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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 6/26/2014BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County Board Room June 26, 2014 Board Members Present: Rusty Williams, Pat Carver, Bill Bussey arrived @ 4:01, Fred Strand, Jim Crandall, John Bennett, Lona Schmidt, Deb Pyne arrived @ 4:04 Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Nikki Revak, Carrie Linder, Anita Haukaas, Jeanine Spuhler, Jamie Mackin Call to Order and Introductions Williams called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Introductions were made. Review of the May 22, 2014 Minutes Motion by Strand, second by Bennett, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Open the Floor for Public Hearing Motion by Schmidt, second by Carver, to Open the floor for Public Hearing at 4:03. Motion passed unanimously. Opportunity for Public Comment on 2015 Budget and/or Bayfield County’s Policies and Procedures for Equal Opportunity in Employment, Service Delivery and Language access Provider Input for the Budget 2015 Session was placed on file for: Beacon House, Fond du lac, WI – Mary Derlach Brotoloc North, Eau Claire, WI – Linsay Farrell Center Against Sexual & Domestic Abuse, Inc., Bayfield County – Kim Marble-Follis Community Care Resources, Inc. and Community Care Programs, Inc. – Dan Simon; Mary Simon; Patty Morter Positive Alternatives, Inc., - Kelli Kamholz Kinship Provider – Kathy Claremboux Magna House of Barron County, LLC – Karen Rusch Sawyer County/LCO Transit Commission – Karen Melasecca Program Presentation – Disability Benefit Specialist Services, Aging and Disability Services, Jamie Mackin (Aging and Disability Resouces Center of the North) ADRC-N The Disability Benefit Specialist (DBS) program started in 2000 in Wisconsin. Aging & Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs) were established in eight counties that participated in the Family Care pilot program. Disability Benefit Specialists were included in the array of services offered through the ACRCs. A DBS can provide assistance to individuals between the ages of 18 and 60 who have trouble independently applying for or appealing a decision on Social Security Benefits and/or Health Care needs. Mackin was hired in 2009. At the time of his hire, Mackin provided service in all five counties included in the Aging and Disability Resource Center of the North (ADRC-N) - Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Price and Sawyer Counties. In 2010, Mackin worked on 95 cases. As the caseload BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County Bayfield County Board Room June 26, 2014 2 continued to increase, another DBS was hired in 2012. That individual is located in Sawyer County. Mackin covers Ashland, Bayfield and Iron counties; DBS Lauri Perlick provides service to individuals in Sawyer and Price Counties. So far in 2014, Mackin has worked with a total of 128 cases and has assisted 27 clients in receiving or reinstating benefits for a total amount of $427,000. Monthly Section Reports Support Services – Nikki Revak Staff are waiting to receive the final 2013 CARS revenue report from the state to reconcile the final 2013 figures. Staff assisted with the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program audit review this week. Staff is gathering documents for the auditors. The audit in DHS will begin the week of July 21st. The DHS Capital Improvement Program worksheet for 2015 – 2019 was been complete. Work has begun on the 2015 budget. Staff is working to update forms and documents with the new Logo and brand for Bayfield County. Family Services – Anita Haukaas Chally Topping-Thompson is the new Indian Child Welfare (ICW) Director for the Red Cliff Band of Superior Chippewa. Chris Hillert is the ICW case worker One staff person will begin medical leave sometime in July. Caseload coverage has been planned. The staff’s estimated return date will be in August, but the individual will not return to work full-time until sometime in November. Haukaas and Social Workers Becky Kruit and Cheryl Hanson traveled to Eau Claire to observe the Eau Claire County Family Treatment Court. The Eau Claire County staff was very helpful and will assist with the startup of the Bayfield County Treatment Court. The annual meeting between Family Service staff, schools, law enforcement and the judicial system has been scheduled for August 28 from 9:00 to Noon. The electronic Wisconsin Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System (eWiSACWIS) has enhanced program capabilities with a “supervisor tool”. This tool now allows supervisors to review historical data on group homes and residential care centers. The data includes the average stay and the outcomes that youth achieved while placed at the facility. This tool will aid staff in determining appropriate placements. