Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 9/23/2014BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County EOC September 23, 2014 Board Members Present: Pat Carver, Bill Bussey, Jim Crandall, John Bennett, Lona Schmidt, Rusty Williams, Deb Pyne (via phone), Kent Seldal Board Members Absent: Fred Strand Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Nikki Revak, Anita Haukaas, Jeanine Spuhler, Tom Moran (left @ 4:30) Call to Order and Introductions Williams called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. Introductions were made. Review of the August 21, 2014 Minutes Motion by Crandall, seconded by Schmidt, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Public Comment – Limit to 3 minutes No public comments. Program Presentation – Mandated Reporting, Social Worker, Tom Moran, Family Services Moran has worked as a social worker in Bayfield County for 21 years. Moran’s duties include, but are not limited to: Child Protective Services and Custody Studies. Moran explained that Chapter 48 of Wisconsin’s Statutes defines abuse as: Physical Abuse; Sexual Abuse; Emotional Damage; Neglect. Mandated reporters, generally any professional that works with children, are required to report suspected abuse and neglect of any child that they see while in the course of their professional duties. Any other person may make a report if there is reason to believe that a child has been abused or neglected or has been threatened with abuse or neglect. Reports can be made anonymously. All reported cases are logged into the state’s reporting system, eWiSACWIS (electronic Wisconsin Statewide Automated Child Welfare Information System). In Bayfield County, the information is entered and then sent to the Family Services supervisor for a screening decision. Based on factors set forth by the State of Wisconsin, reports are either screened in or screened out. If the case is screened in and an investigation is warranted, timelines are set by the severity of the allegations and the level of concern for the safety and wellbeing of the child(ren). In serious situations, it may be necessary to temporarily place a child in out of home care until an investigation is completed. Cases generally close within a year but can remain active until the child turns 18. “Non-care giver” (e.g. neighbor, friend of family, etc.) reports of abuse are investigated by Law Enforcement. “Primary Care Giver” (e.g. parent, step-parent, unrelated adult living in the home) reports of abuse are investigated by a social worker from the county department of social/human services. Cases that do not rise to the statutory definition of abuse may be BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County EOC September 23, 2014 2 considered Child Welfare. In these instances, families are provided with information on a range of services that are available in the community to assist them, so that the concerns do escalate to abuse or neglect. Moran distributed three handouts: a brochure on reporting child abuse and neglect; Indicators of Child Abuse and Neglect; and Normal childhood Sexual Behaviors. Monthly Section Reports Aging & Disability Services – Carrie Linder Skulan reporting for Linder:  Finalized the 2013 Annual Report  Attended a Care Transition conference in Wisconsin Dells  Participated in a meeting with Family Services and Sheriff Department staff regarding Chapter 51, 54 and 55 cases  Facilitated the Iron River Senior Meal site  Met with Skulan, Revak and the ADRC Coordinator Barb Peterson to review the 2015 ADRC Regional budget  Interviewed candidates for the vacant Aging Specialist position  County Administrator’s office is in the process of checking references on two qualified candidates Support Services – Nikki Revak Due to a reduction in health insurance premiums and a determination of the cost of living adjustment, the 2015 budget was revised. The revision will be presented later in the meeting. The 2015 Aging and Disability Resource Center of the North (ADRC-N) budget was presented at the ADRC-N Advisory Committee Meeting on September 23, 2014. Support Staff completed the 2013 Annual Report. Revak attended the Wisconsin Medicaid Cost Reporting training in Hayward this morning. Economic Support Services – Jeanine Spuhler The Economic Support Services team have been preparing for the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP) season. The new state WHEAP software system was released on September 17th and staff is learning the system. To date, there are 100 applications to be entered in the new system. An open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act will begin in November. Last year, the Northern Income Maintenance Consortium (NIMC) hired 15 temporary staff to assist with the Affordable Care Act workload; currently there are 10 temporary staff remaining. NIMC will be hiring five positions. Bayfield County has asked permission to hire one of the five staff for the NIMC. Ashland County is also seeking to hire one of those positions. With the enactment of the new Wage Scale in Bayfield County there is a substantial difference in the wage that BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County EOC September 23, 2014 3 Bayfield County is affording new workers. Ashland County’s starting wage is $17.96 per hour compared to $14.11 in Bayfield County for the same job description. Family Services – Anita Haukaas Social Worker Lacie Prenderville’ s last day is September 24th. Prenderville’ s cases have been assigned to other workers. Juvenile Delinquent referrals have increased this month. Statistics show that in 2013 there were 150 reports of Child Protective Services cases, not all were screened in. Of those, 21 cases involved CHIPS (Child in Need of Protection). The in-home therapist, a therapist who provides services to families in their home to allow them to keep their children, has given notice and is working with another provider. Family Services is currently looking for a new in-home therapist. Mental Health institutional placements continue to increase this year as do the costs associated with those placements. Bayfield and Ashland Counties received a “provisional license” for the Comprehensive Community Service (CCS) program from the state. The provisional license is in effect until August 31, 2015. Each county is in the process of applying for medical assistance provider billing numbers. A corrective action plan for the 2013 AODA Prevention Grant was completed and submitted to the State. The plan was necessary because a service was reported under the wrong prevention category. September 17 – 19th Haukaas attended the Wisconsin Juvenile Court Intake Association Conference in Wisconsin Dells at the Kalahari Resort. Monthly Reports Skulan reported that there have been higher than average placements in the Mental Health Institutions over the past nine months. DHS is cautiously optimistic that in spite of this, the year will end within budget. The monthly reports were reviewed and placed on file. Family Support Program Committee Appointment – Barb Gadbois The Family Support Program advisory board is required to be a minimum of 51% of parents with a child that qualifies for the program. Gadbois has been a member of the advisory committee and her current term has expired. Gadbois is willing to serve another term. The Family Support Program Advisory Committee recommends that the DHS Board appoint Ms. Gadbois to another term. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING Bayfield County EOC September 23, 2014 4 Motion by Crandall , second by Carver, to approve the appointment of Barb Gadbois to the Family Support Program Committee for another term. Motion passed unanimously. Birth to Three Review Results Skulan reported that Carrie Linder participated in the Birth to 3 Program on site review on August 21st. A letter dated on September 5th from the Department of Health Services states the Bayfield County Birth to 3 Program “Meets Requirements for FFY 2012”. 2013 Annual Report Skulan reviewed a draft of the 2013 Annual Report. One change was noted on page 4, 2013 ended with an excess of approximately $109,000 instead of $119,000. Motion by Crandall, second by Schmidt, to approve the 2013 Annual Report as presented with the one correction noted. Motion passed unanimously. 2015 Budget Update Presentation Skulan reviewed the first revised budget which included a decrease due to health insurance premium reductions and a defined 2015 cost of living adjustment. There was a net increase of $3,738 compared to the original budget. The County levy did not increase. Another budget adjustment will be made and presented at the October meeting due to subsequent changes in health insurance costs. Net changes to the budget will be fiscally neutral. Proposed 2015 Board Meeting Dates Skulan reviewed the 2015 proposed Board Meeting dates. Other (Informational Items) A. Democracy Can Cure a Misguided Legislative Decision – Shared by Fred Strand B. Crandall mentioned that Sheila Mack shared useful information on Medigap – Part B. Future Meetings A. October 23, 2014 B. December 2, 2014 (November/December combined meeting – begin with potluck) C. January 22, 2015 Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 5:05 p.m. Submitted by Nikki Revak, Financial Manager