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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFamily Services Advisory Committee - Minutes - 10/8/2025 K:\Agendas and Minutes\Family & Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee\FBHSAC Minutes\2025 FBHSAC minutes\2025-10- 08_FBHSAC_Meeting minutes-final.docx 1 BAYFIELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FAMILY & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE (FBHSAC) MEETING MINUTES Courthouse Conference Room A & Remote Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 10 a.m. Committee Members Present: Darlene Neff, Bev Lindell, Mary Dougherty*, Christine Branagan* & Bev Patterson (arrived at 10:15). (*=virtual) Others Present: Tom Croteau (Behavioral Health and Community Services Manager), Jo Beth Gonzalez (Family Services Section Manager), Sarah Traaholt (Support Staff), Becky Benton (Youth Justice Case Manager), Vanessa Pierce (Behavioral Health Case Manager), Sophia Henneman (Family Specialist) Call to order and introductions: Vice Chair Lindell called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. Minute Approval: Neff made a motion to approve July 9, 2025, minutes as presented, Branagan seconded. Motion carried. Public Comment: none. Program Reports – Behavioral Health • Behavioral health has been undergoing a transition. Jamie Allen has remained consistent, but the other case manager position has been vacant or filled unsuccessfully since December, until Vanessa Pierce joined the team in June. • During the summer months, behavioral health referrals slowed down slightly, which was appreciated so Pierce could dive into training. In recent weeks, activity has begun to pick up again. There have been several interesting cases, including interactions with Adult Protective Services (APS) and determining whether the situation requires emergency detention or protective placements. An Emergency Detention, Chapter 51, indicates an imminent danger to the individual. Protective placements, Chapter 55, are used when a person is physically unable to care for themselves. o There have been a few frustrating cases where individuals were unable to get the help they needed due to circumstances outside of our control. o Lindell questioned if there were any psychiatrists in Ashland, and Croteau responded that there are 2 psychiatrists and 1 psychologist that can do independent evaluations. • Pierce introduced herself to the committee, sharing that she often goes by Ness due to two individuals named Vanessa within the Department of Human Services (DHS). Originally from Las Vegas, Pierce relocated to Bayfield in 2009. Pierce holds an associate’s degree in occupational therapy, which allows her to be a board-certified Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant/Licensed (COTA/L), as well as a bachelor’s degree in biomedical science, complemented by a minor in Healthcare Administration. Croteau remarked on the value that Pierce adds to Minutes were approved at the 01/07/26 FBHSAC meeting K:\Agendas and Minutes\Family & Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee\FBHSAC Minutes\2025 FBHSAC minutes\2025-10- 08_FBHSAC_Meeting minutes-final.docx 2 the Behavioral Health and Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) team, emphasizing her unique skills and perspectives as a significant asset to the overall team dynamic. Section and Budget Updates Family Services- • Gonzalez noted that the Family Service team is now fully staffed. • The team and policies are currently undergoing a period of rebuilding. • Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS) is also fully staffed and has been since December 2024. • Becky Benton, the new Youth Justice Case Manager, introduced herself to the committee. Benton has extensive experience, having worked for the Red Cliff Tribe in various roles over the past 31 years, including law enforcement and Human Services. Benton holds a master’s degree in business administration. Benton has been focusing on a myriad of youth justice trainings. • Sophia Henneman, the Family Support Specialist, introduced herself to the group. Henneman has a background in early childhood education and special education. Henneman expressed that she finds it both fun and rewarding to work with children and their families. • The team is focused on reimagining roles and implementing a lot of cross-training. This approach enables staff to gain a more comprehensive understanding of various aspects of all Family Services’ work while also specializing in their specific areas of expertise. The emphasis is on collaboration and developing policies that align with best practices and ensuring a comprehensive approach to supporting the community. • Family Services is currently developing a new truancy policy with a focus on ensuring compliance with statutes while incorporating best practices and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. The committee is working to define the key elements of the new policy, emphasizing a non-punitive approach. • Looking at restorative justice and evidence-based practice for youth justice. • CPS is busy and consistent, dealing with cases that often involve parents struggling with substance abuse and mental health issues. This situation necessitates extensive collaboration