Human Services Board

Human Services Board Minutes July 11, 2022 (112 KB)

MINUTES
SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF HUMAN SERVICES
 

Meeting:        July 11, 2022, 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.

PRESENT:  Patricia Rego, Cliff Thompson, Eric Scheunemann, Jake Roxen, James Bowers, Joan Fordham, Joel Chrisler, Valerie McAuliffe; EXCUSED:  Delmar Scanlon; ABSENT:  None.

Others Present:   Jessica Mijal, Stephanie Box, Nicole Rachuj

Motion by Valerie McAuliffe, seconded by James Bowers, to adopt agenda.  Motion carried.

Motion by Joan Fordham, seconded by Valerie McAuliffe, to approve the minutes for the previous Human Services Board Meeting held on June 13, 2022.  Motion carried.

Public Comment:    None.

Communications/Director’s Report:

a.  Board Materials:  Distributed electronically.  Distributed electronically.  Jessica Mijal indicated the upgrade for electronic health record went live today.  She acknowledged the incredible hard work from the Business and Administrative Services staff.  Other updates were for the 988 implementation which is a national crisis hotline like 911 and is live.  As materials are available, they will be brought to the board meetings.  Management teams and employees have been working on updating job descriptions for the common class study coming up.  Some staff just completed a 9-month infant mental health Capstone program.  An audit was completed of the Economic Support Unit, receiving very high marks for customer service and consistency for responses.

Business Items:

a. Discussion and Action to Approve Monthly Vouchers:  Distributed electronically.  Stephanie Box reviewed the Monthly Voucher Report.  Motion by Valerie McAuliffe, seconded by Cliff Thompson, to approve monthly vouchers in the amount of $2,189,881.77.  Eric Scheunemann abstained.  Motion carried.

b. Accounts Receivable Report:  Distributed electronically.  Stephanie Box reviewed the Accounts Receivable Report for May 2022.

c. Discussion and Action to Approve Collection Requests:  Motion by Joan Fordham, seconded by James Bowers, to approve sending 11 accounts to Credit Management Control for $1,551.30 and sending 12 accounts to State Debt Collections for $7,860.00.  Motion carried.

d. Monthly Reports:  Distributed electronically.  Stephanie Box discussed the May 2022 Volatile Line report.

e. Discussion and Action to Appoint Representatives to:

1) Woodland Enhanced Health Services Commission (Clark County):  Patricia Rego

2) Marsh Country Health Alliance Board (Clearview):  Valerie McAuliffe

3) Lakeview:  Cliff Thompson  

Representatives will continue in the same appointments.  Jessica Mijal will obtain dates for these meetings.

f. Discussion and Action to Transfer Oversight of Justice, Diversion and Support from Administration to Human Services:  Jessica Mijal discussed the JDS program going to the Human Services Department. There are a lot of services DHS works very closely on with JDS.  Motion by Joan Fordham, seconded by Valerie McAuliffe, to approve transfer of oversight for Justice, Diversion and Support from Administration to Human Services.  Motion carried.

Department Updates:

a. Presentation: Birth-to-Three and Children’s Long-Term Support, Bridgitte Bodette, Children and Family Support Program Supervisor:  Bridgitte discussed Birth-to-Three (B-3), the Children’s Long-Term Support (CLTS), and the Children’s Community Options programs.

B-3 is a federally mandated early intervention program to support families with children ages birth to 36 months who have a delay of development or a diagnosed condition that is likely to cause a delay in development.  Qualifications for B-3 services could be delay in development such as gross motor skills, fine motor skills, cognitive, speech and language or social and emotional.  Automatic qualifications are conditions such as autism, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or spina bifida.  Another qualification would be an A-typical development such as a child who is making most milestones, but may have sensitivities to eating, walking on tippy toes, possible behavioral development.  Once a referral is submitted, DHS has 45 days to determine eligibility, get a prescription from doctors, and set up a plan for the child.  Referral changes:  2019 – 15 referrals/month; during the pandemic in 2020 – 11 referrals/month; 2021 – averaged 13/month; 2022 – 27 referrals in just March.  In the first six months, there have been 95 referrals.  Funding: a small portion comes from the state, some Medicaid, some private insurance, and parental cost share.

It is important during early childhood to identify with supportive development, good social skills, and emotional development.  Opportunities for children to get together with other children were very limited and interactions with other children and adults.  Staff member had an idea of doing park get-togethers calling it Popsicles in the Park.  This summer the program continued and focused on Baraboo and Reedsburg and partnered with the Nurse Family Partnership program.

CLTS is a Medicaid Waiver program for children birth to 18 who have substantial developmental, emotional, physical, or mental health disabilities.  Supports caregivers, child’s independence, and lessen the risk of out-of-home placement.  Home modifications, putting ramps to doors, door widening, bathroom modifications, van modifications, adaptive equipment, anything to help the child to participate in activities. The largest expenditure is respite care such as Easter Seals in the Dells.  Unfortunately, they now have a wait list because it has become so popular.  Families can hire other family members, friends, grandparents, etc. to help give the child’s caregiver a break.  In the past there was a long waitlist.  In the last few years there has been a big push from the State to get services quicker, funded by the state.  Due to the increase, more staff have been needed.  Currently there are 33 children per social worker.  To maintain the State requirements, the caseload should be around 22 per caseworker.  Two more social workers have been requested for next year to cover the current caseload and the expected increase of referrals.

Next Meeting: The next meeting of the Sauk County Human Services Board will be August 8, 2022, at 4 p.m. in County Board Room 326A.

Motion by Valerie McAuliffe, seconded by Joan Fordham, to adjourn at 4:53 p.m.  Motion carried.