HomeMy WebLinkAboutFamily Services Advisory Committee - Minutes - 3/15/2016
BAYFIELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
FAMILY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Courthouse Conference Room A
Tuesday, March 15th, 2016 at 4:30 pm
Committee Members Present: Lona Schmidt, Bev Lindell, Susan Davis, Ann Green, Jim Crandall,
John Blahnik, Nancy and Dale Johnson.
Others Present: Anita Haukaas, Rachel Obiden (AODA Coordinator) and Nina Bucher from BCDHS;
Denise Carlson and Chris Hillert from Red Cliff.
Call to order and introductions: Lona called the meeting to order at 4:31 pm and introductions
were made.
Minute Approval: John made a motion to approve minutes from the 12/15/15 FSAC meeting as
written. Susan seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Public Comment Opportunity: None
Alcohol Commitments Presentation: Rachel described the involuntary AODA commitment process
in Bayfield County from start to finish as outlined in the attachment “Involuntary Alcohol Commitment”.
First, a person who is grossly incapacitated by drugs or alcohol and unable to care for themselves is
taken into custody by a law enforcement officer. If they are a danger to themselves or others, they are
placed on a 72 hour hold or E.D. (emergency detention) and placed in a safe secure inpatient bed,
depending on their age, medical and mental health needs. Clients are usually brought to the Behavioral
Health Unit of Memorial Medical Center in Ashland if they have beds open, or the hospital will search
for the closest alternative. The officer contacts the Family Services worker on call to assess the
situation and authorize the placement. (This step will be changing by law in June 2016 to an
assessment by a Mental Health Professional which may be contracted through Northland Counseling).
Due to the limited options for inpatient services for Bayfield County residents, especially for youth,
some placements can be hours away and hard on families to physically keep in contact. The officer
must read the person their “Notice of rights-Emergency Detention” (attached) verbatim and have the
person sign the form stating they were informed. The officer must also fill out a “Statement of
Emergency Detention by Law Enforcement Officer” form (attached) stating the time the person was
taken into custody. The Family Services worker receives a copy of this Statement and must schedule a
probable cause hearing within 72 hours. If the client is placed far away, it is possible for this hearing to
take place via video conferencing.
Even before the probable cause hearing, the client may be offered and enter into a settlement
agreement (sample attached) that waives court hearing. The Settlement Agreement is good for up to
90 days. This agreement is a plan of care or treatment that is designed by the Family Services worker
and the client with conditions to help the client receive help and make a plan for successful re-entry
into their community without drugs or alcohol. Other outcomes of the probable cause hearing may be
dismissal, conversion to guardianship case, or probable cause is found and a final hearing is scheduled
and Doctors examine and make recommendations to the court.
Questions and discussion led to the following highlights: less people are reliant on county funding due
to the Affordable Care Act that requires all people to have health insurance of some type; Mishomis
House is reopening in Red Cliff and will have 4 inpatient treatment beds; Northlakes Community Clinic
is starting an aftercare program called HOPE for heroin and opiate abusers; and many local
groups/programs for aftercare are available in our area such as AA and CCS.
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Rachel wrapped up by saying the number of EDs in 2016 has increased substantially over 2015 and
that Family Services workers are available to these clients throughout the process to help them achieve
a positive outcome.
Family Services Section staffing update: Richard Kamm, the new Family Services Social Work
Aide started on Jan. 14th, 2016 and works 18.75 hr/week. He has been helping Family Services staff
complete tasks that keep them in the office when they could be out with clients.
Red Cliff Indian Child Welfare update: Chris Hillert, the Red Cliff ICW Director was present and
relayed that they are very busy and working on a grant program to build a bridge between the elders
and youth for mutual benefit, that Mishomis House will be reopening and that Red Cliff Health Center is
licensed as a mental health facility, and IHS prevention dollars are being focused on healthy baby
initiatives in reaction to our region ranking high in number of addicted babies being born in the State.
Mental Health/AODA Services update: Anita said that Rachel had completed the substance abuse
grant and received feedback from the State saying that starting in 2016, these funds will not be
allowed to cover housing (ie security deposits and initial month’s rent) or rewards incentives (ie gas
cards, Walmart gift cards for positive reinforcement) as in the past.
2016 had seen a rise in the number of referrals, EDs, and requests for third party petition information.
Child Protective Services update: Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice referral numbers are also
rising and schools are struggling due to the juvenile mental health issues, which will be a focus at the
Family Services Annual Meeting May 26, 2016 in the EOC from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Future Meetings: Future FSAC meeting dates are scheduled for 6/21/16, 9/20-16 & 12/20/16. A
comment was made that the December date may have to be moved to earlier in the month.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 5:52 pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by,
Nina Bucher
Nina Bucher