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Home My WebLink AboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 4/22/2021BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC April 22, 2021 1 Board Members Present: Jim Crandall, Susan Rosa, Jeremy Oswald, Marty Milanowski, David Zepczyk, Larry Fickbohm; Lona Schmidt, Mark Ludeking Board Members Not Present: Stephanie Defoe Haskins Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Jeanine Spuhler, Carrie Linder, Stephanie Eder, Mary Anich, Heather Gilbertson, Melissa Huempfner, Mary Dougherty Call to Order and Introductions Crandall called the meeting to order at 4:09 p.m. Discussion and Possible Action – Review of the March 25, 2021 meeting minutes Motion by Milanowski, second by Zepczyk to approve the March 25, 2021 meeting minutes as presented. Motion passed. Opportunity for Public Comment (Limited to 3 minutes per person) none Program Presentation – Child Protective Services (CPS), Social Worker Melissa Huempfner Presentation by Huempfner – Child Protective Services/Juvenile Justice Social Worker. Huempfner discussed the intricacies of the work and the steps taken when a child abuse report is filed. Huempfner stated it has been difficult to deliver services during the pandemic. A particular challenge has been social distancing with families when conducting home visits. Huempfner has caseload of 17 families. Huempfner reported one major obstacles in assisting families and keeping children safe is the lack of resources in our area for services. Monthly Section Reports Economic Support – Jeanine Spuhler  The moratorium for disconnecting utilities was lifted in April. Heat and electric providers can now disconnect clients with past due accounts.  Spuhler received notice the Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources processed a mass crisis payment this week for all Xcel Energy customers with overdue accounts.  Outreach postcards were mailed to clients who have not applied for assistance this season who applied in the past heating seasons. DRAFT: Subject to change at the next BCDHS meeting BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC April 22, 2021 2  The Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (PEBT) program provides additional FoodShare benefits to households with school-age children. Benefits were automatically provided to eligible families that have an address on file and the clients have children learning from home.  Emergency FoodShare benefits will be issued in April and May. Clients will receive the maximum amount allocated for the number of household members without regard to the income limit.  Rosie Kozeneski has provided notice of retirement. Kozeneski’s last day of work will be April 30, 2021. Kozeneski has worked for Bayfield County for 19 years.  Economic Support Specialist Andrea Fisk’s first day will be Monday April 26, 2021.  Caseloads have increased due to: changes in the households; seasonal jobs starting; individuals going back to work; and the reimplementation of renewals that were suspended since the beginning of the pandemic. Aging & Disability Services – Carrie Linder  The Volunteer Driver Program, renamed the Transportation Assistance Program or TAP will be begin providing transportation again June 1, 2021.  The number of meals served at the Iron River Grab and Go Meal site have steadily increased since April 1, 2021. The Port Wing Grab and Go Meal site will reopen in May.  Senior Congregate Meals may be restructured when they finally reopen. Surveys are being distributed to solicit input from residents. The goal is to provide more meals to the target populations, particularly those in more rural areas of the county who have less food security.  All of the children on the Children’s Long-Term Services (CLTS) waitlist were enrolled in services by the deadline of March 31, 2021. Linder reported three additional children have been added to the wait list.  Aging Advocate Day at the Capital will be held virtually this year. It is a two-day event. On May 10, 2021 there will be a training and skill building session. On May 12, 2021 participants should schedule virtual visits with their Legislators in Madison. Topics will include: Aging and Disability Resource Center Reinvestments, Family Caregiver Support, Infrastructure Expansion, and Lowering Health Care Costs. Family Services – Mary Anich  Anich is now the Family Service Manager.  There have been increases in Child Protection Services (CPs) and Youth Justice (YJ) Referrals.  New CSP reports can be on families where there are already open cases.  There were increases in third-party petitions and emergency detentions in the past month.  Bayfield County Family Services staff continue to assist Red Cliff Indian Child Welfare when they request assistance due to their increase in cases.  On, Tuesday April 20, 2021 a client was moved quickly from Winnebago to the previous placement in Eau Claire with little notice. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC April 22, 2021 3 Comprehensive Community Services – Tom Croteau  The CCS program currently has 23 participants.  Croteau is working with Law Enforcement, Red Cliff Health Services, and Memorial Medical Center to improve the quality of referrals and to increase the chances the referral will result in an enrollment.  Croteau is researching ways to advertise and market CCS services to improve outreach.  Croteau reported the expectations of service facilitators grows with experience. He was happy to report the Bayfield County CCS service facilitators are on target. Support Services – Stephanie Eder  Jane Cook retired April 16, 2021 after 20 years of service.  Sam DeRosia and Alannah Belanger were hired as Support Staff. Tasks are being restructured and redistributed. New Support Staff are being trained on the newly redistributed tasks.  Eder attended the virtual Financial Manager’s meeting.  Eder and Kathy Wolfram-Moran will be attending the Financial Manager conference in Green Bay the end of August. Monthly Reports Monthly Financial and Training reports were reviewed and placed on file. Discussion and Possible Action – Resolution #2021-02 Authorizing Signatory Changes, Chippewa Valley Bank. Due to change in staff, signature cards at Chippewa Valley Bank require updating. Resolution #2021-02 facilitates the required changes by eliminating Nikki Revak and adding Stephanie Eder. Motion by Crandall, second by Fickbohm to approve Resolution #2021-02, Authorizing Signatory Changes at Chippewa Valley Bank. Motion passed. Discussion and Possible Action – Access and Handling of Fingerprint and Criminal Background Check Data, Changes required per federal review. The foster care and child-care programs are required to fingerprint potential providers and conduct background checks. The Department of Human Services policy must ensure proper security measures are in place to comply with federal requirements. A federal review was recently conducted, and the existing policy was found lacking. The updated policy was presented for review and approval. Motion by Fickbohm, second by Schmidt to approve the Access and Handling of Fingerprint and Criminal Background Check Data. Motion carried. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC April 22, 2021 4 Human Services Day at the Capitol - Human Services Day at the Capitol was held virtually on Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Oswald, Skulan, and Jennifer Jones, the Bayfield County Child Support Director, attended on behalf of Bayfield County. Ashland County reviewed half of the topics, Bayfield County reviewed the other half. Jones presented the child support issue. The legislators allowed an hour for the meeting, rather than the half hour scheduled. Other (Informational Items) A. March 30, 2021 Letter, New Day Advocacy Center from Kathy Roper, Executive Director B. It was reported Dennis Pochernich - County Board Chair, is on the Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) Legislative Resolution Committee C. Crandall asked for opinions on when DHS might hold face to face meetings again. The consensus was to wait until the recommendations from Public Health change to allow for this. In the future, it was agreed, meetings will continue to have a virtual option, even when meeting is person is recommended to afford choice to committee members. D. Oswald reported open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace has been extended through August 15, 2021. Oswald recommended anyone who is currently getting their insurance through the Marketplace re-evaluate their choices. Many individuals who have done so, found they can save on premiums. Future Meetings A. May 27, 2021 B. June 24, 2021 C. July 22, 2021 Adjournment at 5:27 p.m. Submitted by Heather Gilbertson, Clerk II