HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BOARD
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Administrative Center – Room 3220
6:30 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Tara Johnson, Margaret Wood, Sharon Hampson, Jill Billings, Dr. James Glasser
MEMBERS EXCUSED: Brad Pfaff, Loren Kannenberg, Patrick Schippers, Al Thompson
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
GUESTS AND STAFF PRESENT: Doug Mormann, Dean Ruppert, Sara Koopman, Patrick Killeen, Jane Klekamp, Al Graewin, Chris Sander, Linda Lee, Ann Quinlisk, Sandra LeGrand, Linda Seidel, Steve O’Malley, Cheryl Stephen
CALL TO ORDER
Tara Johnson, HHS Board Chair, called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Board Performance Evaluation – Board Chair Johnson encouraged the members to fill out the evaluation; may turn in at the end of the meeting.
Secretary Hayden’s Visit Postponed to January or February HHS Board Meeting – Secretary Hayden was not able to attend this meeting, but look forward to meeting with him at the January or February meeting.
CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION by Hampson/Wood to approve the following Consent Agenda items:
Minutes:
· Health & Human Services Board of 11/6/07
· Coulee Region Public Health Consortium of 11/7/07
· La Crosse County Labor/Management of 10/30/07
· Long Term Care Council of 11/2/07
· Dental Care Advocacy Coalition of 11/26/07
· Criminal Justice Management Council of 11/21/07
· Criminal Justice Management Council Executive Committee of 11/14/07
· Family Policy Board Management Council of 11/15/07
· Family Policy Board Governing Council of 10/11/07
Fiscal:
· 2007 Summary of Contract Approvals
· 2008 Summary of Contract Approvals
· Care Management Organization Summary of Revenue and Expenses
· Vendor Audit Policy Update
· 2008 Vendor Contracts Exceeding 2% Increase in Rate
Department Reports:
· Health Director’s Written Report
· Human Services Director’s Written Report
· Human Services Quarterly Fiscal Report (from Nov.)
· Quarterly Complaint/Grievance Report from Care Management Organization
Miscellaneous questions, comments, and some clarification on some of the above items. Suggestion to eliminate the 2nd page (example page) from the Vendor Audit Policy Report. On Health Director’s monthly report, one of three bills was submitted by Craig Meats with 72 deer processed – two more bills to come. CMO transportation and arrangement with the City; Pat Killeen noted the city budget met shortfall in August or September and CMO will pick up the difference; Pat will submit a report for the January meeting. Clinical Services Improvement Team Charter – where does HHS Board fit in? Dean Ruppert noted staff has determined the issues and next phase is gathering data; next phase will be with the HHS Board as well as other stakeholders as part of the solution setting phase and finally approving policy; Supervisor Billings requested earlier involvement. Doug noted on page 3 of the 2007 contract report, the effective date for the Head Start Child & Family Development Centers should be 11/20/07 (not 4/20/07) which is part of hiring a part-time Nutrition Educator that is later on the agenda, and under 2008 contract report on page 2, the Festival Foods contract also pertains to the hiring of a part-time Nutrition Educator. MOTION by Billings/Hampson to amend the motion by pulling out those two contracts, as noted, and include them with the part-time Nutritionist resolution. Motion on the amendment carried unanimously; Pfaff, Kannenberg, Schippers, Thompson excused. Motion as amended carried unanimously; Pfaff, Kannenberg, Schippers, Thompson excused.
PUBLIC COMMENT
At this time, Ann Quinlisk, as co-chair, gave an update on the Family & Children Management Council. She noted an education and training exchange survey was sent to the various agencies; the survey identified the following: need for diversity training geared toward poverty and social class, mental health issues of children and attachment/bonding issues, and supervision/management staff training and staff development training. The group is also working on a webpage that would include a calendar of events/training sessions. They may bring in a specialized trainer and also considering possibility of holding a conference in La Crosse.
BOARD EDUCATION
Policy, Practice, People of Changing the Culture of Risky Drinking Behavior Study – Doug Mormann noted the La Crosse Medical Health Science Consortium received some grant funding and has contracted with the Health Dept. to work on this initiative. Al Graewin presented a PowerPoint presentation as well as distributed two informational sheets: (1) Changing the Culture of Risky Drinking Behavior Project and (2) Burden of Alcohol – Related Injuries Report – Definition. The project purpose is to create a countywide infrastructure to develop a long-term strategic plan aimed at reducing injuries resulting from at-risk alcohol use and abuse among 12-24 year olds living in the County; this will be done by partnering with the Health Science Consortium, the Injury Research Center of the Medical College of WI, and the members of the Community Coalition Task Force. The project has created an Alcohol and Injury Risk Reduction Community Coalition and completed a “burden” report as distributed. Next will be compiling an assets inventory of community-based alcohol prevention, treatment and policy resources in the County, and develop an evidence-based strategic plan for short-term and long-term interventions and programs that are evidence based. The Health Dept. has until the end of June to complete the grant and the strategic plan is scheduled for completion in Fall of 2008. The next meeting of the coalition is January 10th, 4:30-6:00 p.m. at the Cleary Center and HHS Board Members are invited. Staff will keep the HHS Board informed with monthly reports as well as present the strategic plan in September.
HHS Board 2008 Work Plan – A draft copy of the HHS Board work plan was sent with the agenda; input was requested. Suggested changes as follows:
Supervisor Billings expressed concern with the length of HHS Board meetings, while at the same time not giving enough time to those who are invited to make a presentation. Board Chair Johnson suggested better discipline, and move the action items to the beginning, with consent agenda at the end.
