Far Northern Coordinating Council on Developmental Disabilities dba Far Northern Regional Center Minutes

Transcription

1 of Regular Meeting Friday, January 25, 2013 Gaia Hotel Anderson, CA Call to Order: 9:16 a.m. by Vice Chair, Stephen Bell 2. Roll Call: a. Present: Michelle Sedillos, Nancy Kitchen, Stephen Bell, Margaret Shipp, Andreas Economopoulos, Troy Rathburn, Colleen Ryberg, Jennifer Bowman, Ronda Dever, Don Murphy, Susan Hess, Melanie Combs b. Absent: Margot Madson 3. Public Input/Open: Vice Chair, Stephen Bell welcomed new Board Members, Susan Hess and Colleen Ryberg. Introduction of guests: FNRC staff in attendance were: Kay Cullis, Judy Kruse, Mike Mintline, Janice Clarkson, Lauren Leisz, Diana Anderson. Other guests included Ted Hess, Betty Carlton, Rob Griffith, Kristel Maikranz, and Chrissie Clapp 4. Approval of Agenda for January 25, 2013: Motion to approve and second by Ronda Dever and Andreas Economopoulos. No discussion, motion passed. 5. Approval of from November 12, 2013: Motion to approve and second by Melanie Combes and Ronda Dever. No discussion, motion passed. 6. Report from Executive Director, Laura Larson: a. Health and Wellness Initiative: In March, Laura will be presenting the National Core Indicators. Far Northern scored high in choice, but very low in health. Laura and Diana Anderson are looking at incorporating Health and Wellnes into 10

2 all programs that FNRC funds. A kick-off conference will be held in the spring. This conference will begin a new era in teaching consumers how to better take care of themselves. The idea is to begin food banks, community gardens, cooking classes, etc. Laura is asking the board for permission to go ahead with this project. The RFP will be published next week for the contract to produce this conference. Andreas Economopoulos and Margaret Shipp moved and seconded in support of this initiative. No discussion, motion passed. Wellness teams will be established that will include FNRC staff and program staff. b. Governor s Budget: The budget has been released and for the first time in four years there were no reductions in the Regional Center budget; due in large part to the tax increase passed in November. Service providers have been restored 3% of the 4.25% reductions in payments with the remaining 1.25% to be restored soon. However, with all of the good news, there is the possibility that federal reductions to the state will affect the Regional Center system in the future. Sonoma Developmental Center is having several issues and is closing some units. The restrictions on placing people in the Developmental Centers is continuing and more people are needing to be placed locally, which is causing an increase in Regional Center expenses. The Association of Regional Center Agencies (ARCA) position is to close all of the Developmental Centers. c. Launch of Meet Your Neighbor project: This project is being modeled after the California Highway Patrol s Key Contact s program. The plan is to have all Board Members attend their local city and/or county meetings to introduce themselves and Far Northern Regional Center to their local elected officials. d. Other: i. Holidays are for Caring: Kay Cullis gave a brief report. Over 230 people were served and over $15 thousand was raised for gifts. Many gifts were purchased, including a bowling ball, toys, clothes and a good cowboy hat. 11

3 ii. Focus Film Festival: Mary Ann Weston informed the Board the film Kids with Cameras will be shown at COVE in Paradise. iii. The Way Forward: FNRC had the highest response to the survey, statewide. Laura has made the results available for the Board members. 7. Management Reports a. Finance Report Michael Mintline, Associate Director, Administration: i. Review and Presentation of Annual Audit by Matson & Isom: Rob Griffith and Kristel Maikranz from the Accounting Firm, Matson & Isom reported on the annual audit. This audit concluded with only one Finding: we noted that the person who prepares disbursement checks is the same person who mails and distributes the check once they are signed. The Recommendation states: We recommend that the Regional Center segregate duties so the person who prepares disbursements checks is different than the person who mails/distributes the checks Far Northern s response is as follows: Although management believes internal controls in this area are satisfactory, an employee other than the person preparing checks will take the checks to the mailroom for distribution. ii. Purchase of Service FY : A deficit of approximately $7 million is projected in Purchase of Service Authority. The three largest areas of increased spending are Out-of-Home expenses, Specialized Autism programs, and the restoration of the 3% payment increases to Service Providers. Out-of-Home increases are occurring due to more consumers being placed in Specialized Residential Facilities and increase in geriatric facility placement rates. Costs for autism programs and services are rising faster than the number of consumers served. With this in mind, Utilization reports will be completed soon on autism and specialty services. 12

