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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-22-2024 Behavioral Health Minutes MEETING MINUTES CJCC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SUBCOMMITTEE January 22, 2024 10:30 AM St. Croix County Services Center -Room 172 1752 Dorset Lane, New Richmond, Wisconsin CALL TO ORDER Chair Rohret called the January 22, 2024 meeting of the Community Justice Collaborating Council (CJCC) Behavioral Health Subcommittee to order at approximately 10:30 AM. ROLL CALL Attendee OrganizationTitleStatusArrived Name Dave OstnessSt. Croix County Board SupervisorPresent County Mark RichertSt. Croix N. Hudson Police ChiefPresent County Peter St. Croix Director Clinical Counseling, Present VanDusartzCountyHudson Hospital Gordon YoungSt. Croix River Falls Police ChiefPresent County Selena St. Croix Health & Wellbeing Educator, Excused FreimarkCountyUW Extension Amy WalshSt. Croix Emergency Physician, Excused CountyWestfield's Hospital Sharlene LopezSt. Croix Administrator, Behavioral Present CountyHealth Kait BreuerSt. Croix Treatment Court CoordinatorExcused County Eilidh PedersonSt. Croix CEO @ WWHPresent County Brandie Hart St. Croix SCCSO Lt. Special Services Present County Stephanie St. Croix Attorney Manager Present Schmidt County Elle Klasen St. Croix Interim Public Health Present County Admin/Health Officer Bob Rohret St. Croix Director, HHS, Chair Present County Others In Attendance: Assistant District Attorney for Fon Du Lac County Amber Hahn, Treatment Court Case Manager, Kayla Stesniak, Community Case Manager Rochelle Hendricks, and staff from WWH Healthcare Leadership APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. CJCC Behavioral Health Subcommittee Regular Meeting November 27, 2023 10:30 AM Chair Rohret asked if after review of the minutes from the CJCC Behavioral Health Subcommittee Nov. 27, 2023 meeting if any editing was needed. With no changes requested the minutes were accepted as submitted. RESULT: ACCEPTED PUBLIC COMMENT Chair Rohret opened the meeting to public comment. No public comment today. BUSINESS ITEMS 1. Updates on the Grant Application for the Abuse in Later Life Program Amber Hahn, Assistant District Attorney for Fon Du Lac County provided an update regarding the "Abuse in Later Life" grant opportunity. Hahn shared that this grant is geared to increase training and services for assisting those over 50. Hahn informed that the grant application process is going well. She is registered to attend an informational webinar for grant applicants put on by the U.S. DOJ on Jan. 24th . She has sent information about this webinar to others as well. The actual dates are now out regarding the grant application; solicitation will be released Feb. 29th and the due date for completion is April 29th, 2024, which means we are further ahead than we thought. She has collected letters of support from 7 entities as well as had conversations with others that plan to send letters of support. She and Shar Lopez will attend the Police Chief's meeting later this week to request additional law enforcement support. The CJCC had a presentation by Mike Austin that better explained the grant. He has been very helpful in making a successful application. We are on track and looking good. A minimum of 5 are required to go to the training but if others are interested that can be evaluated to see if it fits within the budget. HHS Deputy Director Shar Lopez informed that some of the budget work for this has begun. There is also verbal commitment for MOUs from several partners. Questions asked and discussion was had. RESULT: DISCUSSED 2. Updates from the White Paper Work Group Chair Rohret shared that the members of this group met right before this meeting and discussed next steps in the development of the white paper. Interim Public Health Administrator/Epidemiologist Elle Klasen summarized where things are at. She informed that there is a series of 3 papers leading to a final product. 1st is getting the background of frequent utilizers of the various systems then determining strategies for systems improvement. They will be using the Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) to use as a framework to determine opportunities for intervention prior to entering the justice system. The end goal is to develop a set of recommendations for system improvement and an analysis of costs. Today the group discussed the need for partner engagement to identify service mapping and provider, or other crisis service. The Sequential Intercept Model (SIM) looks at each intercept (intervention opportunity) along a continuum and helps identify service gaps. There will need to be an ask of community partners that have contact with frequent utilizers of emergency care, to assist in completing work on the SIM. This is an extension of efforts through the National Judicial Task Force to examine state current local system of care and develop recommendations for improvement. Recommendations will then be offered to the CJCC, other committees and Board, and potentially state legislators. RESULT: DISCUSSED 