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08_FBHSAC_Meeting minutes-final.docx
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BAYFIELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES
FAMILY & BEHARIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE (FBHSAC)
MEETING MINUTES
Courthouse Conference Room A & Remote
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 10 am
Committee Members Present: Bev Patterson, Darlene Neff, Mary Dougherty & Nancy
Johnson.
Others Present: Juliet Pierce (Red Cliff Indian Child Welfare), Tom Croteau (Behavioral
Health and Community Services Manager), Jo Beth Gonzalez (Family Services Section
Manager), Elizabeth Skulan (BCDHS Director) and Nina Bucher (Support Staff).
Call to order and introductions: Patterson ran the meeting in Schmidt’s & Lindell’s
absences. Patterson called the meeting to order at 10:10 and introductions were made.
Minute Approval: Neff made a motion to approve the 7/10/24 minutes and Dougherty
seconded. Motion carried. The meeting notes from the 10/9/24 meeting (lacked a quorum)
were reviewed and put on file.
Public Comment: none.
Family Services Manager Introduction: Jo Beth Gonzalez has been working with Mary
Anich since mid-November and is now in charge of the Family Services section. She has
worked for two WI counties previously and has experience in Youth Justice, Foster Care, and
many other areas. She stated that her plan is to get the section fully staffed and eventually
focus on prevention/education.
Section Updates:
Family Services-Gonzalez relayed there were several limited term employees and
Price County currently helping handle the FS cases and intake. New hires include Keldi Merton
as Family Specialist, Brittany Anderson as Foster Care Social Worker, and Cheyenne Otto as
Social Work Aide (will be starting 1/13/25). The remaining vacancies are for Youth Justice,
Child Protective Services, and Coordinated Services Team workers.
Behavioral Health-Croteau shared that since Hailey Bebeau resigned Jamie Allen is
the sole Behavioral Health Case Manager. The Electronic Health Record the CCS program is
using is planned to expand to be used by BH & Children’s Long Term Services in the future.
Construction on the new Behavioral Health Section office space is coming along.
Croteau said several grants were approved again for 2025 including substance abuse
block grants, an opioid settlement grant for room & board costs not covered by Medical
Assistance, and a grant to cover the first year of the virtual crisis care service, Avel. Avel eCare
Telemedicine will be an assessment option used by Bayfield County deputies when making
decisions on how to best keep people in crisis safe. It is staffed by live professional mental
Minutes were approved
at the 4/9/25 FBHSAC
meeting
K:\Agendas and Minutes\Family & Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee\FBHSAC Minutes\2025 FBHSAC minutes\2025-01-
08_FBHSAC_Meeting minutes-final.docx
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health providers who can make referrals and suggestions for the best plan of action based on
the individual situation.
Youth Justice and Child Welfare Trends: Gonzalez said there is a general increase in
Youth Justice and Child Welfare referrals. She would like to get ahead of the trend with
prevention and education.
It was noted that due to a generational shift of employees to younger, education regarding
mandatory reporting should be updated in hospitals, schools and leadership everywhere.
Other: Discussion was had on the need for more County funding to BCDHS due to the
importance of its’ work; possibility of tapping into Northwoods Tech to find students to
encourage into training for open roles; peer supports are being used in the appropriate
programs and many trainings have taken place in our area; there is a need for a Big
Brothers/Big Sisters network in our area.
Future 2025 Meeting Dates: April 9, July 9, and October 8 at 10am.
Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 10:50 am.
Minutes respectfully submitted by,
Nina Bucher
Nina Bucher