4 iii. Operations Status Report, Janice Clarkson: The Regional Center is currently projecting $108 thousand in remaining operations spending authority, which is an increase of $14 thousand over the November 2012 projection of $94 thousand. This increase is due, primarily, to estimated interest revenue. Two Service Coordinators are being hired, one as a replacement and one a new position. In the planning, also, are two Senior Service Coordinators. b. Resource Development Directions, Diana Anderson, Associate Director, Community Services: Work is important. New programs are being establish, including a new Visitors Center in Red Bluff. In Shasta County one provider is opening a day program involving a food bank Green Bag plan. Providers are continuing to become more involved in day programs that are about work, health and wellness. i. Action Item No. 1 Contract Approval: Diana Anderson reported that over 30 residential beds have been lost over the past several months. Therefore, the need for the amendment to the original contract with IPS Services. Therefore is was requested the Board approve contract PS-1391 ADD #1 with IPS Services, Inc. (Peregrine Way) (PF2691) for Specialized Residential Services effective November 28, 2012 through June 30, 2013 (7 months) for a total maximum increase to the contract in the amount of $68, The new maximum contract total is $763, Moved and seconded (Shipp/Dever), no discussion. Motion passed. c. Case Management, Judy Kruse, Associate Director, Case Management, North: Judy reported on a young man who began working this past year. He has moved from his family home and is allowing FNRC to be his rep-payee. With Far Northern s help, he has begun to save money for his own apartment, and is doing very well. 8. Action Item No. 2 Retired Annuitant Mike Hanson: Presented by Lauren Leisz: It was requested that the Board of Directors appoint Michael Hanson to be re-employed by FNRC effective the pay period 13

5 beginning February 16, 2012, for a period of no more than 12 months, pursuant to the Government Code requirements. Motion and second by Murphy and Economopoulos, no discussion, motion passed. 9. Association of Regional Centers Agencies Report, Andreas Economopoulos, Delegate: The ARCA meeting was held January 18, The meeting began with an audit report. No problems were found. The Department of Developmental Services (DDS) was pleased that no cuts came from the Governor s budget. DDS has appointed Kathy Kinser to develop more efficient ways to allocate funds to the regional centers. It is unknown when the results will be revealed. There is concern about cuts coming from Washington D.C. and how these cuts will affect the Regional Center system will be the 45 th anniversary of the creation of the Regional Center system. Senator Steinberg is forming a recognition day for this special event. It was agreed, by consensus, to attend Grass Roots Day in Sacramento on March 6 th. Several Board members have agreed to attend. Senator Leno has introduced a bill to create a pilot program that would see the regional centers as the sole monitors of day programs and residential facilities. Senator Chesbro is continuing his work on the Employment First bill. DDS has released not Community Placement Plan Housing Guidelines which will make it very difficult to continue to create a stock of affordable housing. DDS has now altered the way rent funds are given to the regional centers, which is going to cause some difficulties for some regional centers. ARCA will be hiring an expert in area allowance to look at the issues and make recommendations to ARCA. ARCA has a draft strategic plan for FNRC to look at. ARCA wants the Board s comments on the vision, mission, and values in the plan. Copies of this plan were distributed to the board members with a request for comments/suggestions be submitted to ARCA by March,

