Mental Health Board

708 GENEVA COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD March 8, 2016 The Geneva Community Mental Health Board met at 7:00 p.m. on March 8, 2016, at Geneva City Hall, Council Chambers Conference Room, 109 James Street, Geneva, Illinois 60134. Present: Chairwoman Shogren, Members Buckley, Gaines, Hamilton, Wagner. Absent: Johnson, Kautz. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL/GUESTS Chairwoman Shogren called the meeting of the Mental Health Board to order at 7:00 p.m. A quorum was present with five (5) 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 Wagner to approve the Omnibus Agenda, seconded by Buckley. Motion carried by voice vote of 5-0. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES/PAYMENTS. A. *Regular Meeting Minutes of February 9, 2016 – approved by Omnibus Agenda. B. *Approve Payment to Recording Secretary for Services – approved by Omnibus Agenda. 5. SPEAKER Kelly Hesselbaum, Interventionist, Geneva High School – Chair Shogren briefly outlined the responsibilities of the Geneva Mental Health Board and the background of its members. Ms. Hesselbaum distributed information breaking down the various social-emotional support systems that School District 304 provides to its students, describing each of its three tiers. She is part of the Kane County Mental Health Partnership that meets monthly with other community service providers who network. Ms. Hesselbaum explained the various social/behavioral programs that currently operate at the elementary, middle and high school levels and the various community partnership programs that run through the school. Ms. Hesselbaum provided statistics on student hospitalizations, noting this year’s numbers were less than last year. She added that hospitals seem to be providing better and slower re-entry for those students returning to school, which was a positive, and she believed the process was better because there was better connection with outside support services. Other statistics followed regarding students receiving individual counseling support as well as Ms. Hesselbaum identifying the social and emotional needs that seem to stand out among high school students: lack of independent problem solving, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and lack of perseverance skills when things do not go well. Additionally, she has identified three clinical issues that appear to be common among high schoolers: anxiety, depression/disengagement, and drug/alcohol abuse. Shogren recalled Mary Jane Johnson’s discussion regarding high school students not having resiliency and asked for Hesselbaum’s thoughts. Ms. Hesselbaum indicated this topic had come up with the counselors but to her, the students were not able to cope with disappointment, which she believed caused the increase in anxiety. However, because this matter was being addressed with the younger students and follow throughout high school, she believed it would benefit the students ultimately. Asked if the parents seemed to be engaged with their children’s mental health issues, Hesselbaum discussed the challenges she saw – specifically with the students who are chronically absent and who she would like to help but found difficult because they missed school as compared to those students who were acting out and actually discussing their needs with the counselors. Chairwoman Shogren circled the dialog back to the fact that this board partnered last year with the Geneva Public Library, along with the middle schools and high school libraries to promote May as Mental Health Month. Shogren informed Ms. Hesselbaum that this board was open to any ideas she had for May as Mental Health Month, wherein Ms. Hesselbaum said the school district’s Virtual Backpack program could be used to disseminate information from this board. As a last comment, Shogren reported this year’s theme for May as Mental Health Month is “Life with a Mental Illness.” 708 Geneva Community Mental Health Board - 2- March 8, 2016 6. CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT Chair Shogren stated she and Hamilton sent an email to Mary McKittrick regarding the disbursal of the November funds, reminding members that the board would submit the request directly to McKittrick and if the aldermen needed more information regarding this request, they could contact Shogren. Shogren said she would also follow up with McKittrick as to whether the providers could fill out an electronic on-line version of the funding application. Shogren then proceeded to discuss a number of news articles relating to mental health topics. She announced that Mental Health America is hosting a conference June 8 - 10, 2016 in Alexandria, Virginia with the conferences theme being “media, messaging, and mental health” and looking in-depth at the impact/influence of media, especially in the entertainment industry as it relates to mental health and mental illness. Details followed. Shogren provided legislative updates from the MHA’s website, the Chicago Board of Health, and the DeKalb County Board of Health. 7. ACMHAI REPORT Shogren reported that the State “hopes” to have a budget in 2017 and so she is now convinced that the board made a very important decision to disburse the extra funds in November; others concurred. On another matter, last month she listened to a webinar which discussed the Substance Abuse and Mental Health organization releasing funding for a pilot program directed toward qualified Illinois service providers that will be eligible for a consolidation of services in order to lower costs for the state. Hamilton shared details. 8. OLD BUSNIESS A. Capital Reserve Fund – Shogren will follow up with City Admin. McKittrick regarding the board’s request to disburse its regular and capital funds this November. B. May Mental Health Month – Members discussed a variety of activities to consider for May but favored the Virtual Back Pack program that Ms. Hesselbaum discussed. Shogren would also email Kevin Stahr at the City to see if the board could add a link on Channel 10 to the MHA’s newsletter and the school district’s Virtual Back program. C. Confirm Speakers/Presenters for April, May Meetings – The chairwoman confirmed April’s speaker will be someone from Renz Addiction Center. She will contact Judge Clint Hull from the Kane County Treatment Alternative Court (TAC) regarding the May meeting and attend the March 10th TAC graduation ceremony. 9. OTHER BUSINESS A. Fox River Valley Initiative Update – Tabled to next month. B. Hamilton distributed copies of the board’s updated mission statement and Arc of the Year. 10. PUBLIC COMMENTS, MAIL A handwritten thank you note from Associate Judge Clint Hull from the Kane County Treatment Alternative Court (TAC) was received, thanking the board for the grant funds. He made himself available to attend one of this board’s meetings and also invited the board to attend a TAC graduation ceremony on March 10, 2016 at Kane County Judicial Center. Thank you notes were received from the following: Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley; Lazarus House; DayOne; The Joshua Tree Community; Elderday Center; TriCity Family Services; Ecker Center; NAMI; Suicide Prevention Services of America. The Wishes for Wellness Chef’s Brunch, hosted by Ecker Center for Mental Health will be held at The Haight, 166 Symphony Way, Elgin from 12:00 Noon to 3 PM on March 13th. 11. ADJOURNMENT The Geneva Mental Health Board meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. on motion by Gaines, seconded by Hamilton. Motion carried unanimously. Recording Secretary, Celeste Weilandt