BILL TO ESTABLISH RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD ACT ADVANCES, HOSPITALS SHARE OVERVIEW
ST. CROIX- Members of the Committee on Health, Hospitals, and Human Services chaired by Senator Novelle E. Francis convened in a meeting at the Frits E. Lawaetz Legislative Conference Room. Senators voted in the affirmative for Bill 34-0055- An Act amending Title Virgin Islands Code by adding a new chapter 4 to be known as the “Responsible Fatherhood Act.” Separately, lawmakers received testimony on an overview of the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center and the Schneider Regional Medical Center (SRMC). The approved item will be forwarded to the Committee on Rules and Judiciary for further consideration.
2022-01-21 12:46:38 - VI News Staff
The measure seeks to create the Council on Responsible Fatherhood within the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services (DHS). The Council is charged with various responsibilities designed to increase the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children and their families. The Responsible Fathers’ Fund is also created to fund the operation and initiatives of the Council, as stated on the bill. The Mission Project Chief Executive Officer and Founder Carlton Stevens indicated that the Fatherhood Council will be ideal for enabling the Territory to create an independent forum to test ideas, strategize, and receive counsel from experts regarding fatherhood initiatives. Senator Milton E. Potter, the bill sponsor, noted that there are many public assistance programs but oftentimes the need to foster and support the positive roles of fathers is overlooked. This Act is an attempt to shine a bright light on fatherhood in the Territory. DHS Assistant Commissioner Michal Rhymer-Browne mentioned that DHS is funded by the Federal Government with federal grants with guidelines that mandate the promotion of responsible fatherhood and positive family engagement in local programs. Rhymer-Browne added that financial contributions locally can also assist in growing the programs.
Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Douglas E. Koch shared an update. To mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic, Koch stated that renovations to the Intensive Care Unit were completed, the second floor was reopened to expand the number of available beds, and the emergency room and patient rooms continue to be deep-cleaned. Additional projects are inclusive of repairing the visitor’s elevators, generators, and air handler roof, installing the medical vacuum pump and motor, and repairing laboratory equipment. From January 1st-10th, Koch noted that a total of 347 patients were seen in the emergency room, and out of that 137 were patients infected with COVID-19. To date, JFL continues to remain in accreditation from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Virgin Islands Department of Health.