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Date: 8/2/2022
EASTHAMPTON – The Easthampton Board of Health met with recently-hired Community Social Worker Elizabeth Plouffe on July 26 to learn about the issues on which she has been working.
The announcement of Plouffe’s hire was made in mid-July for a role the city had been trying to fill for “several years” and made more necessary by the coronavirus pandemic. The position is focused on outreach, education, referrals, substance abuse and mental health.
At the board’s virtual meeting on July 26, Plouffe said she was on her third week with the department and had been very busy, joking that she had spent more time out of the office than in it. She described the role as one of providing support to the community with issues that have come up since COVID-19 began.
“I help them to find resources – I’ve gotten a lot of referrals,” she said. “Some people have reached out with questions. I’m glad people have been aware that I am here and available.”
Plouffe has also been in touch with the fire and police to learn about options for collaboration. She’s been keeping a log of those referred for services, the problems they are facing, and the outcome. She told the board that quarterly reports could be done to show what has been accomplished.
“Questions and comments and referrals are coming from all over,” she said.
Board member Aimee Petrosky said that as time passes and connections are made, it will be easier for Plouffe to match residents with the resources needed. She said Plouffe’s hiring is a “significant resource” for the department and the board is lucky to have her.
Public Health Director Bri Eichstaedt said that when it comes to housing issues, the city used outside resources in the past, something that has changed since Plouffe was hired.
“We’ve gone from a ‘you need to clean up’ approach to ‘what can we do to help?’” she said.
Updated regulations for body art establishments
The board approved updates to the city’s regulations for body art establishments following a brief discussion. Josh Suchoza, owner of Black Labyrinth Tattoo Syndicate, raised his concerns with the board back in April, that the current regulations were too restrictive. For example, the previous regulations only allowed a business to hire one apprentice at a time. Training for this apprenticeship can take three years to complete.
The board agreed, which led to the new version. The board had no opposition to the amended regulations and they were approved unanimously. The new regulations took effect July 28.