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Home My WebLink AboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 9/23/2021BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC September 23, 2021 1 Board Members Present: Marty Milanowski, David Zepczyk, Jeremy Oswald, Mark Ludeking, Stephanie Defoe Haskins, Larry Fickbohm Board Members Not Present: Lona Schmidt, Jim Crandall, Susan Rosa Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Stephanie Eder, Tom Croteau, Jeanine Spuhler, Mary Anich, Carrie Linder, Heather Gilbertson, Mary Dougherty Call to Order and Introductions Fickbohm called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. Opportunity for Public Comment No Public Comment Discussion and Possible Action – Review of the August 19, 2021, meeting minutes Motion by Milanowski, second by Ludeking to approve the August 19, 2021, meeting minutes as presented. Motion passed. Program Presentation – Transportation Coordination Committee (TCC) Overview, Mary Dougherty, TCC Member • Mary Dougherty is the Executive Director for Core Community Resources and a Bayfield County Board member. • The TCC was formed in September 2019. The first meeting was held January 2020 • Goals of the committee are to identify gaps in current public transportation services; develop options to address the gaps; promote opportunities to make transportation services more accessible and easier to navigate; increase communication and collaboration between transportation providers; identify ways to expand transportation services; identify possible funding sources to assist in meeting these goals; and raise awareness about transportation needs. • The committee includes the Bay Area Rural Transit (BART) Mobility Manager, a representative from Red Cliff, and individuals interested in promoting and improving transportation services by considering public input and feedback. • The TCC identified Demand Responsive Service as a potential project to address some of the needs. Passengers will call BART to schedule rides and receive door-to-door service. • The TCC requested $25,000 in ARPA funds for two years to support the Demand Responsive Services. • BART will supply a vehicle and driver for 50 hours a week to provide the transportation. • This service will cover all of Bayfield County and include transportation to and from the cities of Ashland and Hayward. Monthly Section Reports Approved at the 10/28/2021 BCDHS Board meeting BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC September 23, 2021 2 Support Services – Stephanie Eder • The individual who accepted the DHS Receptionist position declined employment on Thursday, September 16, 2021, so did not start work on Monday September 20, 2021, as planned. • It is anticipated another round of interviews held the week of September 27, 2021. • The focus is still filling the vacancies. • The remaining four support staff have taken on additional duties while the team is short staffed. They have been flexible, particularly when scheduling vacations and personal time. • Completed the Wisconsin Medicaid Cost Reporting (WIMCR). Family Services – Mary Anich • There are still two vacancies in Family Services. • Staff continue to be busy, and everyone is helping where needed. • Staff are conducting daily urine analysis (UA) testing with one client, including • Staff are conducting daily urine analysis (UA) testing with one client, including weekends. • Progress is being made on training for the Youth Assessment Screening Instrument (YASI) for the Youth Justice Program. • Staff are preparing for the transition to the Family First model of child welfare. This Federal Law will be implemented in Wisconsin in October 2021. County and States need to make every effort to insure children are not removed from homes. • A facility in Milwaukee agreed to the placement for one of our complex youths. • The youth crisis facility that just opened in Wausau will only serve youth in six counties, Marathon County and five other counties close to Wausau. Eventually the facility will open to all youth in Wisconsin. Economic Support – Jeanine Spuhler • Economic Support Specialist Aaron Kalmon’s first day was September 20, 2021. Aaron has started the three-month new worker training program. • Emergency FoodShare benefits will be issued for September and October. Clients will receive the maximum amount allocated for the number of household members without regard to the income limit. • Applications for the 2022 Energy Assistance Heating season have started coming in. • The 2021 Keep WI warm funds are depleted for the season. • Help with furnaces will be available again as of October 1, 2021. • There will be more outreach and advertising for Heating Assistance once the heating assistance materials are received from state. • “The Summer Fill Program 2021” was successful. Eligible households received $1300 that was paid directly to their fuel provider. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC September 23, 2021 3 Aging & Disability Services – Carrie Linder • Marianne Johnson was hoping to conduct open enrollment for Medicare Part D in person but as COVID19 cases climbed, enrollment will be virtual, over the phone and through mail instead. • There is a small allocation for evidence-based programs. DHS will use it for in person Tai Chi Classes. Classes are offered in six locations throughout Bayfield County: Washburn, Herbster, Barnes, Iron River, Cable, and Drummond. • Social Worker Brynna Watters-Moffatt filled the vacancy left when JoAnn Paraventi retired June 30, 2021. Hayley Weyers accepted the position of Youth Service Coordinator, replacing Kristin Opperman. They are both doing very well. • Much time was spent developing the 2022-2024 Aging Plan. • Working on the re-routing project for Home Delivered Meals. There are four organizations and 20 people committed to deliver meals in the Iron River area starting in October. Each organization will deliver one week per month and approximately ten meals per day. Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) – Tom Croteau • Worked with staff to transition participants to our new vendor providing Individual Skill Development. This includes two new providers at North Country Independent Living and providers with Innovative Wisconsin. • Having additional service providers allows CCS service facilitators to concentrate on providing service facilitation and will allow CCS to take on additional clients as enrollment increases. • Stephanie Tutor accepted a position as a CCS Facilitator. Stephanie’s first day was August 20, 2021. Stephanie previously worked as a CCS Service Facilitator for Ashland County and New Horizons North, Inc. She is doing a great job and the transition is going well for CCS participants. • Facilitated conversations with Red Cliff Health Center and Northland Counseling for a mutual Community Service Program (CSP) client to make sure the client is getting the services they need. • Interviewed and hired Madison Atterbury as a CCS intern. Madison’s first day will be Monday, October 4, 2021. Monthly Reports Monthly Financial and Training reports were reviewed and placed on file. Discussion and Possible Action – Review, Support and Approval of the Transportation Coordination Committee’s request for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for On- Demand Transportation System. The TCC requested $25,000 in ARPA funds for two years to support the door-to-door On-Demand Responsive Service. The DHS Board decided to go on record to formally support this request. Motion by Milanowski, second by Haskins to approve the request for ARPA funds for On- Demand Transportation System. Motion passed. BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC September 23, 2021 4 Discussion and Possible Action – Bayfield County 2022-2024 Aging Plan Draft. Information for the Aging Plan was gathered from multiple public listening sessions and surveys, tools which gathered input and feedback from Bayfield County residents. Several themes emerged, many tied to transportation, isolation and loneliness, housing, and caregiver support. The core set of goals are intertwined focusing on nutrition, social isolation, and transportation Motion by Milanowski, second by Oswald to approve the Bayfield County 2022-2024 Aging Plan Draft. Motion passed. Update 2022 DHS Budget – Update on wage and fringe increases. The DHS budget was approved last month but as reported there were changes in wages and fringe benefits. The budget was modified to reflect these changes. Adjustments were made by the County Clerk’s office. Other (Informational Items) A. Thank you note regarding Foodshare pandemic benefits Future Meetings A. October 28, 2021 B. December 7, 2021 – November/December Meeting C. January 27, 2022 Adjournment at 5:12 p.m. Submitted by Heather Gilbertson, Clerk II