Present: F. Proto, Chairman; S. Davis; C. Evans; D. Kiefer; N. Schuler (arrived at 11:50 a.m.)

 Staff: A. Cole, Public Health Director; W. Skinner, Public Information Coordinator; S. Kerr, Health Department; N. Zahler, Youth Bureau Director; I. Stein, Office for the Aging Director

The meeting opened at 11:40 a.m.

Resolution

It was MOVED by Mr. Evans, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to submit the following resolution to the full Board for approval contingent upon receiving the grant:

WHEREAS, the Tompkins County Health Department in collaboration with AIDSWORK of Tompkins County have applied to the New York State Department of Health and been awarded $15,000 for enhanced HIV education and outreach for the period April 1, 1998 through December 31, 1998, and

WHEREAS, the department intends to contract with AIDSWORK to increase HIV/AIDS outreach and education programs in Tompkins County via youth theater presentations, peer training and outreach and increased targeted outreach, now therefore be it

RESOLVED, on recommendation of the Health, Human Services and Education Committee, That the Health Department is authorized to accept said funds,

RESOLVED, further, That the Department is authorized to execute any and all agreements necessary to complete this project,

RESOLVED, further, That the Director of Finance is authorized to make the following budget adjustment on his books:

REVENUE: A4016.43489 Other Health Income $14,600

APPROPRIATIONS: A4016.54442 Professional Services $14,600

SEQR ACTION: TYPE II-20

* * * * * * * * *

Explanation: The department intends to contract with AIDSWORK to provide 20 Community Theater performances (Bet You Can’t Catch It) reaching a minimum of 500 youth; 20 hours per week of direct street outreach per week targeting at-risk and high risk youth with information, referrals and latex barrier distribution, 5 or more training's to youth focused community based organizations and two static site outreach events per week to at-risk youth in rural areas of the county; training of 8 youths to be peer educators-outreach workers who will deliver 15 hours of outreach and education per peer to the community via street outreach and community presentations.

The committee approved the transfers as submitted.

It was MOVED by Mr. Evans, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote by members present, to approve the minutes of the February 26 meeting as corrected.

Comprehensive Planning and Resource Allocation - 1999-2001

Ms. Zahler said the Plan is updated every three years. She presented the committee with the proposed priority goals which will be reviewed by the Youth Board March 30. The Youth Board will also review a proposed set of Resource Allocation Guidelines that includes priority goals, service priorities, and funding criteria to be used in soliciting and reviewing program proposals for the three-year period beginning January 1999-2001. A full set of proposed guidelines is on file in the Board office for review. By October, more specific objectives, success indicators, and action plans related to selected goals will be developed. On April 3, the Youth Bureau will hold a public meeting for all interested agencies wishing to inquire about or apply for the state and county funding available. The Youth Board volunteers will review each proposal and make specific program and funding recommendations which will become part of the Youth Bureau's budget request for 1999.

Mrs. Schuler arrived at this time.

Mr. Proto asked how the effectiveness in the proposals received were evaluated. Ms. Zahler said there is criteria that agencies are aware of and a rating sheet used by volunteers when reviewing proposals. The criteria is that the program plan is well developed and what specific results or outcomes will be accomplished. Ms. Zahler reviewed the process for evaluating outcomes. Mr. Proto asked that when the quarterly reports are completed that the committee receive an update. Ms. Kiefer said she has been persuaded by physicians for social responsibility that handgun violence is a health problem and asked that "access to weapons" be added as an element in the Physical Emotional, and Social Development goal. Ms. Zahler said she would discuss it with the Youth Board. The committee will receive any modifications to the goals by April 3.

Integrated Services Planning Grant

Ms. Zahler announced the County's proposal is a semi-finalist. Six mid-sized counties (including Tompkins County) are being invited to Albany March 31^st to present their proposals so that three can be selected. In addition to the history of inter-departmental collaboration, the municipal youth service system of local youth commissions that have been developed over the last ten years is a unique feature which makes Tompkins County of interest to the State as a means of doing more community-based planning and service delivery.

Ms. Kiefer asked what the Search Institute Asset Survey was. Ms. Zahler said it was a survey developed by Search Institute, a not-for-profit organization for teenagers, and was given to over 200,000 children across the nation. The survey will be used as baseline data to engage various sectors such as churches, businesses, schools, etc. in actively building developmental assets. Ms. Kiefer asked to review a copy of the survey. Ms. Zahler said she will place it on file in the Board office.

State Budget for Youth Services

Ms. Zahler said the Governor has recommended no increases for youth services, however, the Association of Youth Bureaus has been advocating with legislative leaders to restore funding that was cut in 1991 and to increase the per capita formula for recreation, youth development, and services to youth at risk. It appears that both Senate and Assembly may be willing to support a partial restoration totaling around $5 million State wide.

Program Update

Ms. Austin said she recently hired Erica Mims as a Paralegal and is now fully staffed. The Department has a full compliment of students currently working 10 hours a week under a study program. The four law students work on case work and the five undergraduates assist with answering the telephone, inquiries, etc. She is projecting the backlog of cases from 1994 and 1995 to be completed by the end of May. She recently met with the Regional Director of the State Division and stated they were very pleased that the Department is ahead of schedule with the backlog of cases. Ms. Austin said there is an increase in walk-ins now that the Department is located downtown. There will be a continuation of hiring interns.

Mr. Proto asked about the outreach to communities. Ms. Austin said she does seminars in a variety of locations and the commission will meet in different locations every month this year. Mr. Proto asked Ms. Austin to speak at a Landlord's Association meeting. Ms. Austin said she would love to do it in April because it is Fair Housing Month.

