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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02 SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD MINUTES FEBRURAY 1 2023 SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD MINUTES February 1, 2023 The Grant County Department of Social Services Board meeting was called to order by Chairperson Don Splinter at 9:00 AM. Roll Call was taken with Don Splinter, Bob Scallon, John Beinborn, Diane Nelson, Brian Lucey (z), Brandon Snyder (z) present. Also present Fred Naatz, Director, Robert Keeney, County Board Chairman, LeaAnne Smith, Office & Financial Coordinator (z), Garry Pluemer, Maintenance Supervisor (z), Tonya White, County Clerk (z). The meeting was found to be in compliance with the open meeting laws. Fred asked to change the order of the agenda. John Beinborn made a motion to approve the change order of the agenda, second by Adam Day, motion carried. Minutes of December 7, 2022 meeting: Diane Nelson made a motion to approve the minutes; Adam Day seconded the motion, the motion carried. Citizen Comments- None FINANCIAL REPORTS: Summary of Vouchers 12/22/22: The board reviewed the Vouchers Accounts. Summary of Vouchers 1/23/23: The board reviewed the Vouchers Accounts. Administrative Report November: The 2022 DSS Management report was reviewed Administrative Report December: The 2023 DSS Management report was reviewed Training Costs November and December: The Board reviewed the training costs. John Beinborn made a motion to accept the reports, seconded by Diane Nelson. The motion was approved. CORRESPONDENCE: None ADMINISTRATION – GENERAL: 2022 Income Maintenance – Details of the “Unwinding” of Income Maintenance programs – CeCe explained back in March of 2020 there was a Public Health Emergency declared due to the COVID pandemic. The Food Share, medical assistance, childcare programs had significant changes in procedures. February will be the last month for these changes and people will stop getting the emergency Food Share supplements. The medical assistance renewals have not been done since March 2020. With the unwinding these renewals will have to be completed now. This will have a large economic impact on recipients, counties and states. This has been put on the media and the counties are starting to get calls on this. The state did approve funding overtime to handle the increased workload associated with the unwinding. We will receive more funds which could be used for overtime. ARPA funds will be used to purchase new laptops and monitors for the Economic Support workers. CeCe has a state meeting on how the counties are preparing safety wise as they anticipate some clients will be upset. CeCe stated the workers have been doing deescalate training, the Department has panic buttons and the one window has been replaced with the ballistic glass. If someone does come in CeCe or the Lead worker will handle this. Rock County has had two incidents. CeCe does keep in contact with the front desk on what is happening as well. Update on LEAN PROJECT: organizational review process/assessment of human services structure – Fred stated they had a meeting, discussion of potentially moving to Human Services with the two Counties, Grant and Iowa County. Bob Keeney had sent an email, for right now this will be put on hold as the county has other big projects going on. Bob Keeney also explained the challenges of combining the counties and they don’t want to do it incorrectly. Child Welfare Caseload Summary: Fred stated one of the questions with staff working from home are, how do we monitor and make sure people are working when at home. The Economic Support side this is the most monitored program the state has. The Social Work side it is more difficult to measure. Fred explained there is a standard the state has for the case load size. Fred went through the Child Welfare Caseload by worker 2023 spreadsheet. It was asked if the Social Workers do not come into the office. Fred explained the workers work 2 days in the office one week and the next week 3 days. It was questioned why? Fred stated from Child Welfare Bureau research COVID has changed how work is done and a hybrid model is the future and how people are going to be working. Discussion followed regarding how staff are supervised, monitored and supported. Fred stated this is the first step and will be bringing in further information on this at future meetings. Staff transporting client discussion: Fred explained we used to have volunteers to transport clients and we no longer have that, the social workers are now having to do this. Fred identified a couple problems with this is: it is not a good use of social worker time and if part of your job description is to transport people you may be required to have a higher level of car insurance. Fred stated one option would be is to hire a driver for this: if workers are driving on average 20 hours a week, it may make sense to have a driver dedicated to these transports. Fred will continue to collect data on this. Safety Update: Fred stated one of the front desk window’s was installed and the second one will be done in the next week. Close “Kinship Big Buddy” account at Clare Bank and open a Volunteer Mentors account at People’s Bank: Fred explained the department has a checking account in Platteville at Clare Bank and would like to move this account to People’s State Bank where the other accounts are. Fred spoke with Amanda and Amanda said this should be taken to the board for approval. Adam made a motion to approve the Kinship Big Buddy bank account be moved to Peoples State Bank; John seconded the motion, the motion carried. Directors Report: - Fred shared that the Optimist Club donated $500 to the Kinship Big Buddy program. Lisa Sanger sent a thank you to them for this. ADJOURMENT- At 10:43 AM, Bob Scallon made a motion to adjourn until March 1, 2023 at 9:00 AM, which was seconded by Diane Nelson. The motion carried, the meeting was adjourned.