Mental Health Board

708 GENEVA COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD March 10, 2015 The Geneva Community Mental Health Board met at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at the South Street Group Home, 1980 South Street, Geneva, Illinois 60134. Present: Chairman Ford, Members Goldstein, Hamilton, McCollister, Shogren, Johnson, Wagner; Absent: Johnson. Also present: Exec. Dir. Lynn O’Shea. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/GUESTS After completing a tour of the group home, Chairman Ford called the meeting of the Mental Health Board to order at 7:15 p.m. A quorum was present with six (6) voting members. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA Agenda Item No. 5, Tour of the Group Home, was moved up prior to the meeting. Shogren asked to add as Agenda Item No. 7A-1 an update on Mental Health Month and working with the City of Geneva regarding the same. Goldstein asked to add as Agenda Item No. 7.D an update on the League of Women Voters – Forum on Mental Health. Motion by Wagner, seconded by Hamilton to approve the three (3) amendments to the agenda. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote of 6-0. 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 Shogren, seconded by Hamilton to approve the omnibus agenda. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote of 6-0. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES/PAYMENTS. A. Regular Meeting Minutes of February 10, 2015 – approved by Omnibus Agenda. B. Approve Payment to Recording Secretary for Services – approved by Omnibus Agenda. 5. TOUR OF 1980 SOUTH STREET GROUP HOME Chairman Ford thanked Exec. Dir. Lynn O’Shea and AID for its continued operation of the group home. Asked when a group home would become available for females, Ms. O’Shea discussed that AID was working with Brinshore Development Corp. to open a location in Geneva but locating affordable land was a challenge. Details followed on the type of financing and partnership that has to go into the development. She stated she is working Alderman Singer to bring in affordable housing that includes senior citizens and persons with disabilities, which he was open to. Should that type of housing work, O’Shea estimated that it would probably be a 60-unit apartment building with 20 to 25 units set aside for those individuals with disabilities. The chairman interjected and mentioned that this board would be reviewing whether or not the 10% funding that it sets aside annually should be used for a capital project, housing, or whether it be spent annually. He wanted to know that if the group home type of housing was not working, should the board stop saving for such housing, wherein O’Shea clarified it was not a matter if the housing was not working; it was a matter finding the money to afford the housing. However, she added that the $138,000 from the City could be used now to purchase a foreclosed home if that was what the board wanted to do. O’Shea further explained her agency was just beginning to explore a capital campaign to expand services and retire the agency’s mortgage debt before the governor’s budget cuts take place. She explained some of the steps the agency was taking to make that happen. After that, her focus will be on capital projects through the Dunham Fund, which is a dollar for dollar matching fund. In general, O’Shea spoke about people’s perceptions of affordable housing. She discussed types of supportive housing and what Medicaid will and will not pay for, with housing always being a challenge. Asked why Elgin does not seem to be receptive to affordable housing, O’Shea thought it may have to do with them wanting to do their own social work. However, she pointed out that Elgin does not provide mental health services or the 24 hour crisis services that AID provides. Lastly, O’Shea explained to the new members that when this group home opened, the neighbors were invited but were hesitant to visit at first, but eventually did. She commented that people are afraid of the unknown. 6. OLD BUSINESS A. Grant Application; Approval of Legal Review – Chairman Ford referenced the latest draft of the application before it would be forwarded to the city attorney. He entertained a motion. Motion by Goldstein, seconded by Shogren to forward the application to the city attorney for review. Motion carried unanimously by 708 Geneva Community Mental Health Board - 2- March 10, 2015 voice vote. Dialog followed on having the city’s I.T Dept. add the application to the city’s web site to avoid mailing out the application, wherein the chairman said the city would charge the board for that service. 7. NEW BUSINESS A. Shogren Interview with Tri-City Family Services – Shogren reported she met with Mr. Otepka to discuss gaps in services and took a tour of the Tri-City Family Services facility. Mr. Otepka explained to her that having families speak before the board could be a conflict of interest. However, he did provide Shogren with survey results from the Kane County Mental Health Consortium and the Kane County health department which addressed various service gaps. Specifically, there were needs in the following areas: services for Spanish- speaking individuals -- specifically Spanish-speaking autism specialists, affordable psych services for children and adolescents, affordable housing, short-term residential placement for adolescents in crisis, group homes and a demographic outreach program for senior citizens. Asked how this board could assist the agency, Mr. Otepka stated the board could be a voice in Springfield, increase community awareness that mental health providers exist in the area, and that mental health boards exist to provide assistance. Shogren said that Mr. Otepka offered to speak at any one of the board’s meetings. McCollister offered to follow-up with another potential speaker to continue reaching the board’s goals. Wagner suggested inviting a reporter to interview the board members as part of advocating for the mental health board. 1. Mental Health Month Update – Shogren reported that she contacted Kevin Stahr, the public relations person for the City of Geneva, and he was very open to inserting something into the city’s electronic newsletter regarding May as Mental Health Month, in addition to other social media. Shogren said she and Wagner met and discussed additional ideas, which she referenced from a sheet of paper and stated this year’s National Health America’s website’s theme was #B4Stage4, which was cancer-related. B. Geneva Library Program on Temple Grandin – Shogren said she and Wagner contacted the library who was open to doing a book and brochure display for the Mental Health Board. Green ribbons will also be tied around trees in the local area and at the high school to remind residents/students that May is Mental Health Month. The middle school librarian will also be doing something at the middle school libraries. Motion by McCollister, seconded by Goldstein that Shogren and Wagner continue to pursue their initiatives for May as Mental Health Month. Motion carried unanimously. Asked if the Mental Health Board would have a separate Facebook page than the city’s page, Shogren was not sure but would bring it up to Mr. Stahr. Goldstein mentioned the library will be holding a two book discussion on Temple Grandin followed by a viewing of the movie a day or two afterwards. Ms. Grandin will also be speaking at Fermi Lab. C. April “Finance Meeting” Items – The chairman reminded members that Mary McKittrick, the city’s administrator, will be speaking at the April meeting and, hopefully, state representative Andersson, regarding the state’s funding for mental health initiatives. Hamilton brought up the topic of having someone from the city explain what city services the board can access for free and those that come with a cost. Chairman Ford then asked members to send him or Celeste any questions they had for Ms. McKittrick prior to the April meeting. He also planned to schedule another discussion about the board’s $138,000 fund after Ms. McKittrick speaks. D. League of Women Voters Update – Goldstein announced that the League will be hosting an event at the St. Charles Library on April 28, 2015, 7:00 p.m. with speakers speaking from the various agencies the board funds. Hamilton commented on why the League may be taking up the issue of mental health, i.e., it was due to a position the League took some years ago which was a single point of entry into the mental health system. 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS/MAIL – None. 9. ADJOURNMENT The Geneva Mental Health Board was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. on motion by McCollister, seconded by Wagner. Motion carried unanimously. Recording Secretary, Celeste Weilandt (as transcribed by mp3 file)