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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 6/23/2011BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC, Bayfield County Annex June 23, 2011 1 Board Members Present: Kenneth Jardine, Clarence Henkel, Pat Carver, Lona Schmidt, Jim Crandall, Ted Benson, Bill Bussey arrived @ 4:03, Dee Kittleson, Wayne Williams Board members absent: Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Nikki Revak, Carrie Linder, Jeanine Spuhler, Anita Haukaas, Mark Abeles-Allison Call to Order and Introductions K. Jardine called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Review of the May 26, 2011 Minutes Motion by C. Henkel, second by P. Carver, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried. Open the floor for public input Motion by L. Schmidt, second by D. Kittleson, at 4:01p.m. to open the floor to public comment. Motion carried. Carol Salminen, Community Support Program (CSP) consumer and New Horizons North Board Member, spoke to concerns over the potential decrease in funding for the CSP and the potential loss of local services for the Income Maintenance Program. Val Levno, New Horizons North, spoke on behalf of the Bayfield County CSP. Jenny Welty, Director of New Horizon North, spoke in favor of the support they receive from the department. Board Chair, K. Jardine asked E. Skulan to respond to the public input. E. Skulan reported that counties have not yet received allocation awards and at this time cannot speak on what the funding will be for the Community Support program in 2012. E. Skulan also reported that Bayfield County is currently meeting with 10 other northern counties to explore the regionalization of Income Maintenance (IM) programs for the potential of continuing to provide IM services locally. Monthly Section Reports Economic Support Services – Jeanine Spuhler In planning for the possible regionalization of Income Maintenance program, input is being sought from Economic Support workers on the process. The MA Transportation Broker, Logisticare, will begin providing service on July 1. Karen Vlasaty, support staff worker, is currently still receiving about one call per day regarding MA Transportation services. Notice of the change was sent to volunteer drives and consumers of the MA Transportation program. Recoupment on the General Relief program is very good this year. This program allows Human BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC, Bayfield County Annex June 23, 2011 2 Services to provide a limited amount of funding to consumers that are waiting for SSI determinations. In order to qualify, consumers must be actively applying or appealing for SSI and they must complete a repayment agreement. In 2009, recoupment was 97% ; in 2010, 89%; and so far in 2011, 92%. Neil Hulmer celebrated his 22nd employment anniversary. He has spent all 22 of those years working in the Economic Support Services section. Jeanine shared an example of how Economic Support workers provide far more than just the eligibility determinations for public assistance programs like FoodShare and Medicaid. Recently, a consumer who called in to speak with an Economic Support worker, indicated that they were struggling to pay their bills and make ends meet, even though the consumer was working multiple jobs. The worker was able to provide a Salvation Army voucher for $200 to be used towards rent. The consumer felt that the worker cared and expressed their appreciation. Family Services –Anita Haukaas The Emergency Detention Comparison Chart was reviewed. As of May 31, 2011, $32,130 has been spent compared to a total of $28,700 in the first five months of 2010 for Emergency Detentions. There were nine juvenile law referrals in May, compared to 19 in May of 2010. Heidi Howes has tendered her resignation as the project coordinator on the CAUSEWAY Program. Interviews will be held on June 24 for that position. Carrie Welters has resigned her position as the mentor coordinator for the CAUSEWAY program as of 7/27/2011 as she has applied and been accepted in a Master’s Degree program and will be moving to Madison. Youth are still being accepted into the program. As of this date, there are nine youth and 13 mentors. However, not all youth are matched with mentors at this time. This is in part due to the physical location of the youth. Recruitment is being done in those communities that lack mentors where youth are located. Family Service staff evaluations are being completed, as is the Family Services portion of the annual report. Support Services – Nikki Revak The Human Services Revenue Report (HSRR) has been completed and sent to the state. Staff are preparing and finalizing documents for the auditor who will be here next week. N. Revak is co- facilitator with Ashland County