Human Services Board

Human Services Board Minutes December 13, 2021 (114 KB)

MINUTES
SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF HUMAN SERVICES

Meeting:                December 13, 2021, 4 p.m., County Board Room 326A, West Square Building, Baraboo, WI

Chair, Patricia Rego called the meeting to order and certified compliance with the Open Meeting Law at 4 p.m.

PRESENT:  Patricia Rego, James Bowers, Joel Chrisler, Valerie McAuliffe, Eric Scheunemann, Cliff Thompson; Kristin White Eagle, Michelle Bushweiler; EXCUSED:  Delmar Scanlon; ABSENT:  None.

Others Present:  Jessica Mijal, Jennifer Kleckner, Lori Dee, Keri Wilcox

Motion by James Bowers, seconded by Michelle Bushweiler, to adopt agenda.  Motion carried.

Motion by Valerie McAuliffe, seconded by Eric Scheunemann, to approve the minutes for the previous Human Services Board meeting held on November 8, 2021.  Motion carried.

Public Comment:

None

Communications/Director’s Report:

1. Board Materials:  Distributed electronically.  Jessica Mijal reported a successful site recertification and received good feedback from the State.  Jessica reported good meetings with Department of Health Services (DHS) & Department of Children and Families (DCF), an introduction for new directors.

​Business Items:

1. Discussion and Action to Approve Monthly Vouchers:  Distributed electronically.  Jennifer Kleckner reviewed the Monthly Voucher Report.  Motion by Valerie McAuliffe, seconded by Joel Chrisler, to approve monthly vouchers for $2,186,914.18.  Eric Scheunemann abstained.  Motion carried.  
2. Accounts Receivable Report:  Distributed electronically.  Jennifer Kleckner reviewed the Accounts Receivable Report for October 2021.  Year to date we have received $52,881.60 from Trip and $7,277.16 from the collection agency.
3. Discussion and Action to Approve Collection Requests:  No collection requests this month.
4. Monthly Reports:  Distributed electronically.  Jennifer Kleckner discussed the October 2021 Volatile Line report.  Projected to be over budget.
5. Discussion and Action to Approve 2022 State County Child Care Contract

Department Updates:

a.Presentation:  Keri Wilcox, Adult Protective Services Lead Worker

4:19 p.m. Michelle Bushweiler stepped out.

All referrals and outcomes are reported to the State.  In Sauk County, it is estimated that almost half of referrals are self-neglect, 20% financial exploitation; 10% neglect by others; 10% outreach, 15% other types of abuse which can include sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.

Financial exploitation can be by a stranger or by someone they know.  It can be a scam, misuse of authority, or theft.

4:22 p.m. Michelle Bushweiler returned.

A current trend is caregiver shortage in the community and facilities.  There has always been speculation with “baby boomers” aging, there would be a caregiver shortage, but the COVID pandemic has pushed that to be sooner than anticipated.  Collaboration with community providers to think outside the box in finding different ways to safety plan where staffing is not available.

Another trend is financial exploitation which seems to be on the rise; an estimated $77.8 million is lost annually in the State of Wisconsin by elder fraud and exploitation.  Efforts have increased with outreach and education.  APS works with banks, attorneys, Social Security and even the Post Office who report if they have any concerns at all.  Recently received several reports where there was a scam of applying for loans on the Internet.  Information from several elderly people was used to apply for those loans.  The bank caught it right away and the people did not lose any money.  Outreach and awareness in the community has been helpful.

Keri gave examples of self-neglect:  hoarding to the point where an elderly person is not able to navigate their home, is a fire hazard, or have pets they are unable to care for and just physically not able to keep organization in their home.  If someone has a medical condition and are receiving treatment, but their condition worsens to a point where they are not able to understand information and make those decisions cognitively, APS will intervene. 

Next Meeting: 

The next meeting of the Sauk County Human Services Board will be January 10, 2022, at 4 p.m. in the County Board Room 326A.  Joel Chrisler indicated he will be out of state for the next meeting.

James Bowers gave an update on the homeless shelter where there was a COVID outbreak; Community Action Council and volunteers provided assistance.

Motion by James Bowers, seconded by Valerie McAuliffe, to adjourn at 4:35 p.m.  Motion carried.