CLEARFIELD Course on Aug. 4. TEAMS tied for first included Utah Power and Light, North Davis Hospital and Bar-loRealty and New Concepts Furniture. Low team score for mixed foursome went to Ward-le- y Better Homes and Gardens; long drive, Randy Banks and close to hole drive went to V w N T - After months of delay, one of the three ball diamonds at Steed Park finally has the lights on. THE CITY had originally planned to have the field lit by late spring, but according to Recreation Director Ross - A At least one of Steed Parks three baseball diamonds can now be used after sun- LIGHTS UP! Three teams tied for first place in the Layton Chamber of Commerce annual golf tournament at Valley View Golf E U the competitive business, Dr. Jan Freeman, a board member, reiterated. ATie SAT. Grade 2 - Four Year Trend by Subject National Norm 2.8 Q semi-priva- te low-inco- DAVIS SCHOOLS TEST SCORES R hours, to nights and weekends. It means really and truly marketing. Increasing the staff would probably generate a bigger workload, decreasing cost and that would result in real competition, he added, although the board questioned whether government should compete with agencies. LAKEVIEW and Humana Davis North Hospitals, meanwhile, both are preparing to meet with county health officials within the week to discuss options, with spokespeo-pl- e from both indicating potenWe decided to tial interest. look into it to see if its feasible, Lakeviews Asst. Administrator David Christiansen We feel this service said. needs to be rendered. Itd be a mistake to cut k (home health) right off but if there are agencies who do that I dont see why we should be in Mark Bitner. Kearl, weather problems have hampered completion of the project. Mr. Kearl was planning to wait until fixtures for the other two diamonds arrived from back East before hooking up the southeast diamond. After some emphatic persuasion from the city council last down. Recreation and Parks Director Ross Kearl reports that construction on the other two diamonds lighting facilities wouldnt begin until after a church soft-ball tournament which. is now under way at the park. Photo by Mark week, however, Mr. Kearl decided to light the diamond separately. W'EVE BEEN getting a ton of flack over this deal, said Councilman H. K. Chandler. Several councilmen said they had received complaints about how long the project was taking. Mr. Kearl told the council that the southeast diamond could be lit separately using an approximately $250 switch which could be installed in just a few days. THE COUNCIL decided that if the switch was all that was holding up the project, the money could be spared. Weve got people that have already scheduled night games because we told them the lights would be on, said Councilman Rulon Cummings. The remaining light fixtures have been on order for several weeks and should be in Clearfield anytime, said Mr. Kearl. He added that he would wait until September to finish off the other diammonds so as not to interfere with a softball which is currently underway at the park. tour-name- nt MR. KEARL did agree to clean up the mounds of dirr on walkways around the di- amonds this week also. o v79 vfll w79 v83 w81 w83 c79 COMPREHENSION WORD STUDY VOCABULARY c83 c81 79 t81 t83 TOTAL READING KAYSVILLE - On Aug. 20, the Kays-vill- e g American Legion Post 82, will be the communities of Kaysville and Fruit Heights on their monthly newspaper and scrap aluminum drive. Davis County Students Score Above The National Average By TOM BUSSELBERG North County Editor FARMINGTON - Davis County students continue to score consistently well above national norms, but spelling and math appreciation aren't exactly strong suits, recently-release- d -- testing results indicate. RESULTS OF last April's testing of students in grades. 2, 4, 6 and 8 show norms ranging from three months when math appreciation scores for 4th graders-- at 5.1 or month school level, compared to five years-on- e 4.8 nationally, vs. 1.4 years ahead on 8th grade vocabulary. As Supt. Welling admits, mathematics concepts and spelling are generally lower while reading is higher. But as Dr. Workman pointed out to the board of education, testing is given in three 50 minute blocks on consecutive days. Students start with reading and work hard and then it goes somewhat down each above-nation- al Law-renc- dav. EXPLAINING testing serves a dual role of verifying and assuring that district programs are producing student achievement consistent with students on a national basis" but also to provide a sound and reliable basis for the im- provement of instruction. The Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) is used for grades, 2, 4, 6 and 8 given in April of each year, meaning students are tested every other year, while the Test of Academic Skills is given in the 10th grade, given in October of each year. A general aptitude test is given 9th graders. THE TEST results are tabulated and sent to individual schools where principals point out poorer areas and the faculty meet to formulate strategy for counteracting the downfall. Ive known schools who would completely eradicate those weaker testing areas, Dr. Workman said. In addition, workshops are conducted to help principals interpret test data with Supt. Welling telling the board he feels those sessions have been worthwhile in helping pave the way to improving scores. MATH competition seems the most easily improved after a schools concentration, the superintendent said, adding that while he didnt see any areas of serious concern, we need to keep a strong curriculum. Board Member Robert McIntosh asked if the district helps prepare students to take those tests as some districts reportedly do with Dr. Workman indicating such efforts are spotty. WE CAN purchase books that give questions but we have not done it due to cost. We would have to purchase them every year, he explained, adding that teachers are anxious for their students to do well noting further teachers do acquaint students