HomeMy WebLinkAboutFamily Services Advisory Committee - Minutes - 9/17/2013
BAYFIELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
FAMILY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Courthouse Conference Room A
Tuesday, September 17th, 2013 at 4:30 pm
Committee Members Present: John Blahnik, Mary Skerik, Susan Davis, Lona Schmidt, Dee
Kittleson, Nancy and Dale Johnson.
Staff Present: Anita Haukaas, Cheryl Hanson, Elizabeth Skulan, and Nina Bucher
Call to order: Chairperson Lona called the meeting to order at 4:32 pm. Introductions were made.
Adoption of 6/18/13 minutes: Dee made a motion to adopt the minutes, John seconded, motion
carried.
Public Comment Opportunity: No one was present for public comment.
Mental Health/AODA Emergency Detention (ED) Presentation: Family Services Social Worker
Cheryl Hanson explained that EDs are 72 hour holds placed on people who are a danger to themselves
or others. The goal is to protect the safety of that individual and/or others. Cheryl handed out
information on the “Statutory Basis for Emergency Detention in Wisconsin”. Law enforcement makes
the determination to place the hold with the help of the County Social Workers and the person is held
in the Behavioral Health Unit (BHU) of Memorial Medical Center or a Northland Counseling crisis bed in
Ashland. EDs are costly as one night in BHU is over $2,000. During the initial 72 hours, clinical staff
complete assessments to determine patient needs/plan of care and a court hearing is held so the judge
can verify that the person is being held for a valid reason. Several outcomes are possible after an ED,
ranging from the most life intrusive 90 day-six month commitment to an institution, to the least life
intrusive 90 day settlement agreement. During settlement agreements, if the client is not adhering to
the plan, a judge may find the client in non-compliance in order to intensify services.
Advisory Committee mileage: Anita reminded members to sign in and include their mileage on the
meeting attendance sheet or they will not receive payments.
Re-appointment of FSAC terms: The Human Services Board approved the re-appointment of
Susan Davis and Mary Skerik to another six year term. Anita thanked Susan and Mary for serving on
the Committee.
Red Cliff Indian Child Welfare update: Anita said that Family Services and Red Cliff have not been
able to have their joint staffing in September because of Red Cliff’s time restraints and short-staffing
situation. Peppy said she and Anita would be involved in a management focus group in early October
that will be reviewing six Bayfield County out of home placed Indian children cases for compliance with
the Indian Child Welfare Act. The review is completed by the State, but is a Federal requirement.
Child Protective Services (CPS) update: Due to the start of school, the number of referrals is up
because teachers are mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse.
Out of home care: There are currently nine CHIPS, five JIPS, 11 kinship youth placed out of home.
There is also one juvenile placed at the Department of Corrections.
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Foster Home providers update: Anita said Family Services is in the process of reviewing and
updating both the Kinship care and Foster care policies. She hopes to have the updates ready for
approval at the next advisory committee meeting in December. If approval is received from the FSAC,
it will then go before the DHS Board.
JAIS Assessment Implementation: Technical assistance training on the JAIS Assessment system
will take place in Hayward later this week.
Annual Family Services Meeting: The annual Family Services meeting will be held in the EOC on
9/20 from nine-noon. (agenda attached)
Mental Health (MH) & Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA): Anita reported that the County’s
Mental Health Coordinator, Angela Hernandez, has resigned. She also said there were funds available
for the Comprehensive Community Services and Coordinated Services Team programs. These
programs are being reviewed to see if Bayfield County would benefit from them.
The Affordable Care Act (PPACA) being implemented on January 1, 2014 may affect people’s ability to
pay with coverage loss and changes.
Juvenile Justice Update: Juvenile Justice referrals are down when comparing 40 at the end of
August 2013 to 62 at the same time last year
Family Drug Court: Anita explained that the appeal of Family Drug Court is that it works with the
whole family instead of just the individual. A handout reporting the successes of Family Drug Court
was given to the Committee members. The Family Services section and the Bayfield County Criminal
Justice Department brought the idea to the Criminal Justice Committee, who made a motion to pursue
creating one in Bayfield County. This depends on two separate line items in the 2014 budget being
passed (programming and staffing) which would allow shifting workloads in Family Services and an
increase in hours for the Criminal Justice Case Worker to administer the program.
Future Meetings: Future meetings: 12/17/13, 3/18/14, 6/17/14, 9/16/14, and 12/16/14.
Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 5:45 pm.
Minutes submitted by,
Nina Bucher
Nina Bucher