HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 2/22/2024BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC & Virtual
February 22, 2024
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Board Members Present: Patrick Irvine, Mary Dougherty*, Marty Milanowski, Jeremy Oswald*,
Stephanie Haskins (phone), Sue Rosa, Madelaine Rekemeyer*
(*attended virtually)
Not Present: Jim Crandall, Lona Schmidt
Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Jeanine Spuhler, Stephanie Eder, Sarah Traaholt, Tom
Croteau, Mary Anich, Carrie Linder, Katie Bland (BCDHS Social Worker)
Call to Order and Introductions
Oswald called the meeting to order at 4:01 p.m. Introductions were made.
Opportunity for Public Comment (Limit 3 minutes please.)
No Public Comment
Discussion and Possible Action – Review and approval of the December 05, 2023, meeting minutes.
Motion by Milanowski, seconded by Haskins to approve the December 05, 2023, meeting minutes.
Motion passed.
2024 Provider Contract Status
Skulan reported a 2024 contract to a provider for the Children’s Long Term Support program (CLTS) for
equine therapy will not be reissued.
Program Presentation – Forensic Interviewing, Social Worker III Katie Bland, Family Services
Katie Bland introduced herself to the group. Bland was hired in January as a Child Welfare Social Worker
for Bayfield County. Bland’s has a master’s degree in social work, six years of experience in child
protective services in Dane County and eight years with the Madison Police Department. Bland is a
member of the Wisconsin Department of Justice team that trains law enforcement and social workers to
conduct forensic interviews.
Bland reviewed information on forensic interviewing. A forensic interview is a nationally recognized
interview technique conducted with a child who has been the victim or witness to a crime. Interviews are
conducted and audio-visually recorded.
Bland states that for children three to eighteen, a Child Advocacy Center is the most ideal setting for a
forensic interview. A Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is a child-friendly, safe, neutral location where law
enforcement, child protective services investigators and other involved agencies can conduct and
observe. Conducting one single forensic interview with a child reduces the trauma of having to tell their
story several times. Ideally, all the key players participate to provide support, crisis intervention, and
referrals to the child and their non-offending caregivers.
DRAFT:
Subject to change at
the next BCDHS
meeting
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC & Virtual
February 22, 2024
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The closest CACs are in Wausau, Hayward, and Marshfield. Bayfield County currently utilizes a space in
the Sheriff’s office, which can be intimidating for children. Human Services and Administration are
looking for options for a more child friendly space where interviews can be conducted. Bland would like
to see Bayfield County use best practice to become a resource for other area counties.
Monthly Section Reports
Support Services – Stephanie Eder
Eder states that the Support Services section is fully staffed. Everything is going well, and staff
continue to train and cross-train.
Eder notes that staff are busy processing 2023 final invoices. Final 2023 invoices need to be paid
tomorrow.
Work on the 2025 budget has begun.
Aging & Disability (A&D) Services – Stephanie Eder for Carrie Linder
Tai Ji Quan classes are offered in six different communities twice a year by five volunteer leaders.
A sixth location will be added. Linder has streamlined the registration process.
Linder is collaborating with Extension to co-host community leaders to be trained to provide
Strong Bodies locally vs. virtually. The class will be held in Port Wing and Iron River and maybe in
other interested communities.
Linder reported the new congregate meal site in Cable is a success. Approximately 35 people
attended the first two meals. Cable is run by volunteers from the Cable area. Carolyn Novack,
Elderly Nutrition Program Supervisor, attended the first two meals to train the volunteers.
Linder and Michele Reiswig met with Bay Area Rural Transit (BART) to improve communications.
Moving forward, all callers seeking transportation will be referred to the BART Mobility Manager.
The Mobility Manager will be responsible for determining the most appropriate type of
transportation for the caller.
Linder met with Tamarack health staff regarding their transportation needs. The group will meet
again in six weeks. Transportation is not a service provided to mental health clients being
discharged. The mobility manager might help in those situations as well.
The 2025-2027 Bayfield County Aging Plan is being developed. Linder indicated the community
engagement phase is underway. In this phase information is collected to determine which issues
are important to older adults.
Notice was received that CORE is changing their services to focus on their mission, which is to
improve quality of life for seniors and reduce hunger for all in northern Bayfield County. The
organization’s work broadened during the pandemic. The organization is closing the thrift store
and will no longer provide weekly meal delivery. The food pantry will continue to be opened to
Bayfield and the surrounding community.
Behavioral Health & Community Programs – Tom Croteau
Croteau noted that Community Support Program (CSP), administered by Northland Counseling,
was able to hire a new full time staff member for mental health case management. This will allow
CSP to serve more Bayfield County residents.
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC & Virtual
February 22, 2024
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DHS is recruiting a Mental Health Professional for the Comprehensive Community Services (CCS)
program. The position has been posted since November. To date there have been no applicants.
The posting is currently being advertised more broadly. Croteau hopes the right candidate will
apply soon.
CCS client enrollment is steady.
Croteau reports that Val Levno, CCS Administrator, is retiring May 2, 2024.
Behavioral Health continues to be busy. Croteau has recently spoken to staff about how self-care
and maintaining professional boundaries are necessary to avoid burnout.
Collaboration and coordination with District Attorney, defense attorneys, law enforcement, jail
staff, schools, and other key players to get treatment and assessments completed properly has
been beneficial for everyone. DHS sections and other community members are also working
together to provide services and care.
