Human Services Committee

Members Present: Alexander, Stoeckmann, Vertein, Dippel, Bowers, Endres, Fordham

Members Excused: Earl

Members Absent: None

Others Present: Orth, Brattset, Horkan, Green

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

Motion by Fordham, seconded by Dippel to adopt the agenda.
Motion Carried.

Motion by Stoeckmann, seconded by Endres to approve the minutes of the previous meeting.
Motion Carried.

Communications:

None

Business Items:

1. Review and Approval of Monthly Vouchers: Endres distributed the monthly voucher reports and discussed the following: Community Living and Support Services is down $13,000 from January 2006 because of underpayment to VARC. Community Resources was less than January 2006 due to in February 2006 there being 28 days in the month. Community Treatment dollars were up $30,000 due to LSS submitting a bill. Institutional in February 2006 was $102,000 more than January 2006 due to a previous credit accumulation in that month. Residential Child Caring line was reduced. Income Maintenance dollars were down in February 2006 due to a decrease in funerals. W-2 noticed a slight increase this month due to CWCAC contract beginning. There was an increase in energy assistance for one month. Motion by Endres, seconded by Stoeckmann to approve monthly vouchers in the amount of $1,632,219.13.
   Motion Carried.
2. Approve Resolution Authorizing Out of State Travel to Attend CMHC System User's Conference and Training: Horkan reviewed the proposal for CMHC training in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is a national conference regarding CMHC software user's. Horkan noted Sauk County Department of Human Services attended this training over the last nine years with the exception of one year. This year will be particularly valuable due to a change in ownership of CMHC and a transition as a result of this. Staff cost will be in the amount of $2,422.00. Motion by Dippel, seconded by Stoeckmann to send two Sauk County Department of Human Services staff to CMHC User's Training.
   Motion Carried.

Department Updates:

1. High Cost Cases - Child/Adolescent Placements : Tim Green spoke about Youth Services at Sauk County Department of Human Services by doing a historical review of placement decisions at Sauk County. Green briefly described the current use of collaborative forum to discuss placement options and community treatment options. Green noted that residential treatment options are a last resort and gave a brief description of the various scenarios in which individuals may be referred to residential treatment. Green reviewed the Youth Service Aftercare Program. Bowers discussed the possibility of future connections with Workforce Development Board and grant funding for the potential job placement for youth.
2. Citizen Member Resignation: Orth discussed the recent resignation of Bev Vaillancourt and asked if the Human Services Board had any individuals that might be interested in fulfilling the citizen member board position. A number of suggestions were made to include: John Earl and Leah Culver. Orth noted that the management team thought of Karen Fabisiak or Maureen Riley. Endres noted that it would be good for Orth to pursue the four suggested candidates and ask them if they are interested and discuss/interview them. Orth could then bring candidates back to the Human Services Board for potential approval. Bowers agreed to fulfill interim duties from Vaillancourt on the Finance Subcommittee as an alternate until a decision has been made regarding replacement on that committee. Motion by Bowers, seconded by Endres to recognize Bev Vaillancourt's years of excellent service as a community member on the Human Services Board.
   Motion Carried.
3. Copier Purchase - Baraboo/Reedsburg: Orth reported two copiers at $10,000 each, which were budgeted and per the State Contract will be purchased from Gordon Flesch.
4. Long Term Care Redesign: Orth distributed copies of Long Term Care Family Partnership Care Management Coalition Partnerships. (See attached handout) Orth told the committee that Sauk County Department of Human Services is involved in two coalitions, each had received $100,000 to study the Long Term Care options. In addition a third coalition has been awarded $100,000 (Community Care) and has begun to discuss options. Orth indicated that planning between these coalitions has taken place to understand if pooling the separate $100,000 awards for a total of $300,000 or some portion of $300,000 could be used by all of the coalitions to do concurrent planning. There is a timeline of about 1.5 years of planning with the exception of the Milwaukee coalition which will be wanting to reach a deadline prior to that time. Orth reported that he recommends keeping in both partnerships until a decision is more apparent in which partnership to commit to for the future. Orth indicated he will update the board in the future as these planning sessions continue.
5. Workforce Development Board - Job Center Changes: Orth noted that the Regional Workforce Development board providers in W-2 Job Service in this region has determined that a number of centers will become comprehensive centers as opposed to access points. Orth noted that Sauk, Dane, and Jefferson counties are recommended to be comprehensive job centers where as Columbia, Marquette, and Dodge counties would be access points. Columbia, Marquette, and Dodge counties have requested to be linked with Sauk County as a comprehensive center. In the next three to four months, decisions will be made regarding these determinations. Orth noted that these moves should not result in any disruption in current job center functions at Sauk County, but rather would expand resources to other access points.
6. Personnel Updates - Vacant Position Approval: Orth noted that business/service area of Sauk County Human Services is at full staff and Long Term Support positions have also been hired. Orth reported that in the future vacant positions will go through a committee consisting of the Administrative Coordinator and Personnel Director. This will be a brief process as positions open and there will not be a need to go beyond this process to the Personnel Committee. The purpose for positions going through this process would be to evaluate current need and future need.
7. Quality Services Review: Orth spoke about his recent participation on the Quality Services Review at St. Croix County and described the review process as valuable. Orth noted that feedback is given to the system on strengths and weaknesses.
8. SCAN Update: Orth reported that there have been some recent challenges at SCAN (Sauk County Adolescent Needs). Orth indicated that in the past school year there have been two Sauk County Department of Human Services social workers placed at SCAN and that these two workers have indicated some challenges with team interactions. Discussions have taken place among Sauk County Department of Human Services and SCAN management regarding these concerns. There appears to be differences in values about consumers and services. Continued discussions will occur in planning for the next school year. Stoeckmann noted that administrators in the school systems perhaps could help with these concerns. Orth noted that perhaps in time this will indeed be part of the process. Future updates to the Board will occur.
9. CCS Grant - Consumer Focus Groups: Brattset reported that two specific consumer focus groups were conducted with volunteers who had experienced mental/AODA or other services at Sauk County Department of Human Services. In both of these focus groups, there was acknowledgment of positives of professional services, but a desire for more consumer input into the process. Ideas included: direct supports such as a help line or drop-in center, and consumers using other consumers such as a support group and any other services that consumers can be directly involved in.
10. Monthly/Quarterly Report Format: Orth reviewed the monthly report and indicated that this would be a format that would be presented each month. Quarterly a component of the report that includes outcome measures will be included.

Motion by Bowers, seconded by Dippel to adjourn.
Motion Carried.

The next meeting of the Sauk County Human Services Board is scheduled for Monday, April 10, 2006 at 5:00 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted: Beverly Vertein