The organization that was originally hired by Chautauqua County to implement universal screenings for newborn children is defending itself after the county ended the contract.

There’s also questions if a lawsuit will be filed as a result.

During the Chautauqua County Legislature’s Administrative Services Committee meeting this week, a letter submitted by Ann Battaglia, chief executive officer of Healthy Community Alliance was read aloud.

Healthy Community Alliance was contracted by Chautauqua County to implement Strong Starts Chautauqua. The legislature agreed to spend $378,000 for the program. The money came from the federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act, which was provided to counties to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel terminated the contract, apparently without notifying the full county legislature. Wendel said in late October that the money was still going to be earmarked for universal screenings, but HCA would no longer be involved.

Wendel, as well as Legislature Chairman Pierre Chagnon, said the county’s ARPA Committee, which oversees how the money is being spent, had some concerns and started an investigation. ARPA Committee meetings are not made public, nor are they streamed on the county’s YouTube page, like its six standing committees are.

Both Legislator Tom Nelson, D-Jamestown and Legislator Susan Parker, D-Fredonia, have both made public statements questioning why the contract was ended without the knowledge or approval of the full legislature.

Nelson continued to share his concerns at Administrative Services. “We know that the program has been effective and used by many. However, we also know that two weeks ago County Executive Wendel canceled an ARPA funded contract with the Healthy Community Alliance, which will impact the Strong Starts initiative. We don’t know why,” he said.

In Battaglia’s letter, she states that they managed the funds for Strong Starts Chautauqua properly. “We have been and continue to be the fiscal sponsor for many grants that support rural health initiatives. We are selected because of our reputation as a trusted community-based organization and for our responsible fiscal stewardship. Over the past three years, we have served as fiscal sponsor for many grants and contracts that support the Strong Starts Chautauqua Coalition and its system building initiative. Up until November 5th, Healthy Community Alliance served as fiscal sponsor, at the request of the Chautauqua County Department of Health and Human Services, for the public health ARPA project that supported Strong Starts Chautauqua activities, including awareness and prevention education and capacity building for universal screening and referral. While that 3-year contract was unexpectedly and prematurely terminated by the county, it has been Healthy Community Alliance’s privilege to provide prudent fiscal management and spend the funds totally in accordance with the ARPA contract amendment and budget modification signed by the County Executive on May 8, 2023. The budget modification was collaboratively developed with CCDHHS to effectively allocate the funds to meet the public health ARPA project’s intentions as well as the Strong Starts Coalition’s documented and stated priorities. We regret that the county has since terminated the contract and paused these critical activities which support community and partner engagement toward the prevention and early identification of prenatal substance exposure,” she stated.

A second letter was read at the meeting. This one was signed by the co-chairs of the Chautauqua County Prenatal-Early Childhood Advisory Council of the Strong Starts Coalition. They include Andrea Walsh, Christine Schuyler and Michelle Godfrey.

According to the letter, Strong Starts Chautauqua was formed in 2019 by community leaders who sought to use an evidence-based, proven system approach to fill gaps in prevention, education, risk identification, and specialized treatment approaches that meet the unique needs of communities plagued by prenatal substance exposure. “Since 2020, more than 5,000 children and over 580 pregnant women have directly received at least one service from the SSC initiative,” the letter states.

The letter also stated there would be a public meeting at JCC to discuss the collaborative work of Strong Starts Chautauqua, however that meeting has been delayed. A new date has not yet been announced.

After the letters were read, the Administrative Services Committee continued on with its regular business. On the agenda was a discussion about Strong Starts Chautauqua.

When the committee opened up the discussion, county attorney Patrick Slagle recommended the committee go into executive session “based on the fact that there is already proposed, pending litigation on this matter.”

The committee agreed and went into executive session to discuss the topic with Wendel. No further action was announced.