HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 1/26/2012BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC, Bayfield County Annex
January 26, 2012
Board Members Present: Clarence Henkel, Rusty Williams, Kenneth Jardine, Lona Schmidt,
Pat Carver, Jim Crandall, Bill Bussey (arrived at 4:02 p.m.),
Ted Benson
Board members absent: Dee Kittleson
Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Nikki Revak, Jeanine Spuhler, Carrie Linder
Anita Haukaas
Call to Order and Introductions
K. Jardine called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
Review of the December 7, 2011 Minutes
Motion by J. Crandall, seconded by L. Schmidt, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion
carried.
Opportunity for Public Comment –
None
Program Presentation – Intoxicated Driver Program, Family Services Section, Cheryl
Hanson, Social Worker AODA SW
The intent of the program is to engage the intoxicated driving client in assessment, education,
and treatment services that address the client’s inclination to drive under the influence and to
address their use of substances so that the client may regain their ability to drive safely. The
“intoxicated driver assessment” is an examination completed by a qualified professional of a
client’s use of alcohol or other drugs. Ashland Area Council on Alcoholism & Other Drug
Abuse. (AODA) Inc. is the designated assessment agency for the Intoxicated Driver Program
(IDP) in Bayfield County. The client must pay for the assessment before it is conducted and they
are required to pay the fee in four or less installments. The assessment fee in Bayfield County is
$200. The fee is collected and then distributed; 40% of the fee is retained by the state, and 60%
is allocated to the county for recommended treatment services included on driver safety plans.
Bayfield County received $17,800 for IDP services in 2010. Multiple offenders are offered the
same opportunity for assessment as first offenders, but there are mandatory guidelines for fines
and incarceration. In Bayfield County, each year there are a number of clients who do not
complete the required assessment due to their inability to pay the assessment fee. This is also a
state wide trend. Clients who do not complete the assessment and recommended treatment are
unable to recover their driver’s license.
Monthly Section Reports
Support Services – Nikki Revak
With the ending of 2011 and the start of 2012, support staff is working with two separate fiscal
years. Provider contracts for 2012 are being developed and the majority of them were mailed to
providers by January 31, 2012. I co-facilitated a fiscal Northern Income Maintenance meeting
via telephone; ten out of twelve counties participated. I participated in the Wisconsin Human
Services Financial Managers Association conference planning committee telephone conference,
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC, Bayfield County Annex
January 26, 2012
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where we finalized the list of presenters. The conference will be held May 9 – 11, at the Osthoff
Resort in Elkhart Lake.
Aging & Disability Services – Carrie Linder
Applications and updates for the Alzheimer’s Family Caregiver Support Program, Community
Options Program, the Elder Abuse grant and the Family Support Program are now complete. The
2012 provider contracts were forwarded to support staff for data entry. The ADRC-N hired a
second Disability Benefit Specialist; Mary Updike. Mary will start work on February 1 and will
be located in the Sawyer County branch office. Jamie Mackin will assist in Mary’s orientation
and training. In February, Lynn Frechette, Patti Carlson and Carrie will test to maintain
certification for the Long Term Care Functional Screen. A passing score of 80% or higher is
required. Emily Bainbridge, Aging Services Specialist, recently held an outreach presentation
with a stay warm theme at the Iron River congregate meal site.
Economic Support Services – Jeanine Spuhler
With the implementation of the Northern Income Maintenance consortium on January 3, it was a
dozy of a day! The regionalization of the Income Maintenance (IM) program started out much
better than anticipated. The IM supervisors and directors continue to adjust plans and make
changes as needed to accommodate the caller volume flow and unanticipated glitches with the
State’s Central Data Processing Unit (CDPU). Staff is doing a wonderful job. Kay Ross will be
retiring on February 13th. A potluck will be held in her honor on February 9th in the EOC. Staff
has been extremely busy with the recent cold snap taking WHEAP (Wisconsin Heating Energy
Assistance Program) applications and facilitating furnace repairs/replacements.
Family Services –Anita Haukaas
Comparative Juvenile Law Enforcement referrals data was reviewed. In 2011, 113 referrals
were received; in 2010, there were 111 referrals; and there were 112 referrals in 2009.
Comparative Mental Health Crisis calls data was provided: in 2011, Bayfield County received 74
crisis calls; in 2010, there were 51 calls; there were 31 calls in 2009; and 39 in 2008. Family
Service staff participated in a presentation given by Kristine Moelter, Office of Justice
Assistance (OJA) on evidence based training for juvenile justice. This training was provided at
the request of Judge Anderson. The training encourages practice focused on the services that fit
the juvenile’s individual needs. Interagency agreements for Child Protective Services (CPS),
Law Enforcement Agreements and community services procedures are on the process of being
updated. A remote access policy for CPS workers for eWiSACWIS is being developed for on-
call workers. There are currently 17 youth matched with mentors in the CAUSEWAY program.
