BAYFIELD COUNTY HUMAN SERVICES BOARD MEETING EOC July 27, 2017

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1 EOC Board Members Present: Board Members Absent: Board Members Excused: Others Present: Kent Seldal, Jim Crandall, Pat Carver, Fred Strand, Rusty Williams, Lona Schmidt 4:31 p.m. Larry Fickbohm Phil Milam, Rachel Coughtry Elizabeth Skulan, Nikki Revak, Carrie Linder, Jeanine Spuhler, Midge Montano Call to Order and Introductions Williams called the meeting to order at 4:30 p.m. Review of the June 22, 2017 Meeting Minutes Motion by Crandall, second by Carver, to approve the minutes as presented. Motion passed unanimously. Public Comment Limited to 3 minutes per person None Program Presentation Jeanine Spuhler, Economic Support Services Spuhler reported on health care for offenders that are being released from prison. The purpose of this program is to prevent a gap in medical or pharmacy coverage upon the offender s release from state prisons, or local/county jails. Previously, inmates could not apply for BadgerCare while in prison. Now, inmates can apply on or after the 20 th day of the month before their release date. Inmates can call the regional Income Maintenance consortium and have their case processed at the time of the call. State inmates are given up to one hour to use the jail phone. That one hour includes any call wait time. Spuhler has gone over the local jail and assisted inmates in filling out the forms in person. However, it is easier to take an application over the phone because the case is processed immediately. An application taken in the jail cannot be keyed in until later. As long as the inmate maintains eligibility, they will continue to receive services. Northlakes received a grant last month to assist with re-entry for released inmates. This assists inmate to stay connected to the services without a lapse. They can also assist them with finding affordable housing. Monthly Section Reports Family Services Elizabeth Skulan for Cheryl Hanson Cheryl Hanson is on vacation. Two candidates were interviewed for the vacant Social Worker position that provides Mental Health coordination. Both were very good candidates and it was difficult job to choose between the two. References are being checked and we anticipate that an offer will be made this week.

2 Year to date DHS Emergency detention are lower than last year. However, several individuals were detained this week. Hanson will be out for two vacations and several trainings in the next few months. Her first training will be held in Madison on August 1, 2017, and is an orientation of new Managers of Child Welfare workers. Aging & Disability Services Carrie Linder A location change to the Port Wing senior congregate meal site is moving forward. Community members are excited with both the prospect of a dining at a locally owned restaurant and the opportunity to consume more local foods. It is likely that s salad bar will be incorporated into the options at the site. A Birth to Three self-assessment was completed. Northern Lights Services hired a Speech and Language Pathologist who begins in September/October. Bay Area has begun offering Occupational Therapy. Linder will meet with Bay Area regarding the possibility of providing this service to DHS Birth to Three clients also. A data review with Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources (GWAAR), determined that the National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) data is not up to par. The process was reviewed and a support staff will be assigned to enter the data in the Wisconsin SAMS software program. The unit 2018 Aging and Disability Services budget has been completed and submitted to Nikki. Linder met with Carol Lund from Northland Counseling to discuss the potential for Northland to respond to mental health call for individuals with dementia. A decision tree was developed to triage dementia related calls and was provided to Lund for consideration. A meeting was held with Tribal Aging Director Grace Livingston from Red Cliff to discuss the potential for Bayfield County to provide Medicare training at Legendary Waters in September. Linder and Livingston also discussed the possibility of menu choices for the Red Cliff senior meal program to include more whole grains. Linder explained that one of the A&D unit s responsibilities is to investigate Elder Abuse allegations. There have been several referrals regarding Native American elders that they are being financially exploited or abused by relatives. The discussion is not an easy conversation due to the tribal culture, which encourages sharing resources. Response to the allegations must be done a culturally appropriate and respectful manner. Midge Montano offered to be of assistance. Support Services Nikki Revak Support staff have been busy with answering financial questions and supplying additional data to the county s auditors. Work on the 2015 Wisconsin Medicaid Cost Report is finally complete. Work has begun on the DHS 2018 budget. 2

