Human Services Board

Human Services Board Minutes February 13, 2023 (115 KB)

MINUTES

SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF HUMAN SERVICES

Meeting:                February 13, 2023, 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, Joan Fordham, Cliff Thompson, Joel Chrisler, Valerie McAuliffe, Delmar Scanlon, Jake Roxen; EXCUSED:  None; ABSENT:  None.

Others Present:  Jessica Mijal, Stephanie Box, Amanda Hanson, Lori Dee

Motion by Delmar Scanlon, seconded by Valerie McAuliffe, to adopt agenda.  Motion carried.

Motion by Valerie McAuliffe, seconded by James Bowers, to approve the minutes for the previous Human Services Board meeting held on January 9, 2023.  Motion carried.

Public Comment:

None

Communications/Director’s Report:

a. Board Materials:  Distributed electronically.  Jessica Mijal discussed continuing to explore with staff possible candidates to fill the vacant citizen board member position.  Human Services Day at the Capitol is April 12, 2023.  The County can apply for Wisconsin Zero Suicide training and program support – Jessica Baldauf, Mental Health and Recovery Services Manager; and Heidi Schultz, Crisis Supervisor, will be meeting and decide if they want to do an application (no dollars connected), and look where we can make some improvements to our crisis services.  Another opportunity is a grant (with dollars connected) to support Vivitrol and case management services in the jail.  Will work together with Public Health and Sheriff’s Department on that grant application.  Mileage audit is being conducted; been working try to bring that down and utilize the County vehicles.  Jessica Mijal introduced Amanda Hanson who will be talking about Treatment Court.

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 James Bowers, to approve monthly vouchers for $1,972,876.53.  Motion carried.  

b. Accounts Receivable Report:  Distributed electronically.  Stephanie Box reviewed the Accounts Receivable Report for December 2022.  Have sent 92 accounts to Credit Management for $43,885.60 and 121 accounts to State Debt Collections for $180,338.27.  Revenues from Credit Management were $11,483.94, State Debt Collections were $10,809.74 and TRIP revenues were $41,200.76.  No hardships were authorized to date.  

c. Discussion and Action to Approve Collection Requests:  Motion by Cliff Thompson, seconded by Joan Fordham, to approve collection requests of sending 5 accounts for $16,479.50 to Credit Management Control and 16 accounts for $15,708 to State Debt Collections.  Motion carried.

d. Monthly Reports:  Distributed electronically.  Stephanie Box reviewed the December 2022 Volatile Line report.  Stephanie reported looking to be unfavorable by $743,415.  Next month she will present estimated Year End.  Expects to see a lower unfavorable amount overall.

e. Discussion and Action to Approve 2023 Agency Rates:  Stephanie Box presented the agency service rates.  These will be the rates we bill, but usually is not what we receive.  Some rates went up and some went down.  Different factors go into calculating the rates including reviewing the previous year’s Wisconsin Medicaid Cost Reporting (WIMCR), newer staff vs. longevity of staff who are not paid the same wages.   Motion by Valerie McAuliffe, seconded by Joel Chrisler, to approve 2023 Agency Rates.  Motion carried.

f. Discussion and Action to Approve 2022 Donation Report:  Stephanie Box reported donations will be less going forward due to the Wagner board going in a different direction and discontinuing their annual donation of approximately $15,000 to Human Services.  Motion by Joan Fordham, seconded by Valerie McAuliffe, to approve 2022 Donation Report and forward to the County Board.  Motion carried.

g. Discussion and Action To Approve Resolution to Authorize the Creation of One Full-Time Diversion Supervision Coordinator Position and to Amend the 2023 Budget:  Amanda Hanson described the role of the new position; this is for a deferred prosecution program for low to medium risk individuals.  Amanda indicated the position was discussed during the budget process but not included due to receiving the grant award notification after the budget was passed.  The grant is for five years.  Motion by Valerie McAuliffe, seconded by Jake Roxen, to approve Resolution to Authorize the Creation of One Full-Time Diversion Supervision Coordinator Position and to Amend the 2023 Budget.  Motion carried.

Department Updates: 

a. Presentation:  Amanda Hanson, Justice, Diversion and Support (JDS) Manager:  Amanda Hanson gave a PowerPoint presentation and discussed what programs are covered under JDS:  Adult Treatment Court, Diversion Supervision Agreement, The Learning Center, and Substance Use Diversion programs.  Amanda indicated the programs connect and provide support to individuals that could be or are involved with the criminal justice system.  Adult Treatment Court (ATC) was established in 2016.  ATC has participation requirements and must meet eligibility criteria.  Certain offenses are ineligible for participation.  ATC is a voluntary program; participants work with a case coordinator to identify appropriate services and treatment to create a treatment plan.  Participants must be at least 18 years of age.

James Bowers asked how many eligible participants opt in or out; how do we gage success of the program.  Amanda indicated tracking in a State system of who enters and who doesn’t enter.  They measure success if after graduation participants continue sobriety and remain crime free.  If relapse occurs, they can get back into the program.  Tracking is 0 to 6 months, 6 to 12 months, and up to 3 years. 

Diversion Supervision Agreement (DSA) program was established in 2021.  This program is for individuals what have limited contact with the criminal justice system and diverts individuals with substance abuse disorder who are a low/medium risk from the criminal justice system.  Referrals are made by the District Attorney’s Office.  Charges can be dropped if they complete the program.  Participants do not need to be a Sauk County resident but must reside in Wisconsin.

The Learning Center Program is ending this year.  The Educational Navigator works closely to help participants obtain a HSED or GED and has generally been an older population.  The exams are more difficult than they used to be, which cover civics, math, social studies, science, and language arts.  The Educational Navigator goes step by step with the participants and tutors to get them ready to take the exams.  There were three graduates in 2022 and on track for three to graduate in 2023.

Substance Use Diversion and Support (SUDS) program is grant funded by the Department of Justice.  The grant is extended until August 2023.  SUDS is a voluntary diversion/deflection program with the goal of improving public safety, public order, and reducing unnecessary justice system involvement for participants.  Referrals come from law enforcement or social/community contact.  Law enforcement doesn’t charge if participants complete the program; if program is not completed, charges will be forwarded.  Participants must be a Sauk County resident and 18 years of age or older with a substance use disorder and have an eligible offense.

Delmar Scanlon asked about programs for under 18 years of age and making public aware of programs available.  Jessica Mijal indicated Human Services has the Youth Justice program.

Amanda indicated a presentation for professionals will be held on April 11, 2023, from 2-4 p.m. and on April 12, 2023, from 8-10 a.m.

Next Meeting: 

The next meeting of the Sauk County Human Services Board will be March 13, 2023, at 4 p.m. in the County Board Room 326A. 

Motion by Valerie McAuliffe, seconded by James Bowers, to adjourn at 4:47 p.m.  Motion carried.