  Budget Adjustments

It was MOVED by Ms. Davis, seconded by Mrs. Schuler, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve the following budget adjustment:

  Revenue: 6776.44772 Federal Revenue $ 161

6776.44772 Federal Revenue 40

6776.44772 Federal Revenue 2,658

Appropriation: 6776.55100 Salary $ 161

6776.58800 Fringes 40

6776.54491 Subcontract 2,658

Explanation: Revenue increase for Title III-C permits increase in subcontract.

  It was MOVED by Mrs. Schuler, seconded by Ms. Davis, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve the following budget adjustment:

  Revenue: 6777.43808 State Revenue $1,736

Appropriation: 6777.54491 Subcontract $1,736

Explanation: Revenue increase for Community Services for the Elderly Program (CSE) permits increase in subcontract.

  It was MOVED by Mrs. Schuler, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve the following budget adjustment:

Revenue: 6798.44772 Federal Revenue $ 750

6798.44772 Federal Revenue 250

Appropriation: 6798.55100 Salary $ 750

6798.58800 Fringes 250

Explanation: Increase in Federal funding for Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program permits salary coverage to reflect actual time spent on program.

It was MOVED by Mrs. Schuler, seconded by Ms. Kiefer, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to approve the following budget adjustment:

Revenue: 6796.44772 Federal Revenue $1,000

Appropriation: 6796.55100 Salary $1,000

Explanation: Revenue increase permits increase in salary allocated to WRAP (Weatherization, Referral & Packaging Program) to cover actual hours.

  Human Services Cabinet

This item was withdrawn and will be discussed at the next meeting.

  Transfers

Evaluation of Registry

Ms. Stein said the Department contracts with The Displaced Homemaker's Center (DHC) to operate the Registry. The purpose of the Registry is to link persons seeking in-home assistance with persons who are privately seeking employment as in-home assistants. The program is free of charge. The goals of the program are to provide: (1) homecare placements for frail elderly careseekers, and (2) employment for caregivers 60 and over.

The purpose of the evaluation is to assess the quality of the Registry program in terms of service to the careseekers, operation of the program, recordkeeping and data collection. The results are as follows:

1. The quality of the service provided by the caregivers is regarded as satisfactory to outstanding as indicated by follow-up surveys;
2. Activity and the number of placements has gone down since 1996 and has dropped dramatically in 1997;
3. The recordkeeping is cumbersome and lacks information which would provide a better database for evaluation, for example, whether a careseeker receives service or not;
4. There is insufficient follow-up, especially with the careseekers, to determine if service was received or if it was satisfactory;

Recommendations include:

1. The system of recordkeeping, data collection, and reporting should be improved. Additional aspects of the program and its participants should be tracked. These data should be maintained in a systematic manner that facilitates easier recordkeeping and evaluation;
2. A more extensive follow-up and evaluation system of caregivers and careseekers is necessary in order to determine the overall needs of the program participants;
3. COFA needs to modify the subcontractor's agreement with DHC to better reflect placements and units of services;
4. DHC needs to increase outreach efforts in order to increase volume of service;
5. Volunteers need to be recruited to ensure systematic follow-up of all referral and placements, in order to maintain an accurate number of placements, an accurate number of receipts of services, and to detect any problems requiring attention.

Appointments

It was MOVED by Mr. Evans, seconded by Mrs. Schuler, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to appoint John Brooks to the Community Mental Health Services Board - MRDD Subcommittee as a community member for a term that expires December 31, 1999.

It was MOVED by Mr. Evans, seconded by Mrs. Schuler, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to appoint Ronald Schoneman to the Substance Abuse Subcommittee for a term that expires December 31, 1998, pending questions about his affiliation and occupation.

It was MOVED by Mr. Evans, seconded by Mrs. Schuler, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to appoint Cathi Ganger to the Mental Health Subcommittee for a term that expires December 31, 1999, pending clarification about the length of term.

It was MOVED by Mr. Evans, seconded by Mrs. Schuler, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to appoint John Elliott to the Cayuga Medical Center Board of Directors for a term that expires April 30, 2001.

It was MOVED by Mr. Evans, seconded by Mrs. Schuler, and unanimously adopted by voice vote, to appoint Lee Miller to the Library Board of Trustees for a term that expires December 31, 2002.

Mr. Evans agreed to follow up with the questions raised with the appointments prior to Board approval.

 Goals

It was the consensus of the committee to focus on the following goals, assigned at the February 12 Board and staff "retreat":

• Support efficient and coordinated delivery of services that meet the basic human needs of food, shelter, and safety for those unable to meet their needs independently; do so without creating competition among populations in need or providers.
• Integrate programs serving the same individuals, families, and communities as much as possible to provide more holistic and preventive service.
• Include all groups more fully in all aspects of the life of the community.

  With respect to Health, the following activities were identified:

• Improve access to primary health-care physicians for recipients of Medicaid
• Promote long-term health-care insurance
• Define the County role in providing health insurance to agencies

It was noted that the Health Planning Council is working on all three, and COFA on the middle one. The Committee's emphasis will be on health care, health insurance, and jail medical service.

With respect to Human Services, the Committee's emphasis will be on the new Human Services Cabinet, with attention to effects on budgeting.

With respect to Education, the Committee's emphasis will be on coordination of library services (County Library, rural libraries and reading rooms, and public school libraries). We must first learn how they relate to each other.

The 1998 Health, Human Services and Education Committee workplan will, in addition to routine/ongoing responsibilities, emphasize (1), (2), and (3) above.

Mr. Proto felt the task for providing health insurance should also be a goal of the committee.

Mrs. Schuler inquired about ultra violet in the jail as a disinfectant. Mr. Proto suggested she discuss this issue with the Board of Health.

Mrs. Schuler was assigned the liaison for the Economic Opportunity Corporation.

Ms. Davis's changes to the Hospice resolution was distributed to committee members for their review.

The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.