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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 6/27/2013BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County Board Room June 27, 2013 Board Members Present: Rusty Williams, Jim Crandall, Clarence Henkel, Pat Carver, Lona Schmidt, Bill Bussey Board Members Absent: Deb Pyne, Harold Maki, Dee Kittleson Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Nikki Revak, Carrie Linder, Jeanine Spuhler, Anita Haukaas, Mark Abeles-Allison, Tootie Henkel Call to Order and Introductions Williams called the meeting to order at 4:05 p.m. Open the Floor for 2014 Budget Hearing At 4:06 p.m. the floor was opened for public hearing on the 2014 Budget. Letters of support for the Namekagon Transport shuttle that runs once a week were read and placed on file for: Connie Olson, Cable Patricia Aldrich, Cable Michael Wells, Cable Julia Thomas, Barnes Letter from Shirley Frank regarding the Children’s Long Term Waiver and Family Support wait lists. Letter placed on file. Provider Input for the Budget 2014 Session was placed on file for: Ashland Area Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Abuse, Inc. – Randy Spangle Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse, Inc. (CASDA) – Kim Marble-Follis Review of the May 23, 2013 Minutes Motion by Schmidt, seconded by Carver to approve the minutes with the correction to wandering instead of wondering in Linder’s Monthly Section Report. Motion passed unanimously. Opportunity for Public Comment None Program Presentation – Interim Assistance, Jeanine Spuhler, Economic Support Manager The Interim Assistance Program offers a maximum cash benefit of $200 monthly to individuals who are in Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI) application or appeal process. The actual benefit is determined based on the smallest amount needed to meet the individual’s basic expenses. This program is a loan and not a grant. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County Board Room June 27, 2013 2 Individuals who receive Interim Assistance are required to sign an Interim Assistance Repayment Agreement which authorizes the Social Security Administration to send the individual’s initial SSI check to Bayfield County DHS. The amount of General Relief received by the individual while in the SSI application process is refunded to the county from that payment and the balance is released to that individual. Any funds that cannot be recouped are billed to the individual and individuals determined ineligible for SSDI or SSI are required to pay Bayfield County DHS back directly. Currently three individuals have received Interim Assistance in 2013. The outstanding balance on the Interim Assistance program is currently $54,585.98. Monthly Section Reports Aging & Disability Services – Carrie Linder On June 6th a state Birth to Three self-assessment and file review was conducted for Bayfield County. No deficiencies were identified. On June 4th Bayfield County staff met with the Red Cliff Birth to Three program staff on process and procedures for the service delivery of the program. Youth Services Coordinator, Becky Stanhope’s last day was May 31st. Jeanne Waters has been hired for the position and will start on July 8th. In the meantime, Linder has been in the process of transitioning four youth out of the intensive autism program. The Bayfield County Senior Meals program was awarded a small amount of FEMA funds. Food for shelf-stable meals was purchased from the local IGA store. Brenda Spurlock, Criminal Justice Program Coordinator, assigned a volunteer to assemble the meal packets. Support Services – Nikki Revak Auditors are currently on site completing the financial portion of the audit. It is going well, staff prepared well in advance for the review. Sarah Traaholt attended the Northern Income Maintenance Consortium (NIMC) training along with the Bayfield County Income Maintenance staff. The training was held at the Rusk County Health and Human Services office in Ladysmith. The training focused on customer service. Family Services – Anita Haukaas Family Services staff is meeting weekly with the District Attorney. Family Services staff is also meeting regularly with Red Cliff Indian Child Welfare staff on case reviews. Family Services staff met with Brenda Spurlock regarding the new Domestic Violence Program she is coordinating. Economic Support worker Deena Kacvinsky is assisting Family Services to coordinate child care for a family they are working with. With the increase of emergency detentions, utilization of Lock & Load Transportation has also increased. The company is equipped to handle emergency detention transfers in a safe and secure transport. Lock and Load have recently increased their rate from $1.10 to $1.50 per BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County Board Room June 27, 2013 3 mile. In May, Family Services staff received an access call that led to an investigation. While conducting the investigation, a conflict of interest was identified. Haukaas reported that agency conflicts can occur for a number of reasons, primarily due to staff having a prior relationship with the individual who is referred for or seeking services (e.g. close friend, family member, service provider, Human Services Board member, County Board member, etc.). Conflicts can also occur when immediate family members of someone referred have a prior relationship with staff. To avoid any allegations of bias or retaliation when there is a conflict, staff must locate another county who is willing to accept a case transfer. The accepting county then provides courtesy supervision on the case. In this instance, for a period of time, staff was unsuccessful in locating another county to accept the referral. It was necessary to contact the State for assistance in recruiting another county and recently another county consented to accept the case. The decisions that have been made to date on this case are being appealed. Haukaas announced the birth of her new granddaughter, Felicity born on June 7th. Board member Henkel requested that a future program presentation focus on reconciliation requirements and efforts made to reunify children in foster care with their families. Economic Support Services – Jeanine Spuhler In preparation for the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), some Bayfield County Income Maintenance staff has agreed to work a 40 hour work week from October 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 to accommodate the additional work load. In addition, NIMC supervisors have recommended that 16.5 additional FTE staff be hired on a limited term basis for approximately eight to 22 months. Bayfield County DHS has requested approval to hire three limited term employees. All other economic programs are going well. Monthly Reports Skulan reported current areas of concern include the cost of: substitute care; emergency detentions due to mental health and substance abuse; an increase in Birth to Three enrollments. The budget line item for legal fees is also expected to be exceeded. The monthly reports were reviewed and placed on file. Letter to Department of Health Services, Secretary Kitty Rhoades – Review Skulan reviewed her letter sent to Secretary Rhoades. Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA budget Summary following Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) Action – Review BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County Board Room June 27, 2013 4 Skulan reviewed the budget summary. One area of concern is the Income Maintenance methodology for allocations of funds based on “acuity” methods. Letter to Governor Walker – Review Skulan reviewed the letter issued to Governor Walker requesting a line item veto regarding the methodology for allocating funding to Income Maintenance consortia. Close the Floor to Public Comment to end Public Comment on the 2014 Department of Human Services Budget At 5:04 p.m. the floor was closed for public hearing on the 2014 Budget. 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. Motion by Bussey at 5:05 p.m., second by Carver, to move into Executive Session. Roll call vote. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Schmidt, second by Carver, to allow Skulan, Linder, Spuhler, Haukaas and Revak to be permitted to participate in the Executive Session. Motion passed. Motion by Bussey at 5:24 p.m., second by Henkel, to move out of Executive Session. Roll call vote. 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 Every five years, HMO’s are required to submit a Request For Proposal (RFP). NorthernBridges will put on an RFP. Northern Bridges CEO John McMahon announced he will retire in November. B. Crandall brought seed potatoes to give away. Future Meetings A. July 25, 2013 B. August 22, 2013, 2014 Budget presentation C. September 26, 2013 BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County Board Room June 27, 2013 5 Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:33 p.m. Submitted by Nikki Revak, Financial Manager