HomeMy WebLinkAboutComprehensive Community Service Committee - Minutes - 4/18/2023
Ashland and Bayfield County Regional
Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) Coordination Committee Meeting
Bayfield County Conference Room
Hybrid Meeting
Tuesday April 18th, 2023
Members Present:
Ashland County: Terry Barningham, Billie Keelin, Jan Kupczyk
Bayfield County: Tom Croteau, Lorna Gamble, Cecelia Webb, Sandra Notzke
Members-at-large: Thomas Mittelstaedt, Val Levno
Members Excused: Robert Brannon and Colleen Grand
Others Present: Mike Kelly from indiGO, Katie Pierson DHS, and Larry Fickbohm Bayfield County Board
Member.
Call to order and Introductions:
Tom Mittelstaedt called the meeting to order at 12:35 and extended a welcome to our new Ashland
County member, Billie Keelin.
Val Levno read roll call. We have enough members for a quorum.
Regional Coordination Committee Minutes:
Sandra Notzke made a motion to approve the Regional Committee minutes from 01/10/2023. Seconded
by Terry Barningham. Motion carried.
Guest Presenter: Mike Kelly, Certified Peer Specialist from indiGO
Mike Kelly made a presentation about Certified Peer Specialists (CPS), what they do, what it takes to
become one and how they can benefit an individual. A CSP must have had some experience with
substance use or a mental health experience. This helps them connect better to the individuals that
they work with. Right now, Mike estimates that there are about 2,000 Certified Peer Specialists in the
state of Wisconsin at this time. Looking for Certified Parent Peer Specialists at this time. Vanessa Sowl
joined the presentation via Zoom and explained how peer support can connect people and help them be
aware that recovery is possible. Tom Mittelstaedt volunteered to give a testimonial to the program if
needed as well.
Draft: Subject to change
at the next CCS
Coordination Committee
Meeting
Comprehensive Community Services Program Goals:
Val Levno presented CCS 2023 Program Goals. Three goals for 2023 are to increase contracted providers
of home and community services by 5%, increase the adult mean score for “I feel like I belong in my
community” to 3.5 for Ashland County and to 3.6 for Bayfield County and to increase the mean score of
“I do better in social situations” to 3.5 for Ashland County and 3.9 in Bayfield County.
Some of the ways to make this happen include working with current vendors to attend local
opportunities to increase the work force; increase contracted providers; identify resilience in CCS
participants and expand upon it; increase home and community services contracted providers; and,
have service facilitators and CCS contracted providers support participants to increase potential areas of
social connection and ways to increase social connections.
Great group discussion initiated by Tom Mittelstaedt to ask participants to step out of their comfort
zone and socialize. This will encourage people to strike out on their own. Sandra Notzke endorsed the
use of therapy dogs to build confidence. Tom Mittelstaedt stated these are worthy goals for the
program.
Program Report:
The program report was discussed with all the participants in the meeting. Some highlights included
new vendors, program updates and the state site visit from the Department of Quality Assurance with
high accolades and both programs are certified until 12/31/2025.
Children’s Report:
Val Levno reviewed services for children. This include mentoring, coping, family psychoeducation,
equine therapy and equine assisted learning, art therapy, parent peer specialists, med management and
supports in the home and community.
New Business:
Tom Mittelstaedt asked the election of officers be added to the July agenda.
Public Comment: (Please limit to 3 minutes)
Mike Kelly from indiGO thanked the committee for the time to present today.
Larry Fickbohm from the Bayfield County Board stated how impressed he was with the meeting, how we
serve our participants and the work that the counties do for their residents.
Other Informational Items:
Val Levno asked Cecelia Webb for an update on the Life Ring meetings in Iron River. Cecelia states that
they are not ready to move forward as of yet, but she will reach out when the time comes.
Future Meeting Dates:
Next Meeting Dates are as follows:
Tuesday, July 11th at 12:30 Ashland County Health and Human Services Building 630 Sanborn Avenue
Tuesday October 10th at 12:30 Bayfield County Conference Room, Washburn
Meetings from here on out will be hybrid.
Motion to adjourn meeting made by Jan and seconded by Sandra, motion passed.
Meeting was adjourned at 1:35pm
Respectfully Submitted, Andrea Yrjanainen, Ashland County Administrative Assistant