HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuman Services Board - Minutes - 8/15/2024BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
County Board Room & Virtual
August 15, 2024
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Board Members Present: James Crandall, Sue Rosa, Lona Schmidt, Marty Milanowski, Mary
Dougherty, Patrick Irvine
Board Members Absent: Madeline Rekemeyer, Stephanie Defoe-Haskins
Others Present: Elizabeth Skulan, Mary Anich, Stephanie Eder, Tom Croteau, Carrie Linder,
Sarah Traaholt, Kelly Westlund (virtual), Kimberly Lawton, Mark Ables-
Allison, Kris Kavajecz, Diane Foris, Joy Ratkowski, Dawn Bard, Lisa Green,
Jan Tuominen, Betty Stafford, Gifty Cook, Heidi Kontny, Jean Engel
Call to Order and Introductions
Crandall called the meeting to order at 1:33 p.m. Introductions were made.
Opportunity for Public Comment (Limit 3 minutes please)
Diane Foris, board member and accountant for HEC Hooves of Joy, expressed concern about non-
contract renewal. Foris reported it took several months to find an auditor out of Duluth and on
December 29, 2023, the 2022 audit was submitted. Foris noted significant changes were made to
improve the accounting practices of the business. Foris noted HEC Hooves of Joy, Inc. is in complete
compliance with the county contract; is passionate about helping people with disabilities; and wants to
contract with Bayfield County again.
Dawn Bard, parent, spoke about the family’s personal experience with HEC Hooves of Joy. Bard noted
the program gave them consistency and was able to help their family come together. Bard noted there
was not a lot of transition time after learning the service would end and the location of other services
increased travel time significantly. Bard noted how important HEC Hooves of Joy service has been in her
family’s life.
Gifty Cook spoke of her love for horses and riding. She reported Hooves of Joy helped her achieve her
goals. She noted HEC Hooves of Joy made participants feel special with special decorations on holidays
and their birthdays which helped create a bond with the provider.
Betty Stafford, who has volunteered for HEC Hooves of Joy since the program opened, spoke about her
personal experience with the provider who serves her adult disabled son. Stafford reported seeing
children flourish while working at Hooves of Joy.
Janice Tuominen submitted a letter in June to the Human Services Board in support of HEC Hooves of
Joy. Tuominen has been a volunteer at HEC Hooves of Joy since May of 2023. Tuominen stated HEC
Hooves of Joy, Inc. has the training and credentials to provide services. Tuominen wants to start a
conversation about continuing services with Bayfield County.
FINAL:
Approved at the
9/26/24 BCDHS Board
meeting
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
County Board Room & Virtual
August 15, 2024
K:\Agendas and Minutes\DHS Board\Minutes\2024 DHS Board Minutes\2024-08-15_BCDHS_Board_meeting_minutes -FINAL.docx 2
Discussion and Possible Action – Review and approval of the June 27, 2024, meeting minutes.
Motion by Milanowski, seconded by Schmidt to approve the June 27, 2024, meeting minutes. Motion
passed.
Program Presentation – Provider HEC Hooves of Joy, Inc.
Lisa Green, Office Manager and participant at HEC Hooves of Joy, spoke of how the program was life
changing for her. Green talked about the healing HEC Hooves of Joy’s offers. She noted adaptive
horsemanship helps children with disabilities thrive, not just survive.
Green introduced Joy Ratkowski, owner of HEC Hooves of Joy.
Ratkowski referenced the Human Services mission and vision statements: “To Protect and Improve the
Quality of Life” and “Building on a foundation of motivated and dedicated staff, providers, and adequate
resources, the Department of Human Services will promote integrated services that are valued. This will
be accomplished by partnering with individuals and a responsive and proactive community. What we do
WILL make a difference!” Ratkowski stated that she wants her business to be part of that.
Ratkowski spoke of wanting to reestablish a contract with Bayfield County. Testimony from a Special
Education Teacher at the Ashland Middle School was provided along with documentation regarding HEC
Hooves of Joy certifications and insurance through PATH International. Ratkowski stated other providers
were not qualified or insured to provide equine services because only PATH International assures the
highest safety standards and other equine providers are other providers are unable to secure liability
insurance as evidenced by an email from the Leavitt Group of Colorado which states “For therapeutic
riding risks I need to confirm you are either PATH or EAGALA certified…”, so are not insured. Ratkowski
stated that she has over forty years of experience, two instructors are certified, they adhere to a code of
ethics, licenses are renewed every two years, staff are trained in first aid and CPR, and the 2023 audit
was complete. Rakowski noted that HEC Hooves of Joy wants to stay compliant and requests Bayfield
County reconsider reinstating the for the Children’s Long-Term Services (CLTS) contract with HEC Hooves
of Joy, Inc.
Monthly Reports
Monthly Financial and Training reports were reviewed and retained.
Discussion and Possible Action – DHS Resolution 2024-04 Petition for Increase of Mental Health Funding in
the State 2025-2027 Biennial Budget Resolution was presented. The resolution requests additional state
General Purpose Revenue (GPR) to support county mandated mental health services including the local
share of Medicaid for the Community Support Program (CSP), funding for individuals in CSP who do not
qualify for Medicaid, and funding for Crisis Mental Health response and programs.
Motion by, Milanowski seconded by Irvine, to approve Resolution 20240-04 as presented and forward
the resolution to the full County Board for their consideration and approval. Motion passed.
