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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComprehensive Community Service Committee - Minutes - 10/8/2024 Bayfield County Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) Coordination Committee Meeting Bayfield County Conference Room A Hybrid Meeting October 8, 2024 BCCS Members Present: Thomas Mittelstaedt, Tom Croteau Members Excused: Sandra Notzke, Johanna Perkins, Jamie Vernon Others Present: Jan Kupczyk, Richard Reed, Andy Austin, Pam Stanny, Terry Barningham*, Teri Ovaska*, Sarah Traaholt, Julie Winter, Ariana London *Attended virtually Call to order and Introductions: Mittelstaedt called the meeting to order at 12:32 p.m. Roll Call and Introductions to New Members: Bayfield County (BCCS) does not have a quorum for this meeting. Introduction and welcome to newly appointed ACCS Committee members Andy Austin and Richard Reed. Discussion and Possible Action: Review and Approval of the July 09, 2024, meeting minutes. No action taken; quorum not present. Clarification of roles and new committee members – Julie Winter, ACCS & BCCS Quality Assurance and Improvement Coordinator Winter is working on streamlining processes and making roles and responsibilities clearer for members. Meeting agenda now includes a membership roster which lists roles and election terms. Winter clarified how duties and responsibilities have evolved and were divvied between Ovaska and Winter after Val Levno retired. Presentation on new community partnership with the National Wildlife Refuge System – Ariana London, Park Ranger at Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge and the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center (NGLVC) Winter introduced Ariana London to the CCS Committees. London noted that US Fish and Wildlife Service protects and manages resources of the three-hundred acre Whittlesey Creek refuge adjacent to the NGLVC. NGLVC, located on County G in Ashland, operates through a Federal (Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service); State (State of WI Historical Society, University of Wisconsin- Madison division of Extension); and a local non-profit (Friends of the Center Alliance) partnership. London reviewed the mission of the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the Visitor Center; standards of excellence for refuges; mental health benefits of getting out into nature; the various programming options available through the FWS and Visitor Center and how these overlap with CCS program goals. Meeting Notes Only Quorum not present London gave examples of how Refuge staff are able to facilitate one-on-one or group activities to promote nature-based healing practices and coping skills, and additional no-cost ways CCS participants can utilize the Refuge and Visitor Center independently or with natural supports. Review Program Report: Ovaska reviewed enrollment data handout. Ovaska noted that additional peer support services are coming on board and the program should soon be in a place where all authorizations are covered. Ovaska stated they are checking outside the box for services that can be utilized to fit with program participant’s passions, such as music or art coping skills. Bayfield County hired a new Service Facilitator, Molly Randa, in September. Mental Health Professional and Service Facilitator position in Bayfield County is still open, but Croteau stated an offer was made and hopefully there will be an acceptance from the extended offer. Ovaska stated that outreach has been down in order to prioritize the recertification process. Winter referred to the handout for ongoing outreach and marketing work. Ovaska has been working on scripts for forms in Echo and reports that they are almost complete. Stanny inquired about a staff member hired to work in the Ashland County jail. Ovaska noted the staff member is contracted through the Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) / Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program grant for case management supports with inmates, rather than working directly within CCS. Program is working well; the discharge planning support delivered resulted in a recent referral to CCS. The MOUD / MAT staff member is also planning to complete peer support training to expand the services provided. Children’s Services: Ovaska noted there are no further changes or updates to the children’s services in Ashland. Croteau added there are quite a few children enrolled in Bayfield County CCS that are aging out and moving on. Several exiting participants stated that they feel they have developed skills to go on without the program. Discussion and Possible Action - New Business: Recommendation to the Bayfield County Human Services Board for appointment of Shannon Esala to the BCCS Coordination Committee. No action taken; quorum not present. Opportunity for Public Comment (limit three minutes please): Croteau referenced the Coordination Committee policy about automatic resignation for committee members after three consecutive missed meetings, as it is difficult to conduct business without a quorum. Croteau introduced Shannon Esala to the committee. Esala works for the Tamarack Behavioral Health Unit and has worked in the behavioral health field for twenty-one years. Esala is happy for the opportunity to work with CCS and has applied to serve on the Bayfield County Coordination Services committee. Other (informational items): Winter shared new CCS brochure with the committee. Ashland county will be offering new technology to sign up for automatic notifications from their website. Winter is hoping by January to have more information and to share the steps at the next meeting. Winter is also working with new vendor training, written policies and procedures, and building provider resources on the regional CCS webpage. Future Meeting Dates: Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 Meeting adjourned at 1:14 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sarah Traaholt, Bayfield County Clerk III Ashland