with testing procedures. I recommend if we could even go to the teachers and principals with ideas to (get students) not to spend all their time on one some of our kids wouldnt feel so frightened, Mrv McIntosh added. IT WOULD almost be impossible for a teacher to teach the kids all the answers to questions on tests, Dr. Workman responded, while Board Pres. Sheryl Allen emphasized written education isnt tested in the standardized format currently used. District scores are above national average but Davis Education Assoc. Executive Secretary Dee Bumingham reminded the board a far higher percentage of Davis students take the college-boun- d tests in planning college attendance. He placed that at 60 percent locally vs. 30 percent ques-tion--may- be nationally. . THE NATIONAL norm is the national may not be good enough, Dr. Workman responded. I think in Davis County we ought to expect (results) above the national norm. I feel were in danger if we rely on the national norms and that could mean allowing weakness in the whole system to be overlooked. It was emphasized individual student test results are available for viewing by parents but that they must request that chance. An example of test scores may be found on page 3. norm-- it THEY ARE very appreciative of all who support them in this fund raising project. They ask that you save your newspapers and all scrap aluminum including cans and help them raise money for their various community projects such as Boys State, Veterans Hospital, poster contests, up NANETTE HIX Hix Gains State Title Miss Nanette Hix, the daughter of Mrs. Daisy Holt, of 1286 W. 1350 S., Syracuse, and Gayle Hix of Houston, Tex., has been named the Miss Deaf Utah at the pageant held recently at Woods Cross High School. NANETTE, 18, has just re- cently graduated from the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind. She received her crown from the past Utah Queen, Heidi Ercanbrack. At the Utah School for the Deaf, Miss Hix has been very active in school functions, having served on the student council, and was Valedictorian of her graduating class this past June . By MARK FOTHERING HAM FARMINGTON The Davis County Commission last week authorized a new Mental Health Department program which will utilize chronic mentally ill patients for custodial and landscaping work at mental health centers around the county. ACCORDING TO Ray Johnson, Mental Health Department business manager, the program has been very successful at other mental health centers in the state. The program would provide a double benefit of both inexpensive labor for the county as well as providing job skills and experience for the patients. Mr. Johnson said that the program had been approved by the Department of Labor and that the patients could legally be paid less than minimum wage. You cant imagine what it means to these people just to have a few dollars in their pockets, he said. THE PATIENTS go through an employment interview situation and get some skills training also, he added. The only question remaining with the program seems to be whether or not social security taxes should be taken from the wages. Mr. Johnson said that the patients who are approved for the project will be transported to residential and outpatient facilities in Layton, Farmington and Bountiful to work as t e need arises. ALONG WITH her parents, r, and grandparents who are happy with Nanettes honor include: Mr. and Mrs. Val Anaya, Layton and Mrs. Florence Hill of Idaho Falls, THE COUNTY commission approved the program and requested that an occasional report be given by the mental health department on its progress. The commission approved another mental health project where officials plan to take step-fathe- THE LEGIONAIRES do a great service to the communities and they need your sup- port. They ask that you bundle or tie the newspapers for easy pick-u- p and have them out on the curb by 8 a.m. FOR ADDITIONAL information regarding their drive phone either Wallace 7 in Fruit Heights or Abrams Woodrow Pilcher in Kaysville. np 544-405- 544-273- 4 Program Utilizes Mental Health Patients Labor NANETTE WILL continue her studies at Washington, D.C. this fall and will be attending The Institute of there. Next summer she will travel to Baltimore, Maryland to compete in the National Contest for the Deaf Queen competition. Because of her school achievement she will be in the United States Achievement Academy Official Yearbook thah is published nationally. Idaho, vsb i . keep on their building, including utilities. 10 adolescents in the drug and alcohol program on a four day survival trip in the Uinta Mountains. MR. JOHNSON stressed that although the participants would never be in any real danger during the trip, it would not be just a vacation either. The idea is to put them into a stressful situation where they have to fend for themselves a bit. Ive seen a lo of benefit from these programs. They seem to open people up and helps with their self image. The commission approved about $300 for food and gas to get to the campsite at Chepe-t- a Lake near Roosevelt in the Uintas. Another $100 was approved to allow an advisor to fly over and scout out the area before the trip. THE COUNTY Mental Health Department was earlier the only agency to submit a bid to use about $50,000 of state beer and alcohol tax monies for the countys Drug and Alcohol Prevention and Education J Plan. P An allocation committee is now reviewing the bid to see if it meets the requirements of the plan. Another $100,000 in alcohol and beer tax funds will be used by the school district for similar purposes. THE FIVE-poi-nt county plan involves; (1) reducing alcohol and drug use by county youths, (2) inhibiting the misuse of prescrip- tion drugs by women and senior citizens, (3) promoting awareness of drug and alcohol misuse through family and community oriented services, (4) decreasing the number of people driving while intoxicated and (5) reducing drugs and alcohol abuse among 5 year olds. 18-2- I |