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County Bayfield County Board Room June 26, 2014 3 The cost of secured detentions has declined. Some of this is due in part to the JAIS (Juvenile Assessment and Inventory System) tool staff uses to find the appropriate setting for the youth. 2012 $23,000 2013 $ 6,500 2014 $ 3,000 (to date) Economic Support Services – Jeanine Spuhler The State is implementing a new Summer Fill program initiative within the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP). Approximately 99 households on a fixed income that own their own home and heat with propane will qualify in Bayfield County. Eligible consumers will need to pay $50 to their supplier. Once the payment is verified, WHEAP will pay $300 towards the fill. The money must be used for a delivery of fuel. It cannot be applied to a customer’s outstanding or overdue account balance. The Northern Income Maintenance Consortium continues to plan for the regionalization of the Childcare Program. Supervisors are in the process of determining which NIMC staff is interested in participating on the Childcare team. Regionalization is anticipated this fall. An all-day NIMC training and team building event will take place on July 22, 2014 in Price County. The NIMC Call Center will be closed for the day. On June 25th and 26th, a Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program audit was completed by the Division of Energy Services in Madison. This is the first time Bayfield County has undergone a physical audit of the energy assistance program. Contract compliance, case files, and personnel records were reviewed. The audit was overall a positive experience. There are some items that will be targeted for improvement. The State auditor noted the quality of staff working with the program in Bayfield County in his findings. A report documenting the findings will be provided to DHS in the near future. Aging & Disability Services – Carrie Linder Last month Linder reported that a Bayfield County family had requested a full due process hearing appealing their parental cost share for the Birth-to-Three Program. The ruling is complete and the administrative law judge found in favor of Bayfield County. The finding indicated that the family’s rationale was not valid and it affirmed that parental costs shares are based on income. A Nutrition Assessment was conducted at the Barnes meal site. The assessment outcome letter has not yet been received but the review went well. Terriann Weld, Barnes Meal Site manager, resigned. The position was advertised and an offer of employment was made and accepted. Dana Hodowanic will start on Monday, June 30th. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County Bayfield County Board Room June 26, 2014 4 Two reclassification requests from Aging &Disability staff have been received. Linder has been working with Skulan on making a recommendation to the County Administrator using the new process. The population continues to age in Wisconsin. An awareness building workshop will be held on July 24th at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center. “The Age Wave: Creating an Aging-Friendly Bayfield County” program will build awareness regarding the impact of the aging trend on Bayfield County. The goal of the workshop is to start conversations about ways in which our communities can become more age-friendly. This workshop is being held in conjunction with Bayfield County UW Extension Office and Bayfield County Aging & Disabilities Services. Monthly Reports The monthly reports were reviewed and placed on file. It is anticipated that the 2013 budget will be balanced and that there will be some excess. A full accounting will be presented at the July Board meeting. There was one update to the training list. Haukaas attended training on June 12th in Black River Falls. Skulan is reviewing the waiting list with managers to see if there are consumers that might be served with the one-time funding provided to DHS for 2014. However, some programs prohibit counties from serving consumers without securing ongoing funding. Individuals can generally not be taken off a waiting list one year and put back on it the next. In addition, the Children’s Long-Term Waiver (CLTS) program is state funded slots and DHS has a policy in place prohibiting the use of county levy for those services. Resolution DHS 2014 – 03 – To Place a Health Care Advisory Referendum on the November 4, 2014 Bayfield County Ballot Skulan and Strand reviewed the referendum. Motion by Strand, second by Carver, to approve the placement of the Health Care Advisory