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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 5/23/2013BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING Bayfield County EOC May 23, 2013 Board Members Present: Rusty Williams, Jim Crandall, Clarence Henkel, Pat Carver, Lona Schmidt, Deb Pyne Board Members Absent: Dee Kittleson, Bill Bussey, Harold Maki Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Nikki Revak, Carrie Linder, Jeanine Spuhler, Anita Haukaas Call to Order and Introductions Williams called the meeting to order at 4:06 p.m. Introductions were made. Review of the April 25, 2013 Minutes Motion by Henkel, seconded by Carver to approve the minutes as presented, with the correction noted by Schmidt on page three; Issuing Financial Records, paragraph two – change the word formerly to formally. Motion passed unanimously. Opportunity for Public Comment None Program Presentation – Family Services, Providing Foster Care, Anita Haukaas, Family Services Manager instead of Stacy Schmidt Haukaas reported for social worker, Stacy Schmidt. There are currently ten licensed foster care providers in Bayfield County. These providers care for children from birth to 17 years of age that are: in need of protection or are juveniles out of control. They also provide short-term respite to families in or near crisis to prevent long-term out of home placements. The application process to become a foster home is lengthy. It includes but is not limited to: a review of the “Foster Parent Job Description”; background checks; and house inspection. Foster parents need to be resilient and patient. Older children seem to adapt better than younger children when they are placed in a foster home. There is one treatment foster home in Bayfield County licensed by the state. A treatment foster is a home that provides support to children and youth with more significant emotional, behavioral, physical or medical needs. Foster care homes are reimbursed based on a basic state rate for care and a “CANS” (child abuse and neglect) assessment tool that takes into consideration the age of the child, their needs, and assesses both the strengths and needs of the child and the provider. Children placed in foster homes qualify for Medicaid. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County EOC May 23, 2013 2 Monthly Section Reports Economic Support Services – Jeanine Spuhler A call center agent customer service training will be provided to all NIMC (Northern Income Maintenance Consortium) workers on June 13th at the Rusk County Health & Human Services Department in Ladysmith. A MER (Management Evaluation Review) by the Department of Health Services was recently completed for the NIMC. The review determines federal compliance in the administration of the FoodShare program. Several Bayfield County families received 24 hour disconnect notices from their utility company. ESS staff has worked with them to try to avoid disconnection. Spuhler was reimbursed $250 for travel and registration for attending a Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) by the Department of Administration. Aging & Disability Services – Carrie Linder Linder was a presenter at the State Alzheimer Conference in May on “Wandering, Driving and Behaviors”. Linder was reimbursed for mileage and lodging and her conference registration was provided by the Alzheimer Association. Carrie reported that 45 individuals attended the Final Affairs workshop. Another 43 individuals are on a waitlist for the next workshop. This workshop provides information relevant to end-of- life issues. There are currently 20 children enrolled in Birth to Three Program. Enrollment is at the highest level that it has ever been. Part of the increase is due to an increase in premature births. On June 4th staff will be meeting with the Red Cliff Birth to Three Program on process and procedure issues. On June 6th the state will do a self-assessment review of the Bayfield County program. Becky Stanhope has tendered her resignation. Becky is returning to work for the Bad River tribe full-time. We wish her well. The vacancy is currently being advertised and applications are due June 1, 2013. Linder will be administering the Children’s Long Term Care Services, Family Support Program and the Birth to Three Program until a new worker is hired and trained. Support Services – Nikki Revak Earlier this month Revak attended the WHSFMA (Wisconsin Human Services Financial Managers Association) conference in LaCrosse. There was great attendance and financial managers from across the state participated. Attending the conference is an excellent way to network and to connect with the State Department Staff. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County EOC May 23, 2013 3 Staff is working on audit documents. The auditors will be on site for the financial part of the audit on June 24th. Revak attended the Veteran’s Memorial Day celebration in the EOC on May 23rd. There was a good turnout for the presentation from Secretaries Ross and Scocos. Work continues on the IT systems catastrophic error which occurred when a primary piece of equipment failed. DHS staff is currently not able to receive calls via the video conferencing equipment. IT needs a new router. DHS staff will make different arrangements to participate in video conferencing until a new router is installed. Family Services – Anita Haukaas Due to the issues with IT, Family Services staff did not participate in the video conference on Medical Assistance billing May 23rd. Staff will watch the training DVD at a later date. Family Services staff, Skulan and Red Cliff Indian Child Welfare staff met with District Attorney Fred Bourg to discuss increased collaboration and communication between departments. Clarification on procedures and the flow of communication was reviewed. The DA will meet with Family Service staff and ICW staff when applicable to discuss upcoming cases every Thursday morning. Family Services staff and Skulan met with New Horizons North staff to discuss the Community Support Program (CPS). To address the waitlist, staff brainstormed on ways to increase the number of individuals served by CSP and to increase the number of non-MA eligible clients served. Haukaas remarked that due to eligibility criteria there are more people whose mental health or substance abuse needs cannot be met because they do not have either MA or insurance. Family Services staff continues to work with Law Enforcement and other organizations on transportation issues. Monthly Reports Skulan reported that a modified “Budget by Organization” report