Board of Health — Skokie, IL
Date: 2019-09-12

Skokie Board of Health
 Thursday, September 12, 2019

 Village Hall – 2nd floor Conference Rooms D & E
 7:00 p.m.

 AGENDA
 U




 I. Call to Order



 II. Approval of Minutes



 III. Jessica Jones, MA
 Vice Chair, Board of Health
 Lead Associate, Health and Benefits Consulting
 Willis Towers Watson
 Human Centric Health: Leveraging behavioral economics precepts to reduce
 non-communicable diseases



 IV. Chair’s Report



 V. Director’s Monthly Report



 VI. Old/New Items of Business
 • Board Speaker Survey Results
 • South Asians Active Together (SAATH) NIH-Grant!!
 • Please promote completion of the 2020 U.S. Census
 • November 10 Community Forum



 VII. Next Meeting:

 October 10, 2019, 7:00 p.m.
 Village Hall 2nd Floor Conference Rooms D & E

 Carrie Haberstich, AICP
 Planner/Community Development Block Grant Administrator
 5-year Consolidated Plan for Skokie's CDBG program

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Skokie Board of Health
 September 12, 2019


Present Excused
Mr. Abbasi Dr. Sood Dr. Drachler
Dr. Dave Ms. Urbanus Ms. Haido
Dr. Gaynes Mr. Usman Ms. Moy Wooten
Ms. Jones Ms. Varma Mr. Pandya
Ms. Nickisch Duggan Dr. Vernon Dr. Topouzian
Dr. Prince Dr. Werner Dr. Williams
Dr. Shim Dr. Youkhana


Dr. Catherine Counard, Director of Health
Mr. David Clough, Staff

Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by Ms. Jones, Vice Chair.

Approval of Minutes - The minutes from the May Board of Health meeting were approved.

Chairs Report –
Dr. Drachler would like Board of Health members to take turns giving a brief statement about their
personal and professional history. Dr. Drachler will speak in October, and we will proceed from there.

Flu clinics will be coming up soon and volunteers are still needed for the October 16th clinic. Ms. Jones
thanked Dr. Werner and Dr. Youkhana for already volunteering to assist on October 2nd .

Using Behavioral Economics to Improve Health Behaviors, Jessica Jones
A copy of the presentation is attached.

Ms. Jones began by describing how two years ago Willis Towers Watson partnered with the World
Economic Forum to research ways to intervene in non-communicable diseases. Non-communicable
diseases are caused by people’s every day decisions. Willis Towers Watson is working on ways to create
a human centric health ecosystem in which the easiest decision to make is also the healthiest.

Motivators based on behavioral economics have recently been referred to as “nudges” in the business
world. National health programs based on the use of nudges include the Diabetes Prevention Program
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move program. These
programs facilitate healthier decision making.

Ms. Jones introduced the concept of cognitive biases. We tend to value immediate gratification over
delayed gratification, are more sensitive to losses than to wins, are overly optimistic about our chances to
win despite actual probability, and respond better to stories than to data and numbers.

Through understanding these biases we can tailor health programs to take advantage of them.


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Ms. Jones gave the example of a nudge project she worked on for a health system in Salt Lake City
seeking to improve their wellness program. Some of the nudges they used were: building more bike
racks, having healthy food available in the cafeterias, and creating physical activity challenges.

Ms. Jones encouraged the Board of Health to think about ways to use these concepts to move objectives
of the community health plan forward. She asked for some examples people had seen.

Dr. Shim reported that some people would walk the stairs for exercise in their old offices but the stairs
were dirty with low air quality. In their new building the stairs are clean and the air circulation is better.
There are also encouraging posters on every landing. Now more people use the stairs for exercise.

Mr. Clough mentioned a hospital cafeteria that succeeded in getting staff and patients to eat healthier
portions by decreasing the size of the plates, making smaller portions the obvious choice.

Dr. Dave added that they discussed using loss aversion in the SAHELI study by giving patients a bank of
money that they can lose if they don’t attend exercise classes. This approach is also fairly labor intensive.

Ms. Jones pointed out that SAHELI also uses framing by encouraging parents to exercise so they are
around for their families.

Director’s Monthly Report – a copy is attached
• Response to increased teen vaping – Health and Human Services
 Planned efforts include working with teens to create an anti-vaping video, and PEER Services staff
 speaking with parents and students. There will be a conversation with stake holders. This work has a
 become urgent with the recent reports of severe respiratory illness and deaths related to vaping

 A lengthy discussion ensued.