POLICY ISSUES
Request for Proposal (RFP) Award Recommendation for Women Offenders Programming – Chris Sander, Jane Klekamp and Linda Seidel (YWCA) reviewed the RFP process relating to the Women Offender’s Programming. The program follows a national model evolved from gender-informed, evidence-based practices and is designed to reduce recidivism, increase the availability of services and enhance the lives of women. RFP’s were sent to 41 agencies statewide; three (3) RFP’s were returned. Proposals were submitted on four (4) types of services: (1) vocational support services, (2) personal support services, (3) family/social support services, and (4) life needs support services. Vendors could submit on one proposal or all. Proposals were reviewed and evaluated by a 7-person review team based on the following 7 criteria: (1) proposal, (2) organization capabilities (3) staff qualifications, (4) collaboration, (5) outcomes, (6) funding/price, and (7) interview. Workforce Connections scored the highest on (1) vocational support services and did not submit proposals on the other 3 services. YWCA submitted proposals on all 4 services, and scored the highest on the remaining 3 services, those being personal support, family/social support and life needs support. ATTIC Correctional Services submitted proposals for vocational support and life needs support, but their scores were lower than Workforce Connections and YWCA. The review team liked the successful Workforce Connections comprehensive vocational program and asked YWCA to subcontract with them versus WTC to create a program; both YWCA and Workforce Connections have agreed. MOTION by Glasser/Hampson to approve the review team recommendation of contracting with YWCA for all 4 components/services for the Women Offenders Program. Discussion on the housing portion of the program. Jane noted 10 beds are in the plan whether it be leased housing or purchased; some women will be on electronic monitoring; some will come to day reporting. The housing will not be open for other referrals. Steve O’Malley said this needs to be presented in resolution format to the County Board. General agreement to hold a special HHS Board meeting on Board Day, December 20th at 5:45 p.m. Motion carried unanimously; Pfaff, Kannenberg, Schippers, Thompson excused.
Response from Department of Health & Family Services (DHFS) on Planning for Western Wisconsin Expansion of the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) – Dean Ruppert reviewed. The plan was to have a regional ADRC in La Crosse County with 3 other county partners, those being Monroe, Vernon and Jackson. The State/County contract requires four-year degreed persons to function as Information and Assistance Specialists; the current 2 County staff are non degreed; they are paraprofessionals with 9 years of experience and have provided excellent Call Center services. This means that the current 2 staff will be without current job, thus may cause union bumping of positions; and it will cost an additional $80,000 to have 4 persons with four-year degrees. In return letter from the State, they will not extend a variance. The Human Services Department is meeting with the State on January 10th with the hope of appealing their decision. If this does not occur, we could then apply increased political pressure, change the County model or potentially not regionalize the County ADRC. Whatever the decision, it will cause delay in MCO enrollment. This will be on the February agenda and possibly monthly thereafter.
Aging & Disability Resource Center Response to Regional Application Letter – Copies of a letter from the State DHFS, dated October 31, 2007, and responses to their questions dated November 16th, were shared at a Commission on Aging meeting. The State was asking for clarification regarding the regional ADRC and Aging Unit Directors and Human Services Directors from the 4 counties were asked to assist in the preparation of a response letter. Dean noted from the time the application was submitted on July 30th, conference phone calls between State and County were held; and a HHS Board representative was not able to attend all these sessions. The State has identified four issues that need further clarification - same ones that the department had previously asked for assistance, those being: implementation timeline, budget, ADRC staffing as previously discussed, and serving those with mental health needs. This agenda item will remain on future HHS Board agendas along with MCO Update, including copies of West Central Consortium Steering and Implementation minutes.
RESOLUTIONS
Resolution re Acceptance of Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance Grant in 2008 & 2009 for Female Adolescent Youth Offenders – MOTION by Billings/Wood to approve the resolution which authorizes Human Services to continue the grant with WI OJA of $55,860 for 2008 and $41,895 for 2009, that includes a cash match of $13,965 for 2008 and $20,948 for 2009, to fund the Girls Circle Program in La Crosse County for at-risk female youth offenders. Supervisor Billings questioned the outcome of the program. Board Chair Johnson suggested future presentation at a HHS Board meeting, and suggested adding it to the March work plan. Motion carried unanimously; Pfaff, Kannenberg, Schippers, Thompson excused.
Resolution re West Central Consortium Long Term Care District Formation - Dean reviewed, noting this is an enabling resolution. Next, will be the filing of the articles of incorporation and approval of the by-laws. Dean noted the other counties are also presenting similar resolutions to their County Boards in December. MOTION by Glasser/Wood to approve the resolution. Discussion followed. Supervisor Billings questioned La Crosse County membership on the Interim Council/Governing Board. Dean noted La Crosse County having 4 members as previously requested and those details will be in the by-laws. Motion carried unanimously; Pfaff, Kannenberg, Schippers, Thompson excused.
Resolution re Authorization to Hire Part-time Nutrition Educator – MOTION by Hampson/Wood to approve the resolution which authorizes the Health Dept. to hire a part-time (.6) Nutrition Educator for period January 15, 2008 to December 31, 2008, as funded by Head Start and Festival Foods (per contracts under consent agenda), and also at no cost to the tax levy. Linda Lee said the person will work on problems of obesity and poor nutrition as well as work on the goals of the FIT Families, Coulee Regional Childhood Obesity Coalition, and other similar programs. Motion carried unanimously; Pfaff, Kannenberg, Schippers, Thompson excused.
ADDITIONAL HANDOUTS AT THE MEETING
ITEMS FOR FUTURE AGENDAS
Board Chair Johnson noted suggestions from others in the community:
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Board Chair Johnson declared the meeting adjourned at 8:33 p.m.
Disclaimer: The above minutes may be approved, amended or corrected at the next committee meeting.
Cheryl Stephen, Recorder