At its regular meeting Thursday evening, the Iberia Medical Center Board of Commissioners will discuss a cooperative endeavor agreement with the parish government to provide a licensed social worker at Iberia Parish Health Unit.

Under the terms of the draft agreement, the parish will provide funding for the position, with Iberia Medical Center handling the management of the new employee and cover them under the hospital’s malpractice insurance. The licensed clinical social worker will be on hand at the Parish Health Unit five days per week with a working focus on young children and their families.

“There is a significant lack of young child mental health services in the parishes of Acadiana,” the draft agreement reads. “Specifically, this need has been reported by parents of children with mental health problems, pediatric primary care providers who serve as the default mental health providers in our area, and community professionals working with children whose work is affected by untreated mental health problems in the children they serve.”

The draft agreement calls for the Iberia Parish Government to provide $7,000 per month to staff the new position.

In other business, the board will address a proposed $1 million upgrade to the air conditioning system for the operating room area.

The Iberia Medical Center Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the IMC Board Room on the main campus.