 Dr. Counard stated that the U.S Food and Drug Administration has proposed banning all flavored
 liquids at the Federal level, so vaping would be less appealing to youth. Michigan has already done
 this, and the Illinois General Assembly is considering a ban.

 Dr. Youkhana stated that he believed this would be effective based on his experience with seeing
 bidis banned and the immediate reduction in youth attempting to purchase tobacco.

 Mr. Abbasi made a motion to request that the Village Board take action to ban flavoring in electronic
 cigarettes to reduce youth vaping in Skokie. Dr. Youkhana seconded the motion. The motion passed
 unanimously. Dr. Counard will convey the Board’s concern to Mayor Van Dusen, urging the Village
 Board to support a ban on flavored e-cigarette liquids, and to reach out to our State elected officials.

 Following the vaping discussion Ms. Urbanus proposed asking Dr. Williams to give his vaping
 presentation earlier than January. Dr. Youkhana offered to switch with Dr. Williams so he could
 present in November.

 Mr. Clough reported that he met with staff at Niles North to discuss creating a video about vaping
 with students. Ms. Nickisch Duggan suggested having a video competition for the students, and
 giving an award for the best video. Mr. Clough agreed with the idea and thought that having the
 award for the most views online might be a good way to make sure the videos were shared.


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• Livability Plan/Community Needs Assessment for People with Disabilities/UIC SPH
 We partnered with Human Services to submit a project proposal to the UIC School of Public Health
 faculty, requesting assistance with creating a Livability Plan for the Village, which will ensure that
 people of all ages and abilities are supported in our community.

• Locally-acquired Lyme Disease in two Skokie Children, Highlighting Risk
 In two separate instances, a child acquired Lyme disease in their backyard. Ticks infected with the
 bacteria that causes Lyme disease, were detected in the Chicago area as early as 2006.

 Dr. Gaynes expressed surprise at Lyme disease being found in a backyard in Skokie rather than a
 heavily wooded area. Dr. Vernon confirmed that infected ticks can be found in suburban and urban
 locations as well as rural.

• Colorectal Cancer Screening Grant – “FluFIT” Program
 An evidence-based approach to increase screening for colorectal cancer is to distribute Fecal
 Immunochemical Test (FIT) kits during annual community flu shot programs. Thanks to a grant from
 the Center for Asian Health Equity, we will be able to offer 100 kits at no charge to eligible residents
 during this year’s flu shot clinics.

 Dr. Shim encouraged the project to focus on those over 50 and under 75, who haven’t been screened
 yet. Dr. Werner asked how positive tests would be handled. Dr. Counard replied that people without
 insurance will be referred to Erie Family Health Center for follow-up.

Old Business
Dr. Dave commented on how helpful the Medical Reserve Corps had been with SAHELI events,
particularly Cres and Doug Roewer. She asked if there was a volunteer appreciation opportunity to
recognize them. Ms. Jones asked if perhaps a section of NewSkokie could be devoted to honoring
community volunteers. Dr. Counard agreed that finding a mechanism to honor volunteers like the
Rowers would be a good idea, and she would explore options with Village leadership.

New Business
Mr. Abbasi proposed switching the Board of Health break from summer to winter. Many Board members
are retired and some leave town for winter. Taking a break when the weather is bad might be a better
option. Dr. Counard replied the Board is required to meet monthly ten times a year, with no specification
for which month. She asked to reconsider the proposal next meeting when Dr. Drachler is present.

Dr. Counard announced the exciting news that the Northwestern Medicine team has successfully applied
for a 2nd NIH grant to address health disparities in South Asians. The South Asians Active Together
(SAATH) study will be an intervention for mothers and daughters to encourage them to exercise together.
Dr. Werner asked if the focus would be exercise only or if it would include diet. Dr. Dave reported that
this particular study would focus on exercise. Dr. Counard thanked Dr. Dave for her ongoing support!

Dr. Counard reported that Carrie Haberstich from the Planning Division has asked to speak to the Board
of Health next month, and discuss the Community Development Block Grant.




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Dr. Counard mentioned the upcoming 2020 U.S Census and the importance of participating. Dr. Werner
added that the August American Journal of Public Health had a report showing how community funding
and statistical analysis is tied to the data gathered by the Census.

Dr. Counard also reported that there would be a community forum to gather input from residents on
November 10th. She encouraged Board of Health Members to attend.

Dr. Dave added that Skokie/Morton Grove school district 69 was featured on NPR for their Community
Schools work and collaboration with the Infant Welfare Society.

The meeting was adjourned by Ms. Jones at 8:30 PM.



Next meeting:
Thursday, October 10 at 7:00 PM
Village Hall
5127 Oakton Street
2nd floor conference rooms D & E




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