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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLong Term Support Planning 07-17-97'A ST. CROIX COUNTY i NOTICE OF COMMITTEE MEETING TO: Robert Boche, Chairman St. Croix County Board FROM: Ron Lockwood, SW Supervisor Long Term Support Unit DATE: July 7, 1997 COMMITTEE TITLE: Long Term Support Planning Committee MEETING DATE: Thursday, July 17, 1997 , MEETING TIME: 1:00 P.M. Board Room MEETING LOCATION• St. Croix Co. Health & Human Services Complex _____1445 N. 4th St_i New Richmond.., —WI —ILQ17 ------------ CALL TO ORDER: ROLL CALL: ADOPTION OF AGENDA: ACTION ON PREVIOUS MINUTES: DATE/LOCATION OF NEXT MEETING: AGENDA: (Agenda not necessarily presented in this order) UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 1) Discuss testimony received at June 19 public hearing on the,1998 budget, especially the need for respite care(family caregiver relief). 2) Report on continued benefits resulting from 1996 purchase of van for young woman with physical disabilities by Deb Willink. NEW BUSINESS: 1) Financial Report 2) Variance & Purchase Requests including another van purchase request through COP High Cost Fund. 3) Report on Statewide LTC Advisory Committee --Ray Mealey. 4) Aging Unit Report --Sandy Gehrman. 5) Consider action to recommend that St. Croix County become a pilot Single Entry Point for Long Term Care. 6) 1998 Plan and Budget process for Long Term Support Unit. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE: POSSIBLE AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING: ADJOURNMENT: Copies to: County Clerk's Office Committee Members /lts-com/notice Long Term Support Planning Committee Meeting Thursday, July 17, 1997 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bruce Bayer, Lorraine Darnauer, Keith Gregerson, Fern Johnson, Lee Kellaher, Ray Mealey, Robert Palewicz, Marguerite Sumner, Wanda Viellieux, Larry Weisenburger MEMBERS EXCUSED: James Craig, Joan Richie, Glenda Zielski MEMBERS ABSENT: John Mortensen STAFF PRESENT: Ron Lockwood, Social Work Supervisor Michele Johnson, LTS Clerk GUESTS: Debbie Willink, LTS Social Worker/FSP Coordinator Gail Casey, LTS Social Worker Sandy Gehrman, Dept. On Aging Director Meeting called to order by Chair Ray Mealey at 1:OOpm. Roll Call : 10 present, 3 excused, 1 absent. A quorum is present. Motion by Fern Johnson to adopt agenda as submitted; second by Lee Kellaher; carried. Motion by Larry Weisenburger to accept minutes from previous meeting as written; second by Keith Gregerson; carried. Date of Next Meeting: Thursday, August 28, 1997. 1:OOpm at the Human Services Complex in New Richmond. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Discussion of Testimony heard at June 19 public hearing. Ron Lockwood handed out a copy of the hearing minutes. -The Family Caregiver Respite program waiting list was discussed. It was clarified by Ron Lockwood that clients that are on a waiver program do receive respite through the waiver program funding. The Respite Waiting list is persons who are not on a waiver program. The $6500 annual budget for respite is county dollars. It was also clarified that these 13 persons are children and adults. The waiting list for family support is children only as that is the group this program serves. Debbie Willink, Social Worker for Long Term Support Unit and Family Support Program Coordinator was called on for some questions regarding the Family Support Program Waiting List. Discussion included, but was not limited to the following questions/issues: Long Term Support Planning Committee Meeting Thursday, July 17, 1997 2 •FSP is state funded program with annual budget of $57,988.00. There are no county dollars involved in this program. •FSP waiting list is currently at 54; 40 to 45 of those are not receiving any services. •Of the 54 on the FSP waiting list 12 are currently on a Waiver Program receiving some services. •Some of the children are on SSI. (this question discussed further in that members questioned whether or not every child who is disabled is supposed to be receiving Social Security) Wanda Viellieux offered to do some checking on this and get information to Ron & Debbie. *Willink states that she refers the families to using other resources such as Medical Assistance Personal Care, Katie Beckett Medical Assistance and to try to use family resources whenever possible. Report on 1996 Van purchase. Debbie Willink handed out a copy of a letter written to this committee telling them how the purchase of this van for her in 1996 has changed her life in the community and at home. E.E. is an 18 y.o with Cerebral Palsy. Basically, with the van, E.E. can get her motorized wheel chair in the van with only the assistance of 1 person; whereas without the van she needs much more assistance both with getting to a vehicle, getting a regular wheelchair out and set up, transferring from vehicle to wheelchair, etc. plus their wages to stay/wait with her. 1997 Van Purchase request from June 19 meeting. June 19 meeting Willink asked the committee to recommend requesting COP High Cost funds to purchase a full size van for a client with Cerebral Palsy. At the June 19 meeting, this approval was received after much discussion. Willink states now that she acquired 2 other proposals for a van and after looking at options, it was decided to go with the original proposed price to request the funds. Willink had just received a written approval from Donna McDowell, Director of Bureau of Aging and Long Term Care Resources for COP High Cost Funds. Ron Lockwood mentioned concerns from some board members and others with regard to purchasing these vans. Some key points in today's discussion: *The money in this fund is above and beyond the budgeted waiver & LTS programs dollars - it does not decrease the amount