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
County Board Room & Virtual
August 15, 2024
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Human Services Department Updates - Staffing, Systems, Challenges, Barriers, Opportunities
– Elizabeth Skulan, District Attorney Kimberly Lawton
Lawton spoke about concerns in staffing and turnover in Human Services, specifically related to Child
Protective Services and Child Welfare(CPS/CW). Lawton notes that a Social Worker and Case Manager
recently resigned which created a large gap and extra duties for remaining staff.
Skulan and Anich noted that one Child Protective Services (CPS) Case Manager has been hired and starts
August 26, 2024. However, they noted, there is extensive six-month new worker training for CPS and the
new case manager will not work independently for some time. A Family Services staff member who has
been out on FMLA will return later this week. The Family Specialist position is still vacant, as is one social
worker/case manager position. Skulan noted that issues related to recruitment and retention, particularly
in CPS/CW is not unique to Bayfield County. Counties statewide are having trouble recruiting and retaining
employees.
Skulan is meeting with the regional staff from the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF)
every other week. They have made several suggestions that will assist Bayfield County in the short-term.
Skulan reported Price County is taking access calls for most of the week through the end of October. This
allows workers in Bayfield County more capacity to work in the community as needed. Skulan is
supervising the Children with Disabilities unit and Coordinated Service Team (CST) staff, so Anich can focus
on CPS and youth justice. The Family Services supervisor is required to be on call 24/7/365, which presents
additional challenges. Skulan has reached out to other counties to see if any will consider a shared service
model for on-call response.
Skulan noted that Human Resources is aggressively recruiting for qualified staff. In addition, DHS is seeking
to improve the training and tools that are available to new CPS/CW. Staff have identified needing more
information on legal terminology, timelines for court reports and other documentation, the Department’s
expectations, Department and County policies and procedures. The Department is also considering how to
correct or improvement agency culture. The Department hopes to connect new workers with more
experienced mentors and provide concentrated trainings with experienced staff in larger counties. Skulan
noted system issues are being addressed as they are identified.
Lawton, Skulan, and Anich are meeting every other week to improve communication/relationships. Lawton
and Anich both noted that the cases they see are more complex than those they have been in the past.
More families - parents, children, or both - are struggling with a combination of substance abuse and
mental health issues. Inadequate local resources contribute to the challenges faced by families and staff.
Dougherty suggested Human Services staff need advocacy. She encouraged the board to think of ways to
provide wrap around support to employees.
Irvine questioned how Bayfield County can provide more resources. He wondered if there opportunities to
open a facility in Bayfield County to meet needs that are only met in other parts of the state. Skulan noted
that small, rural counties lack the numbers to compete with larger counties for funding such as state and
federal infrastructure grants. The lack of adequate housing and staffing/workforce issues are exacerbated
in smaller counties as well.
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
County Board Room & Virtual
August 15, 2024
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Mark Abeles-Allison thanked the District Attorney, DHS staff, and the DHS board for continuing the dialog
and advocating for change/improvements. Abeles-Allison noted some of the challenges in recruitment and
retention of employees include: the small, rural nature of the county; lack of housing; lack of a robust
qualified workforce; and the county’s aging population which is growing while the total population is not.
Abeles-Allison noted that where thirty qualified applicants used to apply for a position, now there might be
two. Qualified staff are an essential need for Bayfield County to provide services to residents.
Abeles-Allison introduced Kris Kavajecz, Human Resources.
Kavajecz has compiled a county workgroup to focus on workforce issues. Members are employees of a
variety of ages and come from many departments. The group has been brainstorming different topics
including recruitment, retention, and how to collaborate with public and private entities to provide
services. Kavajecz reports to the Personnel Committee on the workgroup’s progress. Kavajecz noted all
employers seem to be dealing with similar issues.
Abeles-Allison noted Bayfield County is committed to core basic service delivery, and it is time to be
innovative. Abeles-Allison also noted that the DHS Board is critical to provide the broad oversight, and the
support needed on these issues.
Betty Stafford suggested Bayfield County consider leaning on volunteers.
Discussion and Possible Action – Review and Approval of the 2025 DHS Budget.
Skulan reviewed changes in line items comparing the 2024 DHS Budget to the 2025 DHS Budget.
Motion by Dougherty, seconded by Milanowski; to approve proposed 2025 DHS Budget as presented
and forward it on to County Administration and County Finance. Motion passed.
Discussion and Possible Action – Approval of the 2023 DHS Annual Report
Skulan noted corrections will be made to page five and duplications on the Department Goals and
Accomplishments were removed. Abeles-Allison will present the report at the August County Board
meeting.
Motion by Milanowski, seconded by Schmidt, to approve the 2023 DHS Annual Report with the
corrections as presented. Motion passed.
Other (Informational Items)
• July 1, 2024, email from the Northern Income Maintenance Consortium Resolution Coordinator,
Shawna White, regarding Economic Support Services Specialist Aaron Kalmon
BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING
County Board Room & Virtual
August 15, 2024
K:\Agendas and Minutes\DHS Board\Minutes\2024 DHS Board Minutes\2024-08-15_BCDHS_Board_meeting_minutes -FINAL.docx 5
Future Meetings
• September 26, 2024
• October 24, 2024
• November/December Meeting, Tuesday, December 3, 2024, will begin with a holiday potluck at 3:45
with the meeting immediately following.
Crandall adjourned the meeting at 3:06 p.m.
Submitted by Sarah Traaholt, Clerk III