on the Financial Workgroup for Income Maintenance program consortium planning. Support Staff evaluations are being completed, as is the Support Services portion of the annual report. Aging & Disability Services – Carrie Linder Proposed changes to Medicare were reviewed using the handed out entitled “June 2011, Impacts of the Republican Medicare Plan in Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District”. Feedback from the Home Delivered meal recipients was reviewed. Emily Bainbridge, Aging Services Specialist, began her employment on Monday, June 13, 2011. Emily is currently working with the elderly nutrition and transportation programs. The Aging and Disabilities Social Worker I position, which will be vacant when Jan Bergst retires, has been posted. Based on information received from a transportation survey completed six years ago, there is for a need for a route to Iron River, especially now with the Lakes Community Health Center in Iron River. BART would like to purchase an additional fleet vehicle for the Iron River route using the DOT funds as match. These funds are meant for use for the elderly and disabled target populations. The Bayfield County Human Services Board asked Carrie to determine if there is a BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC, Bayfield County Annex June 23, 2011 3 passenger van in Bayfield County’s current fleet that might be used by BART so that demand can be established prior to considering any request for funds. Monthly Reports The monthly financial, training, and waiting list reports were reviewed and placed on file. Summary of Provider Input – Review of any provider input received prior to the public hearing E. Skulan reported that we did not receive any provider input but will update the board at the July meeting if input is received. 2012 Budget Direction – Review of County Administrator’s memo regarding 2012 budget development, if available E. Skulan reported that Human Services is to provide a budget similar to 2011, with no increase or a decrease in county levy. M. Abeles-Allison stated that goal for Bayfield County is to maintain service levels currently provided. Income Maintenance – Staff and local update, State update, planning efforts for regionalization of services E. Skulan reported that Douglas County invited her to co-facilitate a regional meeting to explore the regionalization of Income Maintenance (IM) programs. The meeting included the same eleven counties that originally participated in our regional planning for Family Care. Workgroups were identified along with the staff that would participate in those groups and the tasks each group would be assigned. Turnaround time will be very quick. The deadline to notify the State of a regional consortium is October 1, 2011. Three resolutions will likely need to be passed by each county who participates in the regional IM program: - Plan to Plan Resolution - Business and Financial Plan Resolution - Governing Structure Resolution. There will be a statewide Income Maintenance Consortia Training in Stevens Point on July 7 regarding forming consortia and identifying consortia models counties should consider. There is no start-up or ongoing funds for the forming of regional consortia. Aging and Disability Services Advisory Committee Appointments – Recommendation and consideration of approval to appoint Clarence Henkel and Martha Oie to the committee Motion by W. Williams, second by P. Carver, to approve the appointment of Clarence Henkel to the Aging and Disability Services Advisory Committee. Motion carried. E. Skulan reported that Martha Oie’s application has been submitted to the County Administrators office and has not yet been approved. Motion by D. Kittleson, second by J. Crandall, to table the approval of Martha Oie appointment to the Aging and Disability Services Advisory Committee until next month. Motion carried Long-term Care District Board – Standing agenda item, update from Dee Kittleson regarding activities and information from the long-term care district board. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC, Bayfield County Annex June 23, 2011 4 D. Kittleson reported that NorthernBridges is waiting for the per capitated rate per person from the state. Close the Floor to Public Input Motion by C. Henkel, seconded by L. Schmidt, to close the floor to public input at 5:22 p.m. Motion carried. Other (Informational Items) A. E-mail – Staff AODA coordinator Future Meetings Future meeting dates were scheduled as follows: A. July 28, 2011 (changed to July 21, 2011to accommodate the Plan to Plan resolution) B. August 25, 2011 C. September 22, 2011 Adjournment The meeting adjourned 5:25 adjournment p.m. Submitted by Nikki Revak, Financial Manager K:agendas&minutes/DHS board/minutes/2011/2011_6_23_DHS minutes