with behavioral health staff, outside providers, and the family specialist, who plays a key role in broadening prevention efforts. • Branagan inquired about the backup plan once a child turns eighteen. Gonzalez responded that the focus would be on assisting them with other resources during the transition process. Gonzalez noted that there are different orders, such as Juveniles in Need of Protective Services (JIPS) or Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS), or if the child has an IEP and has not yet graduated high school, there may be circumstances where support can continue for a bit longer. Eighteen is not necessarily a hard deadline; the specifics can vary based on individual situations. • CLTS remains steady for referrals coming in and service coordination for children with disabilities. Hayley Weyers, CLTS Supervisor, has spearheaded efforts to advocate for the protection of the Children’s Community Options Program (CCOP) monetary fund, which provides support and services when CLTS cannot be used. It is at risk of having its funding cut because of proposed changes to state law K:\Agendas and Minutes\Family & Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee\FBHSAC Minutes\2025 FBHSAC minutes\2025-10- 08_FBHSAC_Meeting minutes-final.docx 3 regarding how CCOP money allocated to counties each year is calculated. Weyers and the CCOP Advisory Committee created a resolution about protecting the CCOP fund as is. The resolution was presented to the DHS Board and then advanced to the Bayfield County Board. The resolution was passed and sent to Wisconsin legislators and the Wisconsin County Human Services Association (WCHSA), so they are aware that Bayfield County disagrees with the proposed cuts. Behavioral Health- • Croteau mentioned that the Behavioral Health section is fully staffed, except for the Manager position. Croteau expects that, due to the role's requirements, it may take some time to fill it. In the meantime, Croteau continues to handle both responsibilities. Alan Spaude-Filipszak has been a great help in taking over the Mental Health professional duties. • Working with Gonzales on honing practices to make sure youth justice and foster care changes follow state statutes and protocol. • Coordinated Services Team (CST) position remains open. As this is not a mandated service for Human Services, it was placed on hold until Family Services was staffed and fully operational. Anticipating hiring for this partially grant-funded position in mid- 2026. • Human Services is once again collaborating with the local 4-H to provide six prepared Thanksgiving meals for families in need. Carolyn Novak helped lead this initiative. • Patterson noted that it sounds like Croteau has a fantastic team. Croteau stated that the managers and staff who support them, department heads, the administrator, and the county board all contribute to making Bayfield County a great place to work. o Croteau attended the personnel committee meeting on the new wage study, noting that the goal is to make Bayfield County “the” place to work. • Croteau reviewed the status of block and opioid grants, noting that the block grant has not been received for 2025, and no word on the 2026 grant yet. The state funds 81% of the grant, and for 2025, the state will support if the federal government does not. It is not a huge amount, but it is still around $100,000. The opioid grant was between $10,000 and $11,000 but has been reduced in 2026 to $6,000. • Positive news: the additional component for the DOJ State Crisis Intervention grant was awarded. Bayfield County is now able to add another initiative, the Auxilia Initiative, to Avel. This initiative will enhance the county's response to critical incidents that may be traumatic. Auxilia will coordinate with Emergency Management when critical incidents occur to ensure timely and appropriate trauma- informed therapeutic services are offered to both first responders and community members. This enhancement of the grant already covers expenses for Avel Virtual Crisis Care with the Sheriff’s Office. o Patterson inquired about the training received for the Auxilia Initiative, and Croteau mentioned that an EMDRIA-approved trainer facilitated two weekend sessions, providing EMDR, G-TEP, and R-TEP training. Fees for participants were waived if they agreed to volunteer for the initiative. o Croteau also noted that there are ongoing discussions about ways to spread the word and establish contacts for referrals, such as asking law enforcement K:\Agendas and Minutes\Family & Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee\FBHSAC Minutes\2025 FBHSAC minutes\2025-10- 08_FBHSAC_Meeting minutes-final.docx 4 if they can provide referrals during events. Quick trauma services are crucial to reducing the chances of PTSD developing. Patterson asked who is in charge of the service, and Croteau noted that it is a private nonprofit led by Brittany Kuka with Chequamegon Counseling here in Washburn. o Gonzales noted that some of the Family Services staff took the G-TEP training, and it was beneficial and eye-opening. 2026 Meeting Dates: • January 7th • April 8th • July 8th • October 7th Adjournment: meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m. Minutes respectfully submitted by, Sarah Traaholt Sarah Traaholt