6 The next ARCA meeting will be March 22 nd in Sacramento. 10. Area Board 2 on Developmental Disabilities Report, Sarah May, Executive Director: Presented by Betty Carlton: February 7 th and 8 th will be the next meeting in Chico. The State Council on Developmental Disabilities is beginning the next phase of the National Core Indicators project. A survey will be distributed to the families of children under 18 still living at home. The Federal Administration on Intellectual Disabilities (IADD) did a review in December and the results will be published soon. Part of the IADD review included a report from the Area Board 2 regarding their projects. The Area Board 2 is currently working on several advocacy cases involving schools.. These Individual Education Plans (IEP) are very complicated with many people included. Another community project is the Diversity Advocacy Network (DAN). The Area Board 2 will be attending the quarterly collaboration meeting in Sacramento regarding the Affordable Care/Management Care Act. They are, also, looking to have a meeting at Chico State in the spring regarding the Coordinated Care Act that coincides with the Affordable Care Act. 11. FNCC Board Committee Reports and Action Items: a. Consumer Committee, Nancy Kitchen, Chairperson: This committee was combined with a special training for the Board regarding the new Conflict of Interest Regulations. Lauren Leisz gave n overview of the new Conflict of Interest Regulations. Each Board Member completed the new documents and spoke with Lauren regarding any possible conflicts that may occur. The meeting was completed at 3:00. b. Service Provider Advisory Committee, Jennifer Bowman, Chairperson: The Governor s budget was discussed as well as the Health and Wellness Initiative currently being developed by FNRC. Betty Carlton presented for the Area Board 2 regarding the State Council Review and Managed Care. Applications for new SPAC members were distributed as several members will be completing their terms soon. Several providers had announcement including the showing of Kids with Cameras at COVER. The Respect Yourself group announced that they 15

7 have been invited to present in Santa Barbara. Mains l s 7 th Street performance group is presenting The Reluctant Dragon. COMPASS has moved and will be hosting an open house on February 4 th at 475 Knollcrest in Redding. c. Family Advisory Committee, Stephen Bell, Chairperson: The next meeting will be held February 1 st in Red Bluff. d. Bylaws Committee, Margaret Shipp, Chairperson: The prospective new Bylaws were reviewed and discussed by the committee. Also in attendance were Linda Carpenter, Legal Counsel, Lauren Leisz, H.R. Director and Ronda Dever. Several changes were suggested and the new bylaws will be presented to the Board of Directors in March. Proposed is the elimination of the Family Advisory Committee and Community Services Committee. A Member-at-Large position would be added that would be a family member. e. Membership Committee, Melanie Combes, Chairperson: It was moved and seconded (Sedillos/Kitchen) to bring to the Board the reappointment of Margot Madson. There was no discussion, motion passed. This recommendation was brought to the full board as a motion, seconded by Ryberg. No discussion, motion passed. Melanie also wanted to welcome new members, Colleen Ryberg and Susan Hess. She also mentioned there are two prospective board members one each from Tehama County and Glenn County. 12. Announcements, Reports, Questions and Answers, Summary Comments, All Board Members: Andreas: He attended the Emergency Preparedness in Yreka. The Yreka homeless were in jeopardy of losing their Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, but that did not happen. Troy: New officers have been elected to the Paradise People First. The B-line is considering a new mid-day route. He participated in the 7 th Street Players Christmas event. Susan: Don: Laura and Mary Ann will be coming to Modoc on February 13 th to present at the Modoc Community Action Committee (CAC). Don would like to thank the FNRC Management for allowing 16

8 Frankie Couch to attend the CAC meetings. The Modoc Disabilities Awareness group has been started by a local person. This group will be working the CAC to share information. Margaret: Margaret attended the State Council meeting while the Federal Audit team presented. She would like to see more information regarding the Federal Developmental Disabilities Act in our board packets. Colleen: Former board member, Paul Adams, may be restarting the People First group in Weaverville. TOPS market in Weaverville has been hiring more consumers. This market is also selling items made by Shascade. Nancy: New officer have been elected at the Chico People First. Their meetings are held the first Thursday of each month. Michelle: People First of Red Bluff is having a fundraiser at Round Table Pizza and all of the month raised will be given to feed the homeless. She attended the Tehama County Coordinating Council and they are planning the Circle of Champions lunch. Stephen: Orientation for new/all board members along with continuing training is being planned. A day for the orientation will probably occur in February. 13. Transition to Executive (Closed) Session W & I 4663 (2): Motion and second by Dever and Economopoulos to move into closed session. Motion and second by Shipp and Combes to return to open session. Personnel issues were discussed. 14. Next Meeting: March 28 and 29, Anderson, California. 15. Adjournment: Motion was made and seconded by Shipp and Dever to adjourn the meeting. No discussion, motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted Cynthia R. Presidio Executive Assistant/Board Secretary 17