3 Johnson Controls are auditing the heating and cooling systems in the county buildings. There are concerns about: areas that are too cold; the humidity in parts of the building; and areas that have little or no air exchange. Economic Support Services Jeanine Spuhler Economic Support staff have heaters they are using in their offices to keep warm. It is hoped that the Johnson Control audit will find solutions. The second week in August, the state will be on site to audit the Wisconsin Home Energy Assistance Program (WHEAP). July has been a trying month for the Northern Income Maintenance Consortium. July a popular vacation month, so vacations combined with unanticipated family medical leaves have negatively impacted staffing patterns. The staffing shortage has reduced productivity and increased wait times for consumers. Tammy Fisher has completed her 20 + hours of cross training and can now process the Elderly Blind Disabled consumers. Fisher is doing a fabulous job! Monthly Reports Monthly reports reviewed and placed on file. Skulan reported that with the trends in the first six months of 2017, out of home placement costs and mental health costs the budget in those line items is close to being expended. Budget projections were included in the board packet. The current projection is a deficit of $439,000. The preliminary auditor s report reflects an excess of $196,114 county levy for If the projected deficit does not change, DHS will request those funds to offset expense in Linder stated that three Aging and Disability staff will attend the National Conference in Milwaukee in August. This should be added to the monthly training report. Bayfield County Citizen Member Appointment to the Aging and Disability Resource Center of the North (ADRC-N) Governing Board, Richard Compton Skulan reported that Citizen Member Deana Yost s appointment to the ADRC-N Governing Board expired in June. Yost is not interested in serving another term. Former Bayfield County Board member Richard Compton is interested in filling the vacancy. Motion by Carver, second by Schmidt, to approve Richard Compton appointment as Citizen Member to the ADRC-N Governing Board. Motion passed unanimously. Aging and Disability Services Advisory Committee Appointment Karen Anderson Skulan reported that Karen Anderson was recommended by Supervisor Larry Fickbohm for the vacant Aging & Disability Services Advisory Committee appointment. The Aging and Disability 3

4 Services Advisory Committee recommended her appointment to their board. Supervisor Fred Strand also voiced his support of Anderson to the committee. Motion by Strand, second by Carver, to approve the appointment of Karen Anderson to the Aging and Disability Services Advisory. Motion passed unanimously. Family Services Advisory Committee Appointment Beverly Patterson Skulan stated because the transition to a new Family Services Manager was not yet complete, the June Family Services Advisory Committee was canceled. An application was received for a vacancy on the committee. Beverly Patterson is the former Child Support Administrator in Ashland County and expressed her interest in this position. Skulan reported that she did not anticipate objections from committee members regarding the candidate and asked the DHS Board approve Patterson s appointment. Motion by Schmidt, second by Seldal, to approve the appointment of Beverly Patterson to the Family Services Advisory Committee. Motion passed unanimously. Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) Program Update The CCS Program expansion application to include Douglas County to the Ashland/Bayfield region was submitted. The 30-day response was due July 20 th, however there has been no response from the state. The CCS plan must be reviewed and updated annually. The Bayfield County CCS plan is in the process of being updated for In August, it will be presented to the local CCS Coordination Committee and then the regional CCS Coordinating Committee meeting. CCS payments for the first three months of 2017 were below actual costs incurred by New Horizons for the same time period. DHS made an interim payment to the provider to make up the difference. New Horizons has requested an increase in their rate to 90% of the state rate. However, because Medicaid billing for the next two months of 2017 were in excess of the provider s costs, Bayfield County has declined the request and will continue to monitor this throughout the year. Human Services Board Member, Cable Area Skulan reported that she received a letter on July 19 th from Phil Milam, resigning from the Bayfield County DHS Board. Skulan asked current board members for their assistance and recommendations to fill the vacancy with someone in the Cable area. The Department of Human Services Board may entertain a motion to move in and out of Executive Session pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes 19.85(1)(c); considering employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. 4

5 Motion by Schmidt, second by Carver at 5:22 p.m., to enter in closed session. Roll call vote. Motion passed unanimously. Motion by Schmidt at 5:27 p.m., second by Strand as to go out of closed session. Roll call vote. Motion passed unanimously. Discussion and possible action(s) None Other (Informational Items) A. Multiple Articles on the revised draft of federal health care legislation (7) B. Other Future Meetings A. August 24, 2017 B. September 28, 2017 C. October 26, 2017 Adjournment at 5:28 p.m. Submitted by Financial Manager Nikki Revak 5