will be provided to the board monthly and a detailed budget will be reviewed quarterly with the board, per their request. If expenditures remain the same, DHS is currently projecting overages in mental health and the Birth to Three Program in 2013. The monthly reports were reviewed and placed on file. Resolution #2 – 2013 Honoring Seniors on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Linder reviewed the resolution to recognize Work Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The initiative has been recommended by the Aging and Disability Advisory Committee for approval. It honors BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County EOC May 23, 2013 4 seniors in our community while providing outreach that some older people are struggling with Elder Abuse; neglect by self, caregiver, emotional, financial and physical. Motion by Schmidt, seconded by Carver, to approve Resolution #2-2013 Honoring Seniors on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Motion passed unanimously. Resolution #3 – 2013 Oppose Proposed Senate Bill 128 – SB 128 proposes to increase the size of Human Services Boards Skulan reviewed Senate Bill #128 which requires county community programs board appointees to include: consumers, family members of consumers, law enforcement personnel, and hospital employees or representatives. The bill increases the maximum number of members from nine to 15 but allows no more than five county board appointees to the county community programs board. At the March 2013 board meeting DHS board members discussed formally opposing this bill should it be introduced in the current legislative session. This resolution reflects the reasons for opposition. Motion by Carver, seconded by Henkel, to approve Resolution #3-2013 to Oppose Proposed Senate Bill 128. Motion passed unanimously. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) – Update on planning process Spuhler reported that NIMC (Northern Income Maintenance Consortium) supervisors have begun planning for an increase in workload due to the federal health care law. At this time, the state is working to provide data with projections on anticipated workload to income maintenance consortia. This will help determine the number of additional staff needed. Current staff in the NIMC has been asked if they are willing to work more hours per week. Skulan reported that the PPACA funds will be available July 1, 2013. It will take time to recruit and train new workers. Comparative Data 2012 Substance Abuse Rates – Review Worksheet Skulan reviewed the Red Cliff AODA analysis worksheet comparison for 2012. DHS pays Red Cliff an allocation of $2,000 each month for services, rather than being invoiced for client specific services. This is done to avoid the collections/repayment policy for Red Cliff clients which would jeopardize the Tribe’s federal funding. When this arrangement was made, the state asked that DHS compare the data intermittently to ensure that Bayfield County is not providing too little or too much funding for the services provided. The data shows that DHS is paying close to the amount that would be paid to other providers for similar services. Emergency Response Report – Report on response activities On Tuesday, May 14th Douglas County determined that a temporary Red Cross shelter was needed to accommodate victims of the Germann Road wildfire. Douglas County requested assistance from Bayfield County DHS to staff the shelter. County board member Crandall was instrumental in getting the Drummond School opened to establish the shelter. The DHS management team assisted at the shelter along with Mental Health Coordinator, Angela Hernandez and Public Health staff. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County EOC May 23, 2013 5 The senior meal site at the Barnes Town Hall was cancelled on Wednesday, May 15th but due to a communications issue, not all registered congregate meal participants were aware of the cancellation. The Drummond School cafeteria staff provided a nutritious meal to those individuals and Linder and Skulan delivered the meals to the Barnes meal site. The Drummond School District staff and students were wonderful to work with. The Red Cross Shelter staff thanked Skulan and the Bayfield and Douglas County staff for their assistance. This is the first time that Bayfield County has staffed a shelter. Douglas County is forwarding information on emergency management training that they will be having later in the year. Department Improvement Plan – Status Update Skulan reported that Ted Schick presented two separate trainings: Customer Service, and Dealing with Difficult Customers on two different dates. DHS staff participated in the training and as a whole thought that it was a worthwhile. Mark Abeles-Allison will speak to the Department Improvement Plan survey at the next DHS Board Meeting. The Department of Human Services Board may entertain a motion to move in and out of Executive Session pursuant to S19.85(1)(f); considering financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems or the investigation of charges against specific persons except where part (b) applies which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data, or involved in such problems or investigations. Revak, Linder, Spuhler, and Haukaas were excused from the Executive Session. Motion by Carver at 5:35 p.m., second by Schmidt, to move into Executive Session. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Crandall at 6:01 p.m., second by Schmidt, to move out of Executive Session. Motion passed unanimously. Discussion and possible action(s) regarding Executive Session. None Other (Informational Items) A. Long-Term Care District Board – Most recent minutes from Northern Bridges is included in the board packets B. Wisconsin County Human Services Association (WCHSA) Spring Conference – Jim Crandall gave an overview of the conference; said that it was worthwhile; and BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County EOC May 23, 2013 6 noted how important it is for Board Members and staff to attend state conferences to gain knowledge, to network, and to ensure that our voice is heard. C. Skulan read a note from an individual in Cable thanking DHS for assisting them in keeping their home warm this winter. D. Skulan reviewed a note from volunteer thanking DHS for the volunteer appreciation lunch. Future Meetings A. June 27, 2013, will include 2014 HDS Budget Public Hearing B. July 25, 2013 C. August 22, 2013 Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Submitted by Nikki Revak, Financial Manager