HomeMy WebLinkAboutFamily Services Advisory Committee - Minutes - 7/10/2019BAYFIELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
FAMILY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Committee Members Present: Lona Schmidt, Jeremy Oswald, Bev Lindell, Bev Patterson,
Nancy and Dale Johnson.
Committee Members Absent: Susan Davis.
Others Present: Cheryl Hanson (Family Services Section Manager and Nina Bucher (Support
Staff).
Call to order: Lona called the meeting to order at 4:34 and determined introductions were
not necessary.
Public Comment Opportunity: No public comment.
Foster and Kinship Care Presentation: Filling in for Social Worker Stacy Schmidt, Cheryl
gave an overview of the topic of foster and kinship care. Kinship is a state regulated monthly
rate program to take care of a relative child and can be voluntary or court ordered. The 2019
monthly kinship rate is $244/month per child and the number of voluntary kinship care
children has been decreasing by about 70% since 2016, with $4,880 spent the first five
months of this year (see graph). Out of home placements are also running lower (see bar
chart) to date this year than previous and Cheryl attributes this to Social Worker
coordination/new therapists in the area. The State requires the County to work towards
permanence for children; this could be getting a child back home or in some other permanent
living situation verses foster care. There are currently 42 Bayfield County kids in out of home
placements (23 are tribal). Red Cliff Indian Child Welfare (RCICW) is running well with
Gretchen Morris as their Director for the last few years. RCICW places tribal children and
BCDHS pays for the placements. RCICW and FS work together well. Red Cliff’s tribal placement
costs rose from $52,431 in 2016 to $144,728 in 2018 (see graph), but are currently at $66,033
for the first five months of 2019. Red Cliff’s customary adoption practices are placing children
in permanent homes which benefits the children, families and our entire community.
Substitute care is a huge part of the Family Services/Human Services budget and very hard to
predict.
Foster Care highlights from 2019 are: A closed Facebook group was created for Foster Care
providers and while the parents are not interacting as much as anticipated, it is a great way to
disseminate information to the group; A Foster Care picnic will be held at Moon Lake Park in
Iron River, WI to show appreciation; The mandatory 30 hour Foster Care training traditionally
held far away is coming to Ashland which should enable more people to participate; Family
Services staff provide RCICW with finger printing and background checks of Foster Care
providers and Social Work Aide Marne Belanger has been entering all the monthly face-to-face
contact information for Red Cliff placements into the State data base.
Minute Approval: Bev P. made a motion to approve the April 2019 minutes as
submitted. Jeremy seconded the motion and the motion carried.
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Resolution to Human Services Board: Family Services Advisory Committee resolution
2019-01 encourages the County to increase social worker wages and enhance benefits to
attract qualified, quality applicants. The resolution verbiage was discussed and revised and
voted on after a motion to do so was offered by Jeremy and seconded by Lona. The motion
carried and the resolution will be presented at the July Human Services Board meeting.
5:35 Bev L. left the meeting.
Committee Membership: Cheryl said she had a citizen application from Wayne Crozier of
the Iron River area that looked promising and if no one had objections, she would place it on
the Human Services Board agenda for approval. Nancy mentioned that Wayne was her
brother, but no one had any objections, including Nancy!
Staffing Update: The AODA social worker position remains open lacking qualified applicants.
There is one applicant who is waiting to hear from the State as to whether her degree meets
the requirements for SW licensure.
Program reports:
Comprehensive Community Support (CCS): Currently have 29 adults and five children in
the program. Despite one client displeased with the transition, our service providers and
mental health professional have been doing a fantastic job.
Community Support Program (CSP): Currently have 5 people in it and possibly two
additional needing screening. Program is being run by Northland.
Emergency Detentions (ED): 11 year to date with no juveniles! Most youth are receiving
help at the Northland Counseling Juvenile Crisis Bed before escalation to an emergency
detention situation.
Child Protective Services (CPS): New cases involve mostly neglect due to substance abuse
(methamphetamine). These are complicated cases involving multiple children and layers of
historic abuse.
Youth Justice: Three new referrals this month.
Future Meetings: The last 2019 meeting is scheduled for October 9th, 2019.
Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 5:50 pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by,
Nina Bucher
Nina Bucher