of waiver program funding. •High Cost funds pay for the vehicle only, not adaptations or modifications *Adaptations or modifications can then be paid for by the waiver program elf the van was not purchased, the cost of paying for contracted transportation services need to be considered. (costs could include mileage, time, assistant wages) would be paid for by waiver program. *The current role for the county is to assist the client with the application process to tap into this special fund. •The county does not have any criteria other than to show a need and also that the county does not make a decision of approval or disapproval. •The role of this committee is to recommend the social worker assist in the application process for these special funds from the state. Long Term Support Planning Committee Meeting 3 Thursday, July 17, 1997 With this discussion ended, the next step of this request is introduced by Debbie Willink. Which is a request from the Area Administrator for a variance of depreciation for this purchase. Motion was made by Larry Weisenburger for Willink to proceed with request for a variance of depreciation; second by Robert Palewicz; carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS: Purchase Request: Gail Casey, LTS Social Worker requests the approval of the LTS Committee to make application for purchase of a van using COP High Cost Funds. This van would be purchased for M.P., a 43 year old woman with Multiple Sclerosis. The request to the state will be for approximately $22,000 for a used full size van. Adaptations will be added later at a cost of between $6,000 & $8,000. This client went ahead and got an evaluation from The Center of Independent Living to determine if a van would be feasible. M.P. is requesting this van to enhance her life in the community and at home. Without a vehicle that is accessible to her and her family; she only gets out of the house possibly three or four times a month and that is extremely hard on everyone; it takes people to transfer, people to drive; they have to leave their homes and jobs to help, then sit and wait for her while she may be at the doctor or whatever. It is so much of a hassle, that it is easier to stay at home & not go anywhere. Questions arose regarding the process of requesting bids, legalities, etc. It was suggested by a committee member that the proper procedures be looked into. Sandy Gehrman stated that she thought Sue Nelson, County Clerk would be the person to contact to seek information and help on this issue. Motion was made by Larry Weisenburger that Gail proceed with the application for the COP High Cost funds provided all legal and County Policies that we are aware of are followed; second by Robert Palewicz; carried unanimously. Department on Aging Report: Sandy Gehrman reported on attendance to a training for information and resource referral. Barb Blaisdell and herself attended, passed the test and are now Certified Information/Referral Specialists. Baldwin Community Center is now serving meals on wheels and it is going very well. Day Away II opened in Somerset. It operates on Tuesdays 10am-2pm. County Fair is July 24-27 — Dept on Aging (and other county departments) will have booths with information and Fund Raising efforts. There will be a Leadership Training presented by Jim Janke on October 2"d.. Contact Sandy for more information. Long Term Support Planning Committee Meeting Thursday, July 17, 1997 4 October 2"d is also Public Hearings 1:30pm-4:30pm relating to the 1998 County Aging Plan and 8521 DOT Transportation Grant. Long Term Care Redesign Single Entry Pilot Project: There was lengthy discussion regarding this topic. There is interest by Human Services Department to investigate the possibility of St. Croix County becoming a pilot project county for single entry point. Highlights/Questions are to follow. *Department on Aging and Long Term Support need to be working more closely together on this and other Long Term Care subjects *Although the LTC Redesign has been "scrapped" for now, the single entry point pilot will go on as planned; one reason being it can be used to collect information and trying to determine what the demand would be for this single entry point in the event that the proposed changes to LTC advances. *What is single entry? Is it really "one" place to contact for all questions and information/referral? *Dollars for assessing are in place, but there are no monies for services; although we do not know yet what the dollar amount is per assessment. eAdvanta eq_s to piloting this project: County awareness of being on the ground floor when this starts. Having an impact on the policies as they are put in place. *Disadvantages to piloting this project: 72 counties in the state and each have individual personalities so what one pilot county does may not be effective for another. Also, the number of pilot counties has been reduced from six to four. It is a disadvantage at this point to not be aware of how and amount of fees for the assessing/referral process. Lee Kellaher stated that there may be a need at this point for the Department on Aging and the Long Term Planning Committee to discuss preparing a mission statement relating to the needs and goals of them working together. Clarification needs to be made in issues of Fees, who will pay for what?. Ray Mealey will check on this at the next State Advisory Meeting in August. Get any questions you want asked to Ron Lockwood; he will relay them to Ray. Motion by Lee Kellaher recommending the St. Croix County apply for pilot Single Entry Point for Long Term Care depending on the latitude that the state will give St. Croix County; second by Larry Weisenburger; carried. Motion to adjourn by Bruce Bayer; second by Robert Palewicz; carried. Minutes submitted by Michele Johnson, LTS Clerk III