Human Services Board

hsb1115.pdf (26 KB)

SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF HUMAN SERVICES

Meeting:                 November 9, 2015, 5:00 p.m., Room 213 West Square Building, Baraboo, WI

Members Present:   Scott Alexander, Andrea Lombard, Joan Fordham, Peter Vedro, John Miller, James Bowers, Julie Fleming, Beverly Vertein

Members Excused:  Thomas Kriegl

Members Absent:                  

Others Present:      Orth, Brattset, Box, Nicole Rachuj, David Zeller, Cindy Jones, Carmen Hansen, Linda Faivre, Susan Tucker

Chair, Scott Alexander called the meeting to order and certified compliance with the Open Meeting Law.

Motion by Joan Fordham, seconded by Jim Bowers to adopt agenda.  Motion Carried.

Motion by Andrea Lombard, seconded by Peter Vedro to approve the minutes for the previous Human Services Board meeting held on October 5, 2015.  Motion Carried.

Public Comment

None.

Communication

1. Board Materials:  None. 

Business Items:

1. Review and Approve Monthly Vouchers:  Distributed electronically.  Stephanie Box reviewed the Monthly Voucher Report. 

Motion by Beverly Vertein, seconded by Andrea Lombard, to approve monthly vouchers in the amount of $1,017,613.33.  Motion carried.  

2. Accounts Receivable Report:  Stephanie Box distributed and reviewed the Accounts Receivable Report for September 2015.

John Miller arrived at 5:05 p.m.

3. Approval for Collection Requests:

Motion by Andrea Lombard, seconded by Jim Bowers, to approve sending 19 accounts to Credit Management Control for $15,705.04.  Motion carried.

4. Monthly Reports:  Distributed electronically.  Stephanie Box discussed the September 2015 Volatile line report.

5. Homeless Program Speaker – Carmen Hanson:  Carmen spoke about her family’s situation that came about in April of 2015.  Carmen was diagnosed with kidney cancer and her husband was between jobs, at that same time their living arrangements were compromised by flooding damages.  Everything felt as if they were falling apart.  At the time, they kept thinking, “we can do this, we don’t need assistance.”  They started living in motels with their three small children, Carmen’s husband working as many hours as he could to pay for everything. 

One day, Carmen came to Sauk County Department of Human Services and a staff member guided her to Linda Faivre for the Homeless Program.  She never heard of this program before.  After working with Linda, Carmen and her family now have been approved for a home to live in through Rapid Rehousing.  She is grateful for the guidance from the DHS staff person and for the program.  Carmen indicated there are several families with children who live in motels.

It was discussed how DHS could improve “getting the word out” about this particular service.  It was suggested Carmen give her story for the Baraboo News Republic in a way that her name would be kept out of the story.  It was also discussed that all School Districts have staff to assist families who are homeless.  Again, Carmen was not aware of this service as well.  She will spread the word to families she knows are in motels of the School Districts services and the program.

6. WCHSA Fall Conference – December 3-4, 2015:  Bill mentioned the fall conference was coming up and asked if anyone had interest in attending.  Andrea indicated she was and filled out an application.

7. Authorizing Purchase of One Vehicle Resolution:  Bill stated the vehicle has been purchased and is in the parking lot, just needed approval for it to be paid for.

Motion by John Miller, seconded by Peter Vedro, to approve. Motion carried. 

Department Updates:

1. Medication Assisted Treatment Grant: Currently there are applications from Tellurian of Madison, St. Clare Hospital of Baraboo and Matt Talbot Recovery Center from Milwaukee.  Dan, Sharon and Bill will be reviewing those applications, and choosing the top one or two.  Updates will be given at the next meeting.

2. 2016 Budget:  Bill stated the County Board passed the 2016 budget that was submitted.

3. Criminal Justice Coordinating Council:  Bill stated the funds for the Drug Court have been reduced.  Bill expressed he felt the new amount will be adequate and did not have any concerns with the reduction.

4. Mandatory Influenza Immunization Policy:  Electronically distributed.  Bill reflected on how the Health Department has made the Influenza Vaccination a Mandatory Policy.  This was distributed to the managers and then employees.  Bill received calls and emails regarding this policy.  Many staff indicated they choose not to get the influenza shot but are concerned that their employment might be threatened.  Bill consulted with Corp. Counsel and found this policy does NOT have to be a requirement for all departments. 

Bill and Dan discussed this policy in great depth and indicated they will stress the vaccination is “best practice” and “advised”, but not required to the extent of the Health Departments Policy.  Members agreed.  Bill and Dan will inform Supervisors and Managers at the Managers Meeting on Tuesday, November 10^th that this will not be mandatory and an email will be sent to all staff.

John Miller dismissed himself at 5:32 p.m.

5. County Ambassador Program Day Update:  Bill, Andrea, Scott and Joan attended.  Legislators were very receptive by the Sauk County Representatives.  Andrea distributed information regarding the Transferring Jurisdiction over 17-year old Offenders Back to Juvenile Court. 

1. Child Protective Services Unit:  Bill stated although the Juvenile Justice cases have declined, Child Protective Services has increased.  He indicated this is not just Sauk County, but the same has been noted throughout the entire state.  A lot of it is drug related cases, where parents are dealing or using when children are present.  Dan and Bill met with CPS staff who expressed their concerns with being stressed with the overload of work.  Bill stated they will be submitting for an additional Investigator position for CPS in January 2016.  He feels with the current grant funding there will be enough to hire a new staff person without going over budget. 

Peter dismissed himself at 5:43 p.m.

Public Comment

None

The next meeting of the Sauk County Human Services Board will be December 7th, at 5:00 p.m. in Room 213. 

Motion by Jim Bowers, seconded by Andrea Lombard,  to adjourn at 5:51 p.m..  Motion Carried.