Mental Health Board

708 GENEVA COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD February 10, 2015 The Geneva Community Mental Health Board met at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 10, 2015, in the Geneva City Council Chambers, 109 James Street, Geneva, Illinois 60134. Present: Chairman Ford, Members Goldstein, Hamilton, McCollister, Shogren, Johnson, Wagner. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chairman Ford called the meeting of the Mental Health Board to order at 7:00 p.m. A quorum was present with seven (7) voting members. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA – None. 3. OMNIBUS AGENDA ( OMNIBUS VOTE ) All items listed with an asterisk ( * ) are considered to be routine by the Mental Health Board and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a board member or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from the Omnibus (Consent) Agenda and considered in its normal sequence on the Regular Agenda. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Wagner to approve the omnibus agenda. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote of 7-0. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES/PAYMENTS. A. Regular Meeting Minutes of January 13, 2014 – approved by Omnibus Agenda. B. Approve Payment to Recording Secretary for Services – approved by Omnibus Agenda. 5. OLD BUSINESS A. Review comments on Grant Application – Draft 2 – Chairman Ford reminded members that the changes on the application were from last month. Hamilton explained that the grant writer at DayOne was fine with the application. Members also thought Lynn O’Shea’s comments regarding the application were fine. The chairman would add her comments. Some minor revisions followed. Ford said he dropped off a copy of the application with Jim Otepka at Tri-City Family Services for his response but has not heard back with him. However, Shogren said she spoke with him on another matter and would follow up with him this Friday. As an aside, Chairman Ford announced that the executive director for DayOne resigned as well as Phyllis Russell with the ACMHAI. B. Discuss Resolution 10-01 – Chairman Ford suggested inviting City Administrator Mary McKittrick to the board’s April meeting to explain the funding process for this resolution – specifically from when the resolution got passed, through the budgeting process, through the tax cap and finally, the available funding for this board’s grant process. Hamilton asked for a history on this resolution and what was the board’s thought process at the time that led to the resolution. Ford and Goldstein shared their recollections. Questions regarding the tax cap, the referendum, etc. followed and the chairman suggested holding those questions until the April meeting. Dialog then followed regarding this board taking 20 years to save for the group home and the chairman’s question of whether there was a better way to spend the money? Discussion followed by Johnson, who found it interesting how services were being administered to DD clients -- not through group homes -- but through rentals or units set aside for DD clients, similar to the requirements for affordable housing. On that note, Chairman Ford raised the point that the $138,000 it receives could become seed money for affordable housing projects and the board could challenge City Council to meet certain criteria the board decides it wants. A short summary followed on how a group home is obtained. Johnson noted how a significant amount of money was being spent in this area but she asked was the board spending corresponding amounts in the other areas it represented? Ford mentioned some of the challenges that presents. However, it was pointed out that such housing was important since it ultimately provided DD people with housing, working jobs, and shopping in the area, which was an overall positive for the city. C. Objective 1, 2 and 3 Updates – Hamilton provided an update to her Objective No. 1, noting there were three main points she wanted to emphasize toward her objective: 1) having a new grant application; 2) understanding the funding/budgeting process via Mary McKittrick; and 3) whether the board wanted to consider having a separate grant process for the larger, core agencies followed by the smaller agencies. Regarding an update on Objective No. 2, McCollister would provide an update next month. As to Objective No. 3, Shogren said she searched other organizations as to how they make aware that mental health service providers exist in the community. One of the ways she said is through a consistent awareness by designating the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. For this year, she proposed to let the community know that May is designated as Mental Health Awareness Month by 1) placing green ribbons on trees around 708 Geneva Community Mental Health Board - 2- February 10, 2015 City Hall and the Geneva Library; 2) asking the city to include in its newsletter a page designated for the topic; and 3) asking the library to pull books on mental health and to display them. On another topic, Shogren shared the conversations she had with Mary Jane Johnson at Geneva High School regarding the half-time intervention coordinator, whom works for the entire district; not just the high school, and the process that followed when an emergency call comes in regarding a student. A hearty discussion ensued. Shogren shared that the Geneva Middle School North librarian offered to create a book display for the month of May and possibly hold a book discussion. Challenges of getting the parents involved and addressing mental health issues, was also discussed. Chairman Ford encouraged members that if they ran into someone who has a presentation worth listening to, to invite them to speak to this board. McCollister offered to have someone speak from the Naperville hospital she works at. Lastly, Shogren asked what is the goal to have someone from the high school speak before this board, i.e., is it to work collaboratively for education/awareness, to be informative, or to work on a youth initiative? The chairman reminded the board to consider that when it came time to vote at the grant meeting -- to remember what agencies were delivering important services to the high school and/or the middle school. Hamilton then brought up the point that this board could fund part of the intervention coordinator’s salary, with a match from the high school, to create a full-time position. The chairman agreed, stating it was addressed in Question 11 of the application. However, concerns were raised about the union and/or the administration questioning such funding. Lastly, it was suggested that the young members of SADD or SNOWBALL attend one of the board’s meetings to hear their perspectives. 6. OTHER BUSINESS A. March Meeting Location - Goldstein confirmed that the March meeting can be held at the Geneva group home, located at 1980 South Street in Geneva. Hamilton suggested that the person giving the tour give his or her perspective on the evolution of supportive housing. 7. PUBLIC COMMENTS/MAIL A. Correspondence – Chairman Ford referenced the invoice received from ACMHAI and wanted the board to be aware of the annual invoice. Ford said he forwarded a draft copy of the grant application to Phyllis Russell; however, she left ACMHAI. More recently, he received an email from Jerry Murphy seeking input as to what services ACMHAI should be delivering to its members. Due to the uncertainty of ACMHAI not having an executive director, Ford will keep the board updated. Chairman Ford shared some of the questions he was asked by Kevin Stahr, the communications person with the City of Geneva. Ford’s answers will be posted in the city’s newsletter. Dialog followed whether this board could have a Facebook page on the City’s Facebook site. Goldstein announced the League of Women Voters will be holding a public form on Mental Health in Kane County at the St. Charles Public Library, April 28, 2015, 7:00 p.m. 8. ADJOURNMENT The Geneva Mental Health Board was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. on motion by McCollister, seconded by Wagner. Motion carried unanimously. Recording Secretary, Celeste Weilandt