HERMANN – The Gasconade County Health Department will be taking part in a statewide program aimed at building healthier communities. In the case of this county, the focus will be on finding ways to treat chronic illnesses.

Department Administrator Kenna Fricke said the agency last month applied for and was accepted to take part in the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Building Communities for Better Health.

“We’ll attend a three-day training next week and hopefully we’ll have some more information at the next (Board of Trustees) meeting,” Fricke said, shortly after Monday morning’s regular monthly session of the department’s board. Aside from the routine items reported on by Fricke, the board session dealt mostly with building maintenance issues, such as fixing downspouts and making repairs to the parking lot.

As for the upcoming Building Communities project, Fricke said the area of focus for Gasconade County will be chronic illness. She said the department for the next three years will focus on an evidence-based treatment plan for chronic health issues.

Because Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May — the normal Board of Trustees meeting date — the agency’s board will meet next on Monday, June 1.