Mental Health Board

708 GENEVA COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD May 12, 2015 The Geneva Community Mental Health Board met at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at Geneva City Hall, Council Chambers, _109 James Street, Geneva, Illinois 60134. Present: Chairman Ford, Members Hamilton, Johnson, McCollister, Shogren, Wagner. Also present: Candice Goldstein. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/GUESTS Chairman Ford called the meeting of the Mental Health Board to order at 7:00 p.m. A quorum was present with six (6) voting members. 2. AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA 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 6-0. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES/PAYMENTS. A. Regular Meeting Minutes of April 14, 2015 – approved by Omnibus Agenda. B. Approve Payment to Recording Secretary for Services – approved by Omnibus Agenda. 5. GUEST SPEAKER Jerry Murphy, Exec. Dir. of INC Board – Chairman Ford asked each member to provide a brief background of themselves for Mr. Murphy. Mr. Murphy provided an overview of how the INC Board was created and invited members to visit its three campuses to see its services in action: 400 Mercy Lane, the Keeler Center, and the Thompson Kennedy Rehab Center. Comments from the members included concern about the City of Geneva halting future funding of the board wherein Mr. Murphy confirmed that the city could decide to not fund the board or decide to provide less funding for distribution. No townships he was aware of, under the INC board, had done that. As to increasing the levy, he pointed out that the amount of increase in the levy can only be the Consumer Price Index or 5%, whichever is less, and he has never seen 5%. But, he explained that the INC Board is very proactive regarding the levy by always ensuring that the township liaisons at its board meetings are well aware of whom is being served and the types of services being provided in order to report the information back to their own town board meeting, which lowers the chance of having funds reduced. Mr. Murphy stated the INC Board is also aggressive in asking for the levy increase it is entitled to under PTEL. Details followed. Mr. Murphy shared concerns about the state’s funding cuts but believed that, locally, the funding was more stable. Unfortunately, he explained that cuts in mental health services will occur and the state has focused on the Medicaid population. This means that agencies will have to rely less on state funding and more on local fundraising and charities. Challenges were mentioned. Regarding the providers, Mr. Murphy feels they are starting to bill insurance companies where they did not prior or they are finding creative ways to create a revenue stream; some providers may cease to exist. To Chairman Ford’s concern about an alderman commenting that large populations are now receiving insurance under the Affordable Care Act so the need for the board may not be necessary, wherein Mr. Murphy explained that there will still be services and populations that are not being covered under insurance, such as case management in community mental health, some prevention programs, RESPID services and limited visits for psychiatric care. Mr. Murphy then addressed Medicaid supplementation and what it covered, pointing out that it was not legal to use local tax dollars to supplement Medicaid rates. However, he pointed out the best way to protect this board was to spell out in the agency’s contract that funds are not to be used for anything that is covered by Medicaid, which Chairman Ford pointed out was already in Geneva’s funding application. Discussing who are the most at-risk populations, Murphy stated they were the DD population after age 22, followed by prevention/early intervention programs for children, and accessing and connecting the senior population to existing services. The last at-risk population, he noted, was the isolated/uneducated senior population who were unaware of where to receive services. As a result, the INC Board will be putting more funding into that area and promoting what services are available. 708 Geneva Community Mental Health Board - 2- May 12, 2015 Responding to the chairman’s question of how Mr. Murphy sees INC’s role in local 708 responsibilities he proceeded to explain that this board has local control over local resources to address local issues. In comparison, he then read the mission statement for the INC Board and explained the unique role of 708 boards within a community – they are not a provider and yet they can self-define their missions. But, he explained, the other role INC plays is that individuals from the county’s health department seek his input on such matters as how does the INC board see coordinated services countywide. He pointed out that a number of other counties had mental health tied to their county health program but Kane County did not. Furthermore, he discussed the large disparity of ”per person” funding between the various counties, noting Kane County’s funding was extremely miniscule, which he believed what a large disparity on the way the county views its responsibilities for delivering mental heath services. Johnson pointed out that was also due to the fact that Kane County’s health department was a resolution health department and not a referendum health department, like the other counties, which made a difference in their levies. Murphy then proceeded to share some of his personal hot button issues. Discussion then turned toward the ACMHAI dues to which Mr. Murphy said were lowered from .5% to .4% of the levy. He explained that the ACMHAI position that Phyllis Russell held was being restructured to focus on membership services and keeping up with legislative issues. The next ACMHAI quarterly meeting was June 4/5th in Starved Rock with the focus on measuring outcomes. Murphy encouraged members to attend some of the ACMHAI quarterly meetings to get more out of their services and to tap into various resources. He also suggested this board set aside money in its budget for future travel/lodging to attend the meetings. Murphy pointed out that the Geneva 708 Board does have access to the ACMHAI lobbyist – Government Strategy