and Bayfield County Regional Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) Coordination Committee Meeting Bayfield County Conference Room A Hybrid Meeting October 8, 2024 Regional CCS Committee Members: BCCS Members Present: Tom Croteau ACCS Members Present: Jan Kupczyk, Richard Reed, Andy Austin, Pam Stanny, Terry Barningham* Members-at-Large Present: Thomas Mittelstaedt, Teri Ovaska* Members Excused: Sandra Notzke, Jamie Vernon, Johanna Perkins Others Present: Sarah Traaholt, Julie Winter, Ariana London *Attended virtually Call to order and Introductions: Mittelstaedt called the meeting to order at 12:32 p.m. Roll Call and Introductions to New Members: Winter conducted roll call. Regional CCS Committee quorum present. Introduction and welcome to newly appointed ACCS Committee members Andy Austin and Richard Reed. Discussion and Possible Action: Review and Approval of the July 09, 2024, meeting minutes. Clarification of roles and new committee members – Julie Winter, ACCS & BCCS Quality Assurance and Improvement Coordinator Winter is working on streamlining processes and making roles and responsibilities clearer for members. Meeting agenda now includes a membership roster which lists roles and election terms. Winter clarified how duties and responsibilities have evolved and were divvied between Ovaska and Winter after Val Levno retired. Presentation on new community partnership with the National Wildlife Refuge System – Ariana London, Park Ranger at Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge and the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center (NGLVC) Winter introduced Ariana London to the committee. Draft: Subject to change at the next CCS Coordination Committee Meeting Motion by Kupczyk, second by Croteau, to approve Regional CCS, July 09, 2024, meeting minutes. Motion passed. London noted that US Fish and Wildlife Service protects and manages resources of the three-hundred acre Whittlesey Creek refuge adjacent to the NGLVC. NGLVC, located on County G in Ashland, operates through a Federal (Forest Service, US Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service); State (State of WI Historical Society, University of Wisconsin- Madison division of Extension); and a local non-profit (Friends of the Center Alliance) partnership. London reviewed the mission of the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the Visitor Center; standards of excellence for refuges; mental health benefits of getting out into nature; the various programming options available through the FWS and Visitor Center and how these overlap with CCS program goals. London gave examples of how Refuge staff are able to facilitate one-on-one or group activities to promote nature-based healing practices and coping skills, and additional no-cost ways CCS participants can utilize the Refuge and Visitor Center independently or with natural supports. Review Program Report: Ovaska reviewed enrollment data handout. Ovaska noted that additional peer support services are coming on board and the program should soon be in a place where all authorizations are covered. Ovaska stated they are checking outside the box for services that can be utilized to fit with program participants passions, such as music or art coping skills. Bayfield County hired a new Service Facilitator, Molly Randa, in September. Mental Health Professional and Service Facilitator position in Bayfield County is still open, but Croteau stated an offer was made and hopefully there will be an acceptance from the extended offer. Ovaska stated that outreach has been down in order to prioritize the recertification process. Winter referred to the handout for ongoing outreach and marketing work. Ovaska has been working on scripts for forms in Echo and reports that they are almost complete. Stanny inquired about a staff member hired to work in the Ashland County jail. Ovaska noted the staff member is contracted through the Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) / Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program grant for case management supports with inmates, rather than working directly within CCS. Program is working well; the discharge planning support delivered resulted in a recent referral to CCS. The MOUD / MAT staff member is also planning to complete peer support training to expand the services they are able to provide. Children’s Services: Ovaska noted there are no further changes or updates to the children’s services in Ashland. Croteau added there are quite a few children enrolled in Bayfield County CCS that are aging out and moving on. Several exiting participants stated that they feel they have developed skills to go on without the program. Opportunity for Public Comment (limit three minutes please): Croteau referenced the Coordination Committee policy about automatic resignation for committee members after three consecutive missed meetings, as it is difficult to conduct business without a quorum. Croteau introduced Shannon Esala to the committee. Esala works for the Tamarack Behavioral Health Unit and has worked in the behavioral health field for twenty-one years. Esala is happy for the opportunity to work with CCS and has applied to serve on the Bayfield County Coordination Services committee. Quorum was not present in Bayfield County to vote Esala in at this meeting. Other (informational items): Winter shared new CCS brochure with the committee. Ashland county will be offering new technology to sign up for automatic notifications from their website. Winter is hoping by January to have more information and to share the steps at the next meeting. Winter is also working with new vendor training, written policies and procedures, and building provider resources on the regional CCS webpage. Future Meeting Dates: Tuesday, January 14th, 2025 Tuesday, April 8th, 2025 Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 Tuesday, October 14th, 2025 Meeting adjourned at 1:14 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Sarah Traaholt, Bayfield County Clerk III