HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-16-2024 Health and Human Services Minutes
Health and Human Services Board Minutes
October 16, 2024 5:00 PM
St. Croix County Government Center - Room 1400
Government Center - 1101 Carmichael Road, Hudson, Wisconsin
Call to Order
Health and Human Services (HHS) Board Chair Greg Tellijohn called the October 16, 2024 meeting of the HHS Board to
order at approximately 5:00 PM.
Roll Call
PRESENT: Shawn Anderson, Mike Barcalow, Cathy Leaf, Lisa Lind, Deb Lindemann, Dave Ostness, Julie Smith, Greg
Tellijohn
ABSENT: Kathleen Findlay
Others in Attendance: Health and Human Services (HHS) Director Bob Rohret, HHS Deputy Director Shar Lopez, County
Administrator Ken Witt, Public Information Officer Adam Kastonek, Fiscal Manager Fay Strenke, ADRC Administrator
Kristin Newton, Behavioral Health Supervisor Shawn Post Priller, ADRC Professional JoAnne Fridell, Fon-Du-Lac Assistant
DA Amber Hahn, additional staff and members of the community
Approval of Minutes
Health and Human Services Board Chair Greg Tellijohn asked the Board after reviewing the minutes from the September
18, 2024, HHS Board meeting if any editing was needed. With nothing noted, the minutes were accepted as submitted.
1. Minutes of Previous Meeting - September 18, 2024
Public Comment
Health and Human Services Board Chair Greg Tellijohn opened the meeting for Public Comment for items on or off the
agenda. No Public Comment tonight.
Business
1. Financial Report for September 2024
Fiscal Manager Fay Strenke reviewed the Health and Human Services (HHS) monthly financials with the HHS Board.
Strenke highlighted that in Public Health the collections for services rendered are lower than last year as many clients
have zero sliding fee or ability to pay. Some additional grant funds may be available to use to cover this difference.
Also, within Behavioral Health, the state grant shows above last year due to additional funds from grants received, and
this money will offset the expenses you see. In Children Services, as we've previously discussed would happen, the
purchased services are now over the budget and will need to use fund balance to cover this overage. This is due to out
of home placement costs. At the Health Care Campus, the revenues in Sept 2024 are much higher than a year ago due
to a higher census and increased Medicaid rates. The Dementia Crisis Stabilization Unit ($600,000) grant is now showing
some expenses in the Kitty Rhoades, but will be covered by grant funds.
2. Updates on Recent Health and Human Services Grant Awards
HHS Deputy Director Shar Lopez shared several updates on recent grants applied for and received. First, Lopez
introduced Fon-Du Lac County Assistant DA Amber Hahn who helped write the Abuse in Later Life federal grant through
the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW). It is a $400,000 grant intended to offer training and services to end abuse
in later life. Hahn shared she had participated in a national training on elder abuse for prosecutors where she made
connections regarding this grant. She then brought this opportunity to the SCC BH CJCC Subcommittee, where things
took off with the application process. The first portion of this grant will be the training, education, and planning phase.
After completing a needs assessment to target the needs of older adults, then it will go into implementation phase. This
will happen over 4 years. Questions and discussion followed.
Next, Lopez discussed the Dementia Crisis Stabilization Unit (DCSU) grant. She shared that $600,000 was received from
the State Dept. of Health Services. The turn around on the use of the funds is very quick (Feb of 2025), with a goal of
developing a 10 bed, 28 day intervention unit to assist in stabilizing those in crisis that have a condition related to
dementia or Alzheimer's. Lots of planning, hiring, and purchasing has been going on. The plan is to open, with a limited
census, in the Kitty Rhoades Memorial Memory Care unit at the Health Care Campus (HCC) in January 2025. Questions
asked and answered.
Then, Lopez informed on the State Opioid Response Grants (4) which is approximately $300,000 per year for 3 years to
assist those with opioid and/or stimulant disorders. These funds will be used by BH to have a case manager to work with
the jail, with their population, who have these diagnoses and get them the services they need. We will continue to pay
for withdrawal medications for these clients as well as treatment and recovery. Applications for this round of funding
are due in early November and we anticipate a quick turnaround from DHS on award announcements.
And lastly, Lopez reviewed the PH Vending machine grant that was received in the amount of $50,000 to purchase and
stock a vending machine to distribute harm reduction items at St. Croix County Services Center in New Richmond. It will
be located in the vestibule. Approximately $17,000 of the grant award was spent on the vending machine itself and
related supplies allowable through the grant.
Rohret thanked Amber Hahn, Shar Lopez, Sandy Hackenmueller, Shawn Post Priller and others on getting these grants
written.
3. Review of Forward Analytics "On the Brink" report
HHS Director Rohret attended a workshop at the WI Counties Association by Forward Analytics, and he provided a
summary of the information shared on the impact of baby boomers aging, and highlighted some statistics that need to
be considered in budget plans and state funding as we move forward.
County Administrator Witt thanked the Board for regrading the CNA positions at the Nursing Home as well as the 2025
approved ADRC positions. These are all in need as we consider the increased demands of the aging population.
Request for Future Agenda Items
HHS Chair Tellijohn asked the Board for any future agenda items. Nothing was brought forward tonight, but if
something comes up, Board members are encouraged to contact Chair Tellijohn or HHS Director Rohret.
Announcements
Director Rohret shared that the Birth to 3 Service area recently received an audit from the state and were 100%
compliant! Rohret wanted to give a shout out to them. Congrats!
Date of Next Meeting
1. Date of Next Meeting - November 20, 2024
Adjournment
HHS Board Chair Greg Tellijohn called this October 16, 2024 meeting of the Health and Human Services Board adjourned
at approximately 5:35 PM.