Referendum on the November 4, 2014 Bayfield County Ballot and send to the Full Board for approval. Motion passed unanimously. Appointments to the Comprehensive Community Support (CCS) Advisory Committee Skulan reported that the CCS regional committee will consist of six representatives each from Bayfield and Ashland Counties. DHS recommends the following individuals to the CCS Advisory Committee: Anita Haukaas of Bayfield County DHS; Val Levno of New Horizon’s North; Hans Veenendaal of Washburn; Julie Newago of Bayfield; Karlan Williams of Iron River and Linda Jorgenson of Washburn. Motion by Schmidt, second by Crandall, to approve the appointment(s) of Haukaas, Levno, Veenendaal, Newago, Williams and Jorgenson to the CCS Advisory Committee. Motion passed unanimously. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County Bayfield County Board Room June 26, 2014 5 Appointment to the Aging and Disability Services Advisory Committee Skulan reported that Betty Schell of Washburn has submitted an application to serve on the A&D Advisory Committee. Motion by Bussey, second by Bennett, to approve the appointment of Betty Schell to the Aging and Disability Services Advisory Committee. Motion passed unanimously. Recommend Appointments to the Human Services Board Skulan reported that Schmidt’s term will expire at the end of June and she is interested in continuing to serve as a Citizen Member to the DHS Board. DHS received two applications for the vacant citizen position; Kent Seldal from Washburn and Tammy Rasmussen from Cable. A recommendation was made to appoint Seldal to the DHS Board. Motion by Bennett, second by Strand, to approve the reappointment of Schmidt and appointment of Seldal as Citizen Members of the DHS board and send that recommendation to the County Board for consideration. Motion passed unanimously. New Aging & Disability Resource Center of the North (ADRC-N) Regional Position Skulan reported that historically, the ADRC-N has not expended the regional allocation. The balance of the funding was then issued to counties that exceeded their own budget. One option that the ADRC-N Governing Board will consider to utilize the funds is to hire a Regional ADRC-N Specialist. This position would respond to calls to the ADRC and assist the other five counties that are currently providing information and assistance to insure good customer service and to increase customer service. Interested counties were asked to submit a Request for Proposal for the position. Bayfield County submitted a proposal with two alternatives, with the hope that the existing local .5 FTE ADRC Specialist could be hired full-time. Sawyer County also submitted a proposal. During the discussion with the Directors/Management team, issues were raised regarding the dependability of the phone system; where this new position would be hired; and if all counties had a common agreement of the duties that the new regional staff would perform. A consensus is needed before a recommendation and further action on this position will be brought to the ADRC-N Governing Board. Motion by Williams, second by Bennett, that if Bayfield County is successful in securing the RFP, that the current .5 FTE Specialist, be hired as a full-time employee. Motion passed unanimously. Regional Mental Health Crisis Grant Award Skulan reported the 2009-2014 Regional Mental Health Crisis Grant expired at the end of June 2014. A new grant proposal was submitted by the 15 county region. An award letter was received by Bayfield County (fiscal agent) informing the acceptance of the proposal. This proposal consists of support for the regional mental health crisis line, grant coordinator and BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County Bayfield County Board Room June 26, 2014 6 staff training. Only five grants were awarded. The request was for $118,800. A teleconference will be held by the state in July to review the grant. Close the Floor to Public Comment on the 2015 Department of Human Services Budget and Regarding Bayfield County’s Policies and Procedures for Equal Opportunity in Employment, Service Delivery and Language Access Motion by Bennett, second by Crandall, to Close the floor for Public Hearing at 5:03 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. Other (Informational Items) A. A letter from a client that completed the “Living Well with Chronic Conditions” program and how the program helped her was reviewed. B. The 2015 Budget preparation memo from Mark AA was reviewed. The Board will be asked for their input at the next meeting. Future Meetings A. July 24, 2014 B. August 28, 2014 C. September 25, 2014 Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:07 p.m. Submitted by Nikki Revak, Financial Manager