3. Regulatory Barriers for Hospitals to Providing Behavioral Health Care Western Wisconsin Health (WWH) CEO Eilidh Pederson informed that hospitals are experiencing challenges with current Rule language. Pederson explained that Hospitals cannot receive licensure under Rule 35 and Rule 75 concurrently. Rule 75 regulates substance use disorder services. WWH has a substance use disorder counselor that cannot practice in a hospital setting based on Rule 75 language, given they are already licensed under Rule 35. The WI Hospital Association (WHA) is currently lobbying DHS to make changes and appears to be making progress. There is current legislative action to make changes in Rule 75 with the goal of putting this Rule on hold while they work to rewrite it. A bill to accomplish this is on the Governor's desk awaiting signature. Pete Vandusartz shared that Rule 75 has been around a long time, was rewritten a few years ago, and is now even more confusing. There are a lot of mixed messages and variability involving facility type and service type. Hospitals are trying to prepare for this when auditors come. Amery will be having a state review soon and Vandusartz will share the results of that audit. RESULT: DISCUSSED 4. Behavioral Health Division Updates HHS Deputy Director Shar Lopez shared some updates regarding the Behavioral Health Division. Lopez informed of the hiring of Stephanie Greier as a Behavioral Health Supervisor, Bill Scholz as a Jail Case Manager, Kristen Eckman as a Behavioral Health Nurse, and introduced Community Case Manger Rochelle Hendricks who was at the meeting. Lopez also shared about the difficulty in recruiting for substance use counselor positions. When HHS BH is unable to provide immediate care for substance use or behavioral health needs, they are referring to community providers. Lopez also reviewed the current grants that they are utilizing to support consumers with various recovery housing needs. She encourages others to reach out to her if there are consumers that could benefit from these housing funds. Lastly Lopez reported on the increasing need and complexity in the Adult Protection area. They have seen a 487% increase in financial exploitation of the elderly from 2020-2023. Questions asked and answered. RESULT: DISCUSSED 5. Updates on Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) and Substance Testing Justice Support Services Director Phil Galli provided an update on the Medication- Assisted Treatment (MAT) program in the jail. Now that there is a nurse hired, the MAT program should be able to be resume in the jail soon. There is funding through the end of Oct.,after that the grant funding will be ending and there will be the need to look for ways to sustain the MAT programming moving forward. The medication an expensive part of this (Vivitrol). Clinics do carry this medication and could provide it to clients upon release from jail. There are other medications available that are less expensive and may be available (Naltrexone, Suboxone) As far as drug testing, Room 156 at the St. Croix County Services Center in New Richmond is almost ready for testing purposes. Hoping to open it by March 1st. It will likely be manned about 20 hours a week by Justice Support staff. This testing area will be available for any county program to utilize. Questions and discussion followed. RESULT: DISCUSSED REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Rohret asked if there any future agenda item requests. *Update on work towards change of Chapter 35 & Chapter 75 If other agenda items arise, please email Chair Rohret or Colleen Linder to get the item on the agenda. ANNOUNCEMENTS & CORRESPONDENCE * Chair Rohret announced that Kelli Engen has moved on from St. Croix County as of 1/12/24. Epidemiologist Elle Klasen has accepted the Interim PH Officer/Administrator position. * Referendum in April to increase tax levy by about $800,000 to hire additional Public Safety positions including the 2 co-responders with law enforcement that we have through ARPA funding. If referendum is successful, it would provide funding for those positions beyond 2024. * Opioid settlement funding should come the 1st quarter of this year. Our 2024 budget allows for use of these funds to hire a full time Case Manager/SW to work with families in Child Protection affected by substance use and related trauma. We anticipate the funds could support the position for 8-10 years. * Some Legislation to watch regarding regional urgent care facilities for BH. * $10 million dollars to support 2 regional facilities, with the Western Region of the state being a priority. DHS is also required to explore a Federal 1115 waiver which would allow some Medicaid dollars to flow to Institutions for Mental Disease (IMD)- such as the Winnebago facility. This would help reduce costs for counties related to these placements. Lastly, also Legislation to legalized xylazine test strips which are currently considered drug paraphernalia. DATE OF NEXT MEETING March 25, 2024 @ 10:30 AM in the SCCSC, New Richmond ADJOURN Chair Rohret called this meeting adjourned at approximately 11:33 AM.