HomeMy WebLinkAboutFamily Services Advisory Committee - Minutes - 10/13/2021
BAYFIELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
FAMILY SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Courthouse Conference Room A-remote
Wednesday, October 13th, 2021 at 4:30 pm
Committee Members Present via telephone: Lona Schmidt, Bev Lindell, Dale and Nancy
Johnson, Wayne Crozier, and Bev Patterson.
Others Present: Mary Anich (Family Services Section Manager), Elizabeth Skulan-Peppy
(Human Services Director) and Nina Bucher (Support Staff).
Committee Members Absent: Mary Dougherty and Kylie Vadnais.
Introductions and Call to order: Lona called the meeting to order at 4:30.
Public Comment Opportunity: No public comment.
Staffing Update: Mary A. said that the open Youth Justice and Behavioral Health positions
have now been advertised as case manager positions, in addition to social worker positions
and the response has been positive. There have been several promising applicants and an
employment offer was being extended to one.
Stacy Schmidt is leaving after 12 years, so there will be another opening soon to fill.
Program reports: The Family Services section is working on the Family First Initiative which
is part of the state’s Child Welfare Strategic Transformation plan to meet Federal law
compliance. One of the key requirements of the law is to utilize qualified residential treatment
programs. This includes adhering to trauma informed care principals, providing 24/7 nursing
care and treating the whole family, not just the child.
Bayfield County is one of the last WI counties to switch to using the YASI assessment tool for
child delinquency intakes. It aims to divert children from the justice system where appropriate
and connect them with services if needed.
Mary discussed that she is the child care certifier for Bayfield County. There are three kinds of
childcare to care for children. The first is a certified home that covers caring for three or less
children in your home. Mary A is the certifier for this type of childcare. Certification allows the
provider and parent to utilize Wisconsin Shares, which is the economic assistance program
that funds child care for working adults, as well as the nutrition program funding food for the
children while with the provider. The second is for groups of more than three and the state
licenses those types of providers. Typically these are day care centers/businesses. The third is
an uncertified home where people care for children in their home without regulation. Bayfield
County Economic Development along with the Ashland Area Development Corporation are
pursuing applying for a grant through the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation that
Minute Approval: Bev L made a motion to approve the July 14th, 2021 FSAC
meeting minutes as written. Wayne C. seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Minutes are subject to
change before approval
at next FSAC meeting
2
K:agenda&minutes/FSAC/mintes/2021/2021-10-13_FSAC_minutes-draft 2
would allow the area to hire a couple workers to work with folks interested in becoming
certified daycare providers and help with the process to assist with the fairly onerous financial
and task heavy application process. This may include financial compensation during the
application process and to support the childcare provider’s business once up and running. This
would be an amazing support for potential child care providers in the Chequamegon Bay area.
They anticipate serving folks in Odanah, Ashland, Washburn, Bayfield, Red Cliff and
surrounding areas.
Referrals and case number are up in all Family Services programs across the board. Not sure if
this is due to school being back in session, or the time of the year.
Future Meetings: Meetings will continue quarterly on the second Wednesday of the month
with the next meeting falling on Jan. 12, 2022.
Adjournment: Lona adjourned the meeting at at 4:50 pm.
Minutes respectfully submitted by,
Nina Bucher
Nina Bucher