Eight health workers leave Saint Joe County Department of Health, cite political tension

 

SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- About 10% of the total staff at the Saint Joseph County Department of Health has decided to leave in the past month. 

“We’re trying to hire and replace them, but you hate to see people go,” says Interim Health Officer, Dr. Cerbin, in Wednesday’s Board of Health meeting. 

Eight more health workers follow the previous health officer, Dr. Bob Einterz out the door. He resigned in March, citing political tension with county officials. 

“Not in eight years have we seen eight people leave inside of 30 days,” says Heidi Beidinger, Saint Joseph County Board of Health member. 

They say politics is getting in the way of public health.  

“I honestly did not make this decision heartly, but what I did base it off of was the political arena that was going on,” says Tracina Fikes, former Health Worker for Maternal Infant Health with the Saint Joe County Department of Health. 

They point to members of the Saint Joseph County Commissioners and Council blocking funding for the Department of Health, funding the former staff said was necessary. 

“When I saw that our funds were not renewed to keep doing community engagements, I knew they did not care about the community,” Fikes says. 

Councilmembers Amy Drake and Dan Schaetzle, who voted against funding for the department and were called out by some who decided to leave, responded to the resignations.  

Dan Schaetzle said in a statement: 

“I will continue to work with our current health department leadership to better understand all current future sources of revenue, the goals the department is pursuing, the metrics on which they are focused, and how we can build a stronger department that operates and succeeds within statutory requirements and with the oversite of the Commissioners and Council.” 

Amy Drake, who many know from speaking out against some covid mandates, tells ABC57:  

“The health department needs to be depoliticized . . . I am certain we will fill this handful of recently vacated positions with new employees dedicated to the mission of serving everyone’s public health needs in Saint Joseph County.”  

Some question Drake’s remark on the department being politicized.  

“You want to stop the politization?” asks Beidinger. “Then stop messing with individual people’s lives here at the Health Department.”  

It’s all happening just before a brand-new health officer begins her position to oversee the department of health.  

“I look forward to a new health officer coming,” says Beidinger. “She’s going to have some challenges, and the board of health is here to support her in doing that.”  

Fikes worries these resignations could affect health services. 

The county hopes to fill all open positions as quickly as possible.