HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-18-2023 Health & Human Services Minutes
MEETING MINUTES
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES BOARD
January 18, 2023 5:00 PM
St. Croix County Government Center -Room 1284
Government Center -1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin
CALL TO ORDER
Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Greg Tellijohn called this January 18, 2023
meeting of the Health and Human Services Board to order at approximately 5:00 PM.
ROLL CALL
Attendee NameOrganizationTitleStatusArrived
Julie MadarisSt. Croix CountyBoard Member-CommunityPresent
Faisal AnwarSt. Croix CountyBoard Member -DoctorPresent
Lisa LindSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent
Shawn AndersonSt. Croix CountyVice-ChairExcused
Cathy LeafSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent
Dave OstnessSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent
Greg TellijohnSt. Croix CountyChairPresent
Mike BarcalowSt. Croix CountySupervisorPresent
Deb LindemannSt. Croix CountyBoard Member -NursePresent
Others in Attendance:Health and Human Services (HHS) Director Bob Rohret, County
Administrator Ken Witt, Public Information Officer Adam Kastonek, Corporation Counsel
Heather Amos, Fiscal Manager Fay Strenke, Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC)
Administrator Kristin Newton, Children Services Administrator Michelle Leccia, HHS
Deputy Director Shar Lopez, Behavioral Health (BH) Supervisor Natalie Radich, BH
Supervisor Kate Robinson, Justice Service's Director Phil Galli
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1.Health & Human Services Board Regular Meeting November 16, 20225:00 PM
Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Tellijohn asked the Board if after the
review of the minutes from the November 16, 2022 HHS Board meeting if any editing
was needed. With nothing noted, the minutes were accepted as submitted.
RESULT: ACCEPTED
PUBLIC COMMENT
HHS Board Chair Tellijohn opened the meeting to Public Comment for items on or off the
agenda.
No Public Comment.
BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Health and Human Services Monthly Financials
Fiscal Manager Fay Strenke reviewed the monthly financials with the Board. Strenke
informed the Board the financial report in the packet shows through Dec. 2022. The 2022
revenues and expenses will continue to fluctuate as we close out the year and receive
additional revenue from the state. Strenke then highlighted a few areas, which had been
previously discussed with the Board, that ended 2022 over budget. She also shared that
in Behavioral Health the Purchased Services line appears on budget but will go over due
to recent and ongoing hospitalizations. Strenke informed that at the Health Care Campus
(HCC) the supplemental payments have been received, the Purchased Pool Staff numbers
are way over due the continued struggle in staffing, and the HCC is now showing a loss
due to the posting of depreciation at the end of the year. They are covering operating
expenses, but depreciation is making them show a loss. The HCC will be receiving a final
MA Interim payment of about a 30% increase which will improve their numbers.
Discussion and questions followed.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
2. Health and Human Services Board Orientation Presentation
As part of the ongoing Board orientation process, Children Services Administrator
Michelle Leccia shared a power point with the Board. Leccia reviewed the various
positions that make up the Children Services Division and what each of their roles are.
Leccia also provided information on the services provided in the various programs within
Children Services and some data on the growing number of children and families that
are served. Staffing continues to be an issue in Children Services and caseloads are high.
Leccia explained that Children Services is a demanding service area, cases are complex,
and staff work hard to provide support and stability to families 24/7. Self- care
opportunities are encouraged and provided for their staff. If you or someone you know
could benefit from Children Services programs or need to report a child protection
concern, please call 715-246-8260.
Questions followed and discussion had.
Board members thanked Administrator Leccia and her staff for their good work.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
3. Review of Services Provided by Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services (HHS) Director Rohret reviewed the mandated services
spreadsheet with the HHS Board, informing of the programs administered under the
Children Services Division. Rohret discussed whether the services are mandated, the
statutes connected, and the funding used to provide these services. Most services with
Children Services are a high priority and are mandated. There is a continued effort to find
funding sources to provide services that keep families together or provide the least
restrictive placements for children.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
4. Assessment of Implicated Risk Factors for Dementia
Per a Board request from a previous meeting, Dr. Faisal Anwar reviewed a power point
with the Board regarding risk factors for Dementia. Dr. Anwar shared some of his
personal background and his area of focus during medical school. He informed he
supports research, but understands research findings can change, so some of this
information shared today could be wrong in years to come, but much of it will continue
to be accurate. Dr. Anwar informed of risk factors that can lead to dementia, diseases
that can increase your risk, as well as things you can do to mitigate your risk.
Discussion was encouraged throughout the presentation and questions answered.
If other medical topics of interest come up, Board members are encouraged to reach
out to Board Chair Tellijohn or HHS Director Rohret who will connect with Dr. Anwar
to request he provide another informational agenda item.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
5. Update on County-Operated Addiction Treatment Services
Deputy Director Lopez provided information on the recent adjustments to services in the
Substance Use program due to staffing vacancies and changes. Lopez shared that the
Substance Use program staff worked together to inform and communicate with many
community partners as the service adjustments at the county level were initiated. They
have received support from and collaborated with state and local partners such as the
Department of Corrections, to strategize creative ways to continue to meet client needs.
The hope is to continue to utilize some of these new opportunities as they move
forward, but things will return to a new normal once new staff are hired or return from
leave.
Questions & discussion followed on the barriers faced in providing these services
and in getting people hired. Also discussed the need for a change in the way
insurance and the medical field views addiction and mental health.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
6. Updates from the Director
Health and Human Services Director Bob Rohret provided some updates on initiatives
being worked on at HHS, as well as the challenges and opportunities that the
department is focusing energy towards.
Some of the initiatives Rohret highlighted were the collaboration with Family Resource
Center on Parent Recovery Cafe's, the CJCC Behavioral Health workgroup working to
draft a "white paper" on how to better address behavioral health needs of those involved
in the criminal justice system, and also the work being done in partnership with Western
WI Health on an Ambulatory Withdrawal Management service. Rohret then provided
some updates on the various HHS divisions that are dealing with increased service
demands, workforce challenges, new staff, and HHS strategic planning. He also shared
information on some grant funds that HHS is anticipating receiving and how the funds
might be used. Rohret then informed that he and several Board Supervisors will be
heading to Madison next week and again in April which provides an opportunity to
speak with legislators on topics and priorities that are important to us here in St. Croix
County.
RESULT: DISCUSSED
REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Tellijohn asked the Board Members for any
requests for future agenda items. Board Members are encouraged to contact HHS Director
Rohret or HHS Board Chair Tellijohn if items arise.
* Presentation from Westcap on housing and homelessness
ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE
HHS Director Rohret introduced the two new Behavioral Health Supervisors Natalie Radich and
Katie Robinson
Other announcements included:
* In the 2023 budget process the combining of positions of the HHS Operations Manager
and Division Administrator was done to create a HHS Deputy Director position. Shar Lopez
has accepted this position.
* Several Board Supervisors and HHS Director Rohret are going to Madison to attend a WI
Counties Ambassador program next week, and then again in April will attend the "Day at
the Capitol" event. This provides an opportunity to meet with legislators on topics
important to us. Also in April Supervisor Ostness will attend the Greater WI Agency on
Aging Resources event in Washington DC to discuss an increase in funding for the aging
and disabilities programs.
ADJOURN
Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Tellijohn called this January 18, 2023 meeting of
the HHS Board adjourned at approximately 6:50 PM.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
February 15, 2023 @ 5:00 PM in the County Boardroom, Hudson