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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 3/22/2012BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC, Bayfield County Annex March 22, 2012 Board Members Present: Clarence Henkel, Rusty Williams, Pat Carver, Jim Crandall, Kenneth Jardine, Lona Schmidt, Ted Benson, Dee Kittleson Board members absent: Bill Bussey Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Nikki Revak, Carrie Linder, Anita Haukaas, Jeanine Spuhler Call to Order and Introductions K. Jardine called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Review of the February 23, 2012 Minutes Motion by T. Benson, seconded by C. Henkel to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried. Opportunity for Public Comment – None Program Presentation – Economic Support Services – Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) Crisis Program J. Spuhler reviewed the WHEAP Crisis program eligibility requirements. There has been an increase in applications due to disconnect notices that are currently being issued by utility companies. Customers are required to make a reasonable effort on their part to pay an average of $25 a month for the last six months for electrical or natural gas or to have paid an average of $100 in the last six months for bulk fuel in order to qualify for the program. The program will not pay for reconnect, disconnect or deposit fees. The maximum crisis benefit payment of $600 may be available to those eligible. Monthly Section Reports Family Services –Anita Haukaas Joseph Scribbins’ last day of work was Monday, March 19th. Denise Bailey returned to work on Monday, March 19th. Denise Bailey, Cheryl Hanson, Angela Hernandez and Haukaas attended a video conference on Crisis Intervention presented by Dr. Mays on March 22. The training was funded by the Mental Health Regional Crisis Grant. Haukaas is working on the final Safe and Stable Families 2011 report and the CAUSEWAY 2012 first quarter Performance Measure report. There are currently 13 youths and 13 mentors enrolled in the CAUSEWAY Program. The previous AODA contract provider for the CAUSEWAY Program was terminated. The CAUSEWAY Program is currently under contract with a new provider. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC, Bayfield County Annex March 22, 2012 2 Red Cliff has named Lorna Gamble as their new Indian Child Welfare Director. Lorna has been acting as the Interim Director for some time. The implementation of mandated credit checks for foster home children in out of home placement has been delayed. The State recently processed credit checks on a number of children aging out of the foster care system and found instances were some of the children already had compromised credit due to financial abuse by either their biological parent(s) or by foster home providers. Support Services – Nikki Revak 2011 Year end CARS and CORE reports are completed and have been submitted to the state. Children’s Long-Term Services and Family Support reconciliation for 2011 have also been completed and submitted. The 2012 staff vacation requests have been approved. This was a challenge this year due to relative unknowns related to the “Clerical Scheduling” call/change center changes. These changes require that the minimum for staff coverage be increased to three support staff. Support staff worked together to adjust their vacation requests so that we did not need to rely on seniority to determine staff vacations. Revak was very appreciative of the team’s collaboration in this effort. Aging & Disability Services – Carrie Linder Patti Carlson, Lynn Frechette and Linder have successfully passed the Long Term Care Screening Certification. Recertification is required every two years to ensure integrity and consistency of screeners. Community member, Gary Czypinski donated 33 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to the Elderly Nutrition Program. The cookies were distributed throughout Bayfield County at congregate meal sites. We expect seniors to enjoy the treat. The 2011 entries into the WITTS (Wisconsin Incident Tracking System) are complete. This data base includes information on all elder and adult at risk reports received during the year. There were fewer Bayfield County reports in 2011. We believe that this is due in part because ADRC staff is available to receive and respond to crisis related inquiries before a full-fledged investigation must be completed. Stefanie Scribbins’ last day of employment was Wednesday, March 21. Stefanie did a great job and will be missed. ADRC-N supervisors met. The ADRC-N Coordinator is in the process of developing a packet of information that will assist consumers in completing an on-line application for ACCESS (public assistance). There are two reasons for this. It provides customers the tools they need to successfully complete the online application and it diverts some of the workload that would otherwise go to Income Maintenance Call Change center agents. The Governor lifted the Family Care Enrollment cap. At this date, there has been no formal notification as to the actual date the cap will be lifted. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC, Bayfield County Annex March 22, 2012 3 . Economic Support Services – Jeanine Spuhler The dynamics of the unit have changed with the retirement of Kay Ross in February. Staff has been actively engaged with the enrollment cases being transferred back from the state’s Enrollment Services Center. Gary Mertig, Regional Administrator, was in here February for a W-2 site visit. We passed the site visit with only a few minor findings that require minor improvement. Staff is completing an average of two repayment agreements per week. 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 reported that we are now three months into the implementation of regionalized IM service delivery. Beginning April 1, consortia will be subject to performance standards. The standard requires that the average speed of answer is less than 25 minutes. The Northern IM Consortia (NIMC) call change center averages approximately 800 calls per day and the average monthly wait time is 6.25 minutes. A percentage of the calls are recorded and/or monitored by IM Supervisors for quality assurance. IM supervisors/team leads are developing processes to insure: program compliance, staffing coordination and ongoing report monitoring. Directors are working with the State to improve its technology which is inhibiting the ability of regional IM consortia around the state to gain the efficiencies needed to effectively deliver services regionally. The NIMC has changed the call change hours on Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. to allow for staff training time each week. The NIMC is in the planning process for implementation of a “Clerical Scheduling” option for the call change center. Clerical staff will assist with scheduling appointments for callers. This will help address the workload of IM staff. Draft Memorandum of Understanding and Mutual Support, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Bayfield County – Review and consider draft approval and recommendation for approval to the full County Board. E. Skulan reviewed a draft of the Memorandum of Understanding and Mutual Support between the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Bayfield County. Motion by D. Kittleson, second by C. Henkel, to approve the Memorandum of Understanding and Mutual Support, between Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and Bayfield County and recommend it for approval to the full county board. Motion passed BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC, Bayfield County Annex March 22, 2012 4 Policy Review –Discussion and potential action on proposed changes to existing policy on voluntary detoxification E. Skulan reported that Family Services staff continues to work on the revisions. It is anticipated that a new draft of the policy will be presented at the April meeting. Motion made by J. Crandall, seconded by D. Kittleson, to table the approval of changes to the voluntary detoxification policy until the April Board Meeting. Motion passed. Long-term Care District Board – Standing agenda item, update from Dee Kittleson regarding activities and information from the long-term care district board. D. Kittleson stated that NorthernBridges is waiting for legislation that lifts the Family Care enrollment cap to be published into law. Motion, Second and Roll Call Vote to Meet in Executive Session Pursuant to Wis. Stats. s.19.85(1) (c) to discuss personnel matters related to an employee discipline, and to consider employment, compensation, promotion and performance evaluations of certain public employees. Motion by J. Crandall, second by P. Carver at 4:52 p.m. to meet in Executive Session Pursuant to Wis. Stats. s.19.85(1) (c) to discuss personnel matters related to an employee discipline, and to consider employment, compensation, promotion and performance evaluations of certain public employees. Roll call vote. Motion passed. Pursuant to Wis. Stats. s. 1985(1) (c) to reconvene in open session Motion by J. Crandall, second by L. Schmidt at 4:54p.m. Pursuant to Wis. Stats. s. 1985(1) (c) to reconvene in open session. Motion passed. Motion(s) Regarding Executive Session, if needed. None Other (Informational Items) A. Appreciation letter to Jeanine Spuhler from client. B. Gildi Project training June 21st at CORE. Future Meetings Future meeting dates were scheduled as follows: A. April 26, 2012 B. May 31, 2012 C. June 28, 2012 (Will be held in the County Board Room and begin with public hearing for development of 2013 DHS budget) Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 4:58 p.m. Submitted by Nikki Revak, Financial Manager