MINUTES
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
JANUARY 11, 2001                9:00 A.M.
SCOTT HEYMAN CONFERENCE ROOM
 

PRESENT: N. Schuler, Chair; S. Davis; S. Stein

EXCUSED: T. Todd

VACANCY: District No. 13

GUESTS: D. Winch, Board Member

STAFF: A. DeLuca, Mental Health Commissioner; M. Dill, Human Services Coalition; N. Zahler, Youth Bureau Director

 Called to Order

        The meeting was called to order at 9:12 a.m.

Changes to Agenda

        The following items were added to the agenda:

            Resolution - Approving the Department of Social Services' Three-Year Consolidated Children's Services Plan
            Appointment - Office for the Aging Advisory Committee

Approval of Minutes

        It was MOVED by Mr. Stein, seconded by Ms. Davis, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of the December 14, 2000 meeting as submitted.

Chair's Report

        Mrs. Schuler reported that she attended the Board of Health's last meeting. She said the meeting was very interesting and that the minutes provide a lot of information of what the Health Department does. She stated she will make a full copy of the packet available in the Board office.

Old Business

        Mr. Stein said he had made a request at the last meeting for information to be developed by agencies and departments that report to this Committee concerning staffing and how each person is paid. It was stated that this message should be sent to Administration.

        Ms. Dill said in addition, she would like the Committee to discuss the replacement of state and federal funding when grants run out.

Review of 2000 Goals

        Mrs. Schuler said she received the following reports from Alice Cole and Nancy Zahler and comments from Ms. Davis concerning the 2000 Goals. Mr. DeLuca provided a report later in the meeting.

        At this time Committee members reviewed its goals. Mr. Stein feels the Committee did not look at ways to improve coverage of health care for people in the County. There was also discussion concerning the phone system at the Department of Social Services. It was stated that this continues to be looked at. Mr. Winch commented that he supports a uniform system countywide.

Public Health Department's Report on Goals

        Home Health Aide Shortage
        Alice formed a committee to look at this issue at the request of Family & Children’s Service. At the organizational meeting in April, participants brain stormed on the key issues and developed subcommittees to address the following issues:

        Training and Recruitment
        Stipend Development
        State Education Department Lobbying
        Public Information
        Provider Collaboration with Workforce Development Center

        The subcommittees reported on their progress to date at the June meeting. The subcommittees requested more time to continue their work. At the September meeting, it was determined that all of our issues need to be dealt with on a higher level, as legislature changes are needed. The Committee agreed to lobby their State legislators to encourage the needed changes. Senator Seward spoke at the December Health Planning Council meeting and was urged by those present to increase salary levels and streamline the training requirements for HHA and NA’s. The Health Planning Council will be sponsoring a Home Health Aide recognition luncheon in January.

        Recommended Tobacco Settlement Funding
        The Health Department and Human Services Cabinet urged the Board of Representatives to use the tobacco money to promote health and wellness activities. The Health Department created and was granted a Tobacco Control Nurse for the 2001 budget. We will continue to lobby for this money in future years.

Mental Health Department's Report on Goals

Strengthen the local governmental functions of the department Establish a deputy commissioner position in the 2001 budget Plan training for board members on performance evaluation of contract agencies Plan the development of a web site which maps out all services for the public A: The Deputy Commissioner position was approved for 2001 utilizing discretionary reinvestment state aid and county match. The position will have the same qualifications as the position of Commissioner and will have major responsibility for the planning, budgeting, and administrative functions of the department. B : Board training by county training staff on evaluation, allocation and reallocation of resources will be held at their February 2001 meeting.

C. : A basic web site for the Mental Health Department has been developed with links to federal, state, and private mental health sites. We intend to expand the capabilities of this site to both give information to the public and allow the public to communicate with us on the web.

 Develop programs pursuant to Section 15, Chapter 408 of the Laws of 1999 (Kendra’s Law) Establish county liability parameters for medication grant Create state funded transition manager position and program Memo of understanding between DSS and mental health on medicaid application process Memo of understanding with sheriff’s department on jail services Create a county based indigent medication program that does not use local taxes Establish procedures needed to implement court ordered treatment beyond state regulations A: We were successful in getting state regulations changed so that counties are specifically allowed to discontinue free medications for any period that resources are not made available for this purpose. B : The "transition case manager" position is designed to help mentally ill inmates of the county jail to find treatment, medication, housing, and other services when they are released back to the community. Using medication grant state aid and some Kendra’s law administrative state aid , we were able to create the position in the 2000 budget. We have not, however, filled the position as of the time of this report. We still have to develop an agreement with the sheriff’s department and use the county "caseworker" or "senior caseworker" civil service list. C: We were able to complete a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Social Services that meets the requirements of both the state Department of Health and the state Office of Mental Health. D : We have not completed discussions with the Sheriff regarding jail mental health services. Although we intend to continue to develop such an agreement, the focus has shifted from inmates in the jail to both transition and services to the community justice center. E : We were also able to negotiate state regulations that allow us flexibility in use of the state medication grant for county residents beyond the Medicaid application process. Coupled with drug company programs, we are able to provide free medications to indigent patients where we feel that such medication is necessary. F : During 2000, we developed a local process using existing staff of the mental health department in conjunction with the staff of the county attorney’s office to implement all procedures required by state law. This allowed us to use some state aid to fund the transition case manger position. Resolution

        It was MOVED by Mr. Stein, seconded by Ms. Davis, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to submit the following resolution to the full Board for approval:

Resolution No. - Approving the Department of Social Services’ Three-year Consolidated Children’s Services Plan

        Whereas, the New York State Office of Children and Family Services issued Local Commissioner’s Memorandum (00 OCFS LCM-27) last fall requiring local social services departments to develop and submit a Consolidated Service Plan covering children’s services for the period January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2003, and
        Whereas, County Administrative Policy 01-35 states that "plans whose public participation requirements mandate advertising in newspapers of general circulation must be approved by the Board of Representatives upon review by the County Administrator and the appropriate program committee," and
        Whereas, such advertising was required with regard to this plan’s development, and
        Whereas, the County Administrator and the Health and Human Services Committee have reviewed the Department’s plan, now therefore be it
        Resolved, on recommendation of the Health and Human Services Committee, That the Department’s Three-Year Consolidated Plan for Children’s Services is approved by this Board.
SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

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Appointment

        It was MOVED by Mr. Stein, seconded by Ms. Davis, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to submit the following appointment to the full Board for approval:

Office for the Aging Advisory Board
Edmund D. Tenorio - term expires December 31, 2003

        Mr. Stein was excused at 10:00 a.m.

Review of Youth Bureau Goals

        Ms. Zahler submitted the following report on goals:

ü Recreation Partnership Goal Accomplished

Other Selected Highlights of Youth Bureau Services in 2000:

ü Workforce Investment Youth Council

ü Contract Management ü Municipal Youth Services Youth and Community Planning, Coordination and Community Education Evaluation Report from Human Services Coalition

        Ms. Dill said the annual meeting is February 8th and Jean McPheeters, Chamber of Commerce President, will be the speaker. She said the Human Services Directory will soon be available. She reported on the forum held yesterday and said rural outreach was discussed and 44 people attended. She provided an update on the Task Force for Battered Women. Two Board members have been appointed and they have been advertising for a new director. In addition, she announced the top four priorities of the cooperative grant were awarded for Tompkins Community Action, Green Star, Loaves and Fishes, and Red Cross.

Adjournment

        The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

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