The semi-annual regional meeting to discuss the emergency detention process will be held on
March 11, 2023, in the EOC. The meetings will include Tamarack Health staff, law enforcement,
corporation counsel, and staff from Ashland and Bayfield Counties. Skulan will be attending the
meeting for Croteau, who will be out of the office that day.
Economic Support Services – Jeanine Spuhler
Spuhler reports that there is one vacancy in Economic Support. Interviews were held this week.
Spuhler notes that the hire must be timed to match state training. A potential start date is March
25, 2024.
The State recently implemented a policy where children do not lose their state health insurance
coverage until 12 months after the last eligibility determination, even if the rest of the household
is determined no longer eligible.
Spuhler noted that staff are still working between pandemic and pre-pandemic policies and are
navigating well between them. Twelve-month renewals are now being completed and premiums
have been reinstated.
Spuhler reported a Bayfield County resident found guilty of an intentional program violation has
filed for an appeal with the Circuit Court. This is the last step in the appeal progress.
Family Services – Mary Anich
Anich stated the Family Services section is extremely busy. CPS investigations have increased.
Staff are getting between five to seven calls a week, rather than one or two. Anich is thankful that
Bland has joined the team to assist with the extra work, particularly since she is already trained in
child protective services.
Anich reported from December 21, 2023, to present, Family Services has placed thirteen children.
Twelve of the children were placed in foster care and one in a detention center. This quadrupled
the number of children previously in out of home placement. This has added to the workload for
staff.
Anich reported she filed a complaint with the Department of Safety and Professional Services
about a former social worker.
In 2024, the Childrens with Disability Services moved from Aging and Disability to Family Services.
Hayley Weyers was promoted to a supervisory position overseeing Childrens Long Term Services
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC & Virtual
February 22, 2024
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(CLTS), Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP) and Birth to Three (B-3) under Section
Manager Anich. Weyers is doing well in her new position.
Anich reported Alice Wilson, former CPS Case Manager, has rejoined the team as a CLTS Case
Manager. Wilson is doing an excellent job.
Olivia Garramone has joined the Family Services team. Liv has been assigned work in the
Coordinated Services Team (CST) program. DHS has not offered CST for several years. Garramone
and Anich are attending CST training.
Monthly Reports
Monthly Financial and Training reports were reviewed and retained.
By County policy, the Board must approve overnight training only. In the future, virtual training will no
longer be included in the report.
Bayfield County Comprehensive Plan – DHS Status Report
A link to the Bayfield County Comprehensive was provided to Department Heads at their January 29,
2024, meeting. The County Administrator instructed departments to review the plan and report any
action taken to their oversight committees quarterly. A copy of the first monitoring report was
included in the Board packet.
Skulan noted that there are thirteen areas that require action from Human Services. Seven items have
had some worked completed. Skulan will review the report in more detail at the next meeting.
Rekemeyer asked for the monitoring report to be reviewed annually by the DHS Board instead of
quarterly. The DHS Board members present agreed an annual report would be sufficient.
Future DHS County Levy
County levy in the Department of Human Services budget had been $1,807,778 since 2014. The
Department has continued to provide wage and fringe increases without additional county levy. The
Department has used two strategies to balance the budget. DHS tries to leverage additional state and
federal dollars whenever possible, and DHS has reduced the services purchased from other providers.
Aggressively seeking additional state and federal funding to the benefit of residents of Bayfield County
will continue. However, the Department cannot continue to reduce purchased services without
negative impact, either failing to provide services Bayfield County residents need and/or by failing to
balance the Department’s budget.
Skulan and the County Administrator have begun discussions about affording DHS additional county
levy in the 2025 budget and beyond. There are several ways this might be accomplished. The County
Board could assign more of the existing levy to DHS. The County Board could increase the mil rate until
the levy cap is reached and any increase to DHS. The County Board could assign increases of county
levy on net new construction to DHS. The County could exempt DHS payments for mandated services
from the county levy cap. The County Board could consider employing a combination of the previous
options.
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
EOC & Virtual
February 22, 2024
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Skulan noted this is informational at this time. However, it is information that will be useful as the
budget for 2025 is developed and provides notice the Department will be seeking additional county
levy.
Dougherty indicated Human Services is critical to county residents. Dougherty questioned whether this
request would be met with resistance. Skulan stated that while historically the County Board has not
always supported raising taxes, they have also been very supportive of Human Services.
Other (Informational Items)
A. Email 11/29/2023 from Northern Income Maintenance Consortium (NIMC)
Administrator Steven Budnick, regarding Ann Marie Mackin
B. Email 12/04/2023 from child of client regarding Brynna Watters
C. Email 12/08/2023 from NIMC Administrator Steve Budnick recognizing staff and their
contribution to the performance of the NIMC.
D. Email 12/15/2023 from NIMC Administrator Steve Budnick regarding Danielle Colby
E. Email 01/24/2024 from individual recognizing Bayfield County’s efforts on behalf of
their family.
F. Email 02/08/2024 from Carolyn Novak regarding opening of the Cable congregate meal
site.
G. Email 02/08/2024 from Carrie Linder regarding opening of the Cable congregate meal
site
Future Meetings, PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN APRIL MEETING DATE
March 28, 2024
Monday, April 22, 2024
May 23, 2024
Oswald gave sincere appreciation to DHS staff for being very well organized and dedicated to Bayfield
County and its residents.
Oswald the meeting at 5:45 p.m.
Submitted by Sarah Traaholt, Clerk III