Associates (Terry Steczo or Maureen Mulhall) -- who work to protect the Community Mental Heath Act, watch legislature that has to do with behavior mental health/DD/substance abuse, and watch local government issues. Mr. Murphy raised the fact that the board members, as individuals, could vote on legislation located on the General Assembly’s web site by using voting “slips.” As to substance abuse funding, Murphy said that the INC Board has increased its funding for the area, especially in the dual-diagnosis area – mental health and substance abuse. Details followed. Closing comments from the members included whether this board was going to hold the service providers accountable for their outcomes wherein the chairman recalled for the members that nothing formal was being requested of the providers now and if the board were to receive the data, there was no understanding on how to use the data. But since the board’s application was more specific, it could ask the providers for a couple of programs that this board could fund, which he found helpful. 6. OLD BUSINESS A. May as Mental Health Month – Shogren and Wagner shared their report, along with photos of the various middle school and high school libraries that put up displays for Mental Health Awareness. The Geneva Public Library also participated in this awareness project. Details followed on the students’ reactions at the middle school and high school and the fact that even the school superintendent made two comments about mental health during a board meeting. Shogren shared that all of the libraries were very open to participating in the activity. Thank you cards were circulated to the members to sign for each of the schools. Also, a blurb was included in the high school’s Viking Vessel newsletter. Wagner said the elementary level was a bit more sensitive and did not participate in the activities. B. Goals & Committees – Chairman Ford referenced his draft working copy of goals and objectives and how he condensed it to one page (Appendix 1). He asked for input; no changes followed. Motion to adopt Appendix 1, as presented, by Shogren, seconded by Johnson. Motion carried by voice vote of 6-0. Johnson and McCollister volunteered to work on Appendix 2 – the goal of Advocacy. McCollister read her draft language as it pertained to Advocacy and she would email it to the chairman to get included on the agenda. Wagner and Shogren would also draft their language for the goal of Education and forward it to the chairman. C. Grant Application Approval – Ford referenced three versions of the grant application reflecting what was originally voted upon some time ago, what the city attorney changed, and a clean copy for the board to vote upon to use. Members made minor revisions in version 3. Discussion then followed by Wagner on whether the board should hold the funding night for two nights in order to discuss the funding in more detail. Shogren stated she was new and would have appreciated hearing the rationale for some of the funding numbers that were awarded. The chairman felt two nights was not necessary and said the board could discuss its rationale in one night. Hamilton suggested reviewing the application form tonight but placing it on the agenda for the future discussion; others concurred. Review of the application form followed. Motion by Shogren, seconded by Wagner to approve the application form, with minor corrections. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote of 6-0. 708 Geneva Community Mental Health Board - 3- May 12, 2015 D. Discuss Capital Reserve Future – Shogren suggested using the delineation of the three areas for the capital reserve funding, while the chairman recalled Wagner’s suggestion of using the reserve funding for providing housing for individuals with substance abuse. This matter was tabled for next month. 7. NEW BUSINESS A. Report: League of Women Voters Panel Discussion, Kane Status – Hamilton reported that the League’s position is old and it will be revisited next year. Lynn O’Shea and Jerry Murphy were at the meeting. The common need from the meeting appeared to be housing. B. Letter to Governor – Members had difficulty printing out the letter; however, Johnson suggested calling their legislators instead of sending a letter to the governor. Hamilton said she will be calling Senator Anderson to attend one of the boards meetings. C. ACMHAI Dues of $620.00 – Chairman Ford shared how he has used ACMHAI as a resource in previous years. Motion by Johnson, seconded by Hamilton to approve payment of $620.00 for ACMHAI membership renewal. Motion carried 6-0. Ford will forward the email link to ACMHAI regarding legislation, especially for advocacy purposes, as suggested by Johnson. 1. Due to Goldstein’s resignation, Johnson suggested that when looking for a new board member to include someone with a substance abuse background. Shogren mentioned a possible candidate. Concerns were raised about the balance of the board when any future member left but comments followed that it was a matter of discussing the matter and seeing where the board needed support. Shogren will send the candidate a city application. D. Board Officer Elections Next Month – Chairman Ford announced that officer elections (Chairman, Vice- chairman and Secretary) will take place next month, effective July 1st. 8. PUBLIC COMMENTS/MAIL Ford announced that Amy Singer from the Joshua Tree Community (42W560 Hidden Springs Dr., St. Charles 60175) would like to be added to the grant funding application list. Shogren said she received an email from a grass-roots organization called 100 Women Who Make a Difference and explained how the organization provides funding to various charities four times a year. Wagner voiced concern as to how the money is disbursed, what the legalities were, and who oversees the funds, etc. Shogren offered to get more information but stated the organization is nationwide and this particular chapter was for Geneva residents only. Positive comments followed. 9. ADJOURNMENT The Geneva Mental Health Board meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. on motion by McCollister, seconded by Wagner. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote 6-0. Recording Secretary, Celeste Weilandt