AODA resource materials have been purchased from the AODA Prevention Grant. This material
will be used to educate youth and adults about recognizing and preventing substance abuse.
Monthly Reports The monthly financial, training, and waiting list reports were reviewed and
placed on file.
Update Income Maintenance Regional Model – Update on information received regarding
the January 1, 2012 implementation of regional services
E. Skulan reviewed the January Income Maintenance (IM) call/change center incoming calls
volume chart. From January 3 through January 27, the call center had 10,757 calls for the
Northern Income Maintenance Consortium (NIMC). There are two NIMC supervisors that
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC, Bayfield County Annex
January 26, 2012
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monitor the call/change center calls and during peak times, an e-mail alert is sent out for
additional agents to answer calls to lessen the wait time and high volume. The state performance
measure is that call/change center callers wait no more than 20 minutes before speaking to an
agent.
Family Care Enrollment Cap Elimination – Update regarding elimination of the
enrollment cap
At the end of December, Governor Walker announced that he is lifting the Family Care
enrollment cap. Legislation has been introduced to eliminate the cap and allow for further
expansion of the program.
Superior Days Issues 2012 – Review change to Family Care issue due to elimination of
enrollment cap
E. Skulan reported that the Family Care Enrollment issue was rewritten so that presenters can
focus on other areas to improve now that the enrollment cap will be eliminated.
Collections Repayment Process – Update on collections process for children services
E. Skulan reported that Human Services continues to work closely with Judge Anderson in the
area of collections/repayment. The local collections/repayment process is based on the Uniform
Fee Schedule provided by the State of Wisconsin, which is based on ability to pay and is updated
annually.
Policy Review – Proposed changes to existing policy on voluntary detoxification
IDP -
E. Skulan reported that in the past we have allowed an exemption to repayment for clients
seeking voluntary detoxification, if they meet certain conditions. As funding declines, it may be
necessary to eliminate or modify this policy. This is not a mandated service but staff feels that
the service has value.
Appointment Wisconsin Council on Long-term Care – Review letter of appointment of
ADRC-N Coordinator, Barbara Peterson
E. Skulan reported that Barbara Peterson, ADRC-N Coordinator, has been appointed to the
Wisconsin Council on Long Term Care. This appointment is quite an honor.
Intoxicated Driver Program (IDP) Pilot – Review of a pilot that will be implemented
February
E. Skulan reported that DHS will pay the fee for initial alcohol and drug abuse assessments for
drivers who have received an OWI that are referred to treatment court. Administrative rule
requires that drivers pay for the assessment, so we will need to develop a collections process to
recoup the fee. The plan is to require repayment as a condition of successful completion of
treatment court. This may allow individuals unable to afford the assessment access to services so
that they might begin their road to recovery. DHS will begin the pilot February 1, 2012.
Long-term Care District Board – Standing agenda item, update from Dee Kittleson
regarding activities and information from the long-term care district board.
E. Skulan reported that Dee Kittleson informed her that an anonymous letter from “past and
current employees of NorthernBridges” was issued to the State of Wisconsin Family Care
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC, Bayfield County Annex
January 26, 2012
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Division; Secretary of DHS, Dennis Smith; Senator Jauch and Representative Rivard outlining
perceived problems with the administration of the HMO.
Motion, Second and Roll Call Vote to Meet in Executive Session Pursuant to Wis. Stats. s.
19.85(1)(c) to discuss personnel matter related to an employee discipline, and to consider
employment, compensation, promotion and performance evaluations of certain public
employees.
Motion by T. Benson, seconded by P. Carver, to meet in Executive Session Pursuant to Wis.
Stats. s. 19.85(1) (c) at 5:20 p.m. Roll Call Vote. Motion carried.
Motion, Second and Roll Call Vote to Meet in Executive Session Pursuant to Wis. Stats. s.
19.85(1)(c) to reconvene in Open Session.
Motion by L. Schmidt, seconded by P. Carver at 5:24 p.m., Pursuant to Wis. Stats. s. 19.85(1) (c)
to reconvene in Open Session at 5:24 p.m. Motion carried.
Motion(s) Regarding Executive Session, if needed.
No motion required.
Other (Informational Items)
A. E-mail from Anita Haukaas regarding the wonderful job Jamie Mackin is doing.
B. E-mail from John Carlson regarding the fantastic job Steffanie Scribbins is doing.
C. Letter from Mark Abeles-Allison congratulating the Economic Support Unit with
the work they are doing for the IM consortium.
D. “Shifting the Shaft” article on local aid for the Juvenile Justice program.
Future Meetings
Future meeting dates were scheduled as follows:
A. February 23, 2012
B. March 22, 2012
C. April 26, 2012
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 5:26 p.m.
Submitted by Nikki Revak, Financial Manager