Human Services Committee

hsbminutesoct2012.pdf (30 KB)

MINUTES
SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF HUMAN SERVICES

Meeting: October 8, 2012, 5:00 p.m., County Board Gallery, Baraboo, WI

Members Present: Scott Alexander, James Bowers, Karen Fabisiak, Beverly Vertein, Andrea Lombard, Ruth Dawson, Thomas Kriegl, Mark Detter, John Miller

Members Excused: None

Members Absent: None

Others Present: Orth, Brattset, Box

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

Motion by Andrea Lombard, seconded by James Bowers to adopt the agenda. Discussion: Mark Detter asked if the budget with positions, can be discussed concurrently. Scott Alexander/Bill Orth agreed. Motion Carried.

Motion by Beverly Vertein, seconded by Karen Fabisiak to approve minutes of the previous meeting. Motion Carried.

Public Comment
None

Communications:
Orth spoke about the fall WCHSA Conference (see attached agenda). If Board members wish to attend, please contact Bill Orth as soon as possible so this can be processed at the November Human Services Board meeting. This conference is scheduled for December 7, 2012.

Business Items:

A. Review and Approval of Monthly Vouchers: Box distributed the monthly voucher report and noted that Salary and Benefits were down due to the timing of the pay periods. Administration was down due to no Family Care payment this month. Community Living and Support was down due to one vendor not being paid due to contract clarifications. Community Treatment was down due to there not being a CESA 5 payment this month. Institutions were up due to Health Check expenses being paid and additional placements. Energy Services was up due to no bill last month. Thomas Kriegl inquired as to why there was no payment last month for Family Care. Box indicated that Family Care payments occur on a schedule. Orth clarified that this will be continued each year. It was initially higher in the first years and will level off, but be required each additional year. Motion by James Bowers, seconded by Ruth Dawson to approve the monthly vouchers in the amount of $940,405.63. Motion Carried.

B. Resolution Commending Sharon Crahen: Orth explained that Sharon Crahen long time employee at Sauk County Department of Human Services had retired. Sharon Crahen had 29 years of faithful service. Motion by Andrea Lombard, seconded by Thomas Kriegl to approve the Resolution (see attached).

C. Resolution Creating an Economic Support Resource Specialist Position: Orth distributed, for board review, the job description for the Economic Support Resource Specialist. Orth further indicated that this is in the budget and that it was presented to the Finance Committee last week. The response to this was positive overall. John Miller asked about Economic Support caseloads being near 800 and Orth explained that this is a result of increase in the new State model and design. John Miller asked if this will create a reduction of the caseload. Orth indicated maybe by as much as 50 cases, but primarily the administrative duties will allow workers to be more efficient and answer direct questions of individuals. Ruth Dawson asked how many case workers there are in Economic Support. Orth indicated that there are 11 and that this administrative support position is a small fix in the hopes that the Call Change Center will become more efficient and be more productive in order to alleviate some of the stress of Economic Support Workers. Orth further reiterated that this is mandated in terms of covering new cases. Andrea Lombard asked if there will be some change to this system because all counties are overwhelmed. Orth indicated that counties have lobbied with the state, but it remains to be seen if this will be effective. Also, there may be changes in the 2014 National Health Care Plans that may have a favorable impact on this process. Orth further noted that the Call Change Center process is still being worked on, especially with the state component in handling cases. John Miller asked what the final cost of this position will be. Orth estimated it to be about $50,000 - $55,000, however, there is a federal fund, 50% match. James Bowers asked if 700 cases meant individuals or families. Orth indicated that it is 700 individuals, some of which could be within the same family. Orth further reviewed that child care, Medicare, Food Share are covered in these services. Ruth Dawson indicated that this is within the budget this year, but will it be in the future? Orth indicated that yes, the plan will be to continue to keep this position within the budget. Motion by James Bowers, seconded by Beverly Vertein to approve the Economic Support Resource Specialist position. Discussion: John Miller indicated that if you have dollars in the next budget, perhaps we can use this to look at further improvements in Economic Support. Motion Carried.


D. Resolution Creating an Assessment/Early Intervention Therapist Position: Orth distributed a job description for the Assessment/Early Intervention Therapist position (see attached). He spoke about the position being needed within the Human Services system. Orth reviewed the fact that this was a process improvement project completed by Human Services management staff with input from line staff. This position would be funded with $89,000, $15,000 of which, for the first year, would be revenue generated and $74,000 would be levy dollars. The intent of this position is to have a skilled psychotherapist direct assessments and placements to stabilize families, keeping them in the community as much as possible. John Miller indicated that he was concerned and bothered by the assumptions and implications of an intervention therapist. Orth and Brattset explained the concept of placement diversion as well as developing outcome measures to determine cost savings as a result of this position. Orth and Brattset both explained that this is a national trend in developing service teams and that the Department has gained savings in the past by utilizing models which focus on early intervention and team functioning to avoid costly hospitalizations and child placements. Examples of these teams internally to the Department include: Families Come First, Comprehensive Community Services, and the county consortiums of Family Partnership Initiative (FPI) and Safety Services Grant team models. John Miller further indicated that he understands this, but would like to see more direct models that have been used in other counties, perhaps demonstrating effectiveness. Mark Detter indicated that there should be some system in order to measure who is served by this program and this position and follow up in the future measuring outcomes. Orth and Brattset explained that there would be outcome expectations and subsequent reporting back to the Human Services Board regarding these outcomes pertaining to this position. Motion by Andrea Lombard, seconded by Karen Fabisiak to create the Assessment/Early Intervention Therapist position as noted in the submitted resolution. Motion Carried.

Department Updates

A. 2013 Budget Process: Orth explained that the budget has been presented to the Finance Committee and went well last week. This budget has a 0% levy increase and as a result of remodeling costs lower than anticipated and total projections, the overall county budget came in at approximately $180,000 less than anticipated. Box indicated that the WRS retirement and health insurance had been reduced from initial projections. The budget will be presented by Orth at the Joint Finance/Personnel Committee on Friday, October 12, 2012 at 1:00 p.m.

B. Public Health Nursing Changes: Orth indicated that Public Health had given notice within the last several weeks that they cannot do services any longer for Human Services, Child Protective Services infant cases. This historically was done jointly, but due to the fact that there have been some grant changes that are occurring in Public Health, it will be difficult for nurses to share cases. Initially, Orth described MA billing with a contract between Departments being explored, however, the cases do not qualify for targeted case management billing. Further discussions will occur regarding this service difference, however, there are some challenges as a result of no funding sources at this time. Mark Detter asked how long were you aware of this problem. Orth indicated that he had just been informed subsequent to the past board meeting and several weeks prior to this board meeting. Cindy Bodendein, Public Health Director, was in the audience and she explained that she had recently been informed on a call from the state grant staff. Ruth Dawson asked how many cases does this involve. Orth indicated that he will get this for next month’s meeting. Ruth Dawson also asked if this could be contracted out. Orth indicated that yes it could, but the cost is still resultant as there is no funding stream for these cases.




The next meeting of the Sauk County Human Services Board will be in November 5, 2012 at 5:00 P.M. Motion by Beverly Vertein, seconded by James Bowers to adjourn. Motion Carried.



Ruth Dawson