MINUTES OF THE MAY 14, 2008 MCSSA ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

 

MCSSA OFFICE                                                                                                              LANSING

 

Those in Attendance                                                     County                                                 District

In Person:

Floyd Rabineau                                                            Chippewa                                             I

Wayne Buskirk                                                             Mason                                                  III

Fred Rogers                                                                 Emmet                                                  III

Dave VanHouten                                                          Missaukee/Wexford                             III

Susan Bailey-Carman                                                   Allegan                                                 IV

Theresa Spencer                                                           Lapeer                                                 V

Irene Bazan Waller                                                       Lapeer/Sanilac                                      V

Mel Haga                                                                     MCSSA

Shelley Jipson-Lomax                                                   MCSSA

Jim Nye                                                                        MDHS

Terry Salacina                                                              MDHS

Evert Vermeer                                                              Member-at-Large

 

Via Telephone:

Larry Boitnott                                                               Mason/Oceana                                     III

Randy Barst                                                                 Saginaw                                               V

Sue Fulton                                                                    Livingston/Shiawassee                          V

 

I.          Meeting Called to Order at 8:05 AM by Acting Chair, Irene Bazan Waller.

 

Irene welcomed Jim Nye and Terry Salacina. Terry will be acting in Jim’s position upon Jim’s retirement.

 

A card was circulated for Mark Stevens who lost his mother yesterday.

 

II.         Disposition of Minutes of April 9, 2008

 

Wayne Buskirk moved to approve. Seconded. Motion carried.

 

III.       Discussion Topics

 

            A.        Children’s Rights Lawsuit

 

A formal announcement was expected the next week, possibly as early as Monday. The plan is that once there is a formal announcement of a resolution, all county directors will likely be invited to a central location to go over the details.

 

B.         Adult Services Programs

 

Staffing for adult services has been difficult since the first round of early retirements. Currently, Adult services is staffed at about 37 percent of actual caseload need. There are no staffing increases in any categories for adult services or cash assistance programs in the 2009 budget. Any increases will be in children’s services. We have had continuing conversations with Cynthia Farrell in regard to the program office concerns. We are all aware that the adult services population has changed in the last few years in that we are seeing more young disabled people, and that tends to be linked to gun injuries or injuries from other weapons. We are no longer seeing the nice elderly lady stereotype; our adult services staff are now entering dangerous areas. An issue with the younger group of recipients is anger. These younger people who will require services for longer periods of time.

 

C.        Regional Accounting Expansion/Single Business Office Successes and

            Challenges

 

There are really no plans for expansion due to the Bridges activities. The plans for regional accounting are on hold.

 

D.        Dual County Arrangements

 

The process remains the same, that being when a county director position becomes vacant a review is done to determine the benefits of dualing two counties, changing a current arrangement, or maintaining the county as a single entity.

 

Grand Traverse and Leelanau have a single office so these two counties will stay connected. When a vacancy occurs the regional manager should meet with the board to discuss the hiring process and also review what is included in a dual county administrative analysis.

 

Is there statistical information on how many clients have taken advantage of the transparent county lines? Jim’s reply was yes, and the number of clients going to another county office for service is small, with the exception of  Mecosta County where the number who chose a different county office were so high that it deleted an entire caseload count. Wexford also saw an influx due to the closing of the Osceola County office.

 

E.         Bureau of Children’s and Adult Licensing Investigations

 

A licensing review, which includes an interview with kids, staff, etc., will be classified as a child protection law investigation similar to a law enforcement investigation as opposed to a CPS investigation, which would involve county office CPS staff. BCAL follows the child protection law, they don’t do risk assessments. This will enable BCAL’s staff to conduct the investigation as they do now with a single report, and they will be given access to central registry. They will allow BCAL staff to add the cases to central registry themselves when a preponderance of evidence is established. This is very good news for the field.

 

F.         Meeting Work First Participation Requirements

 

There is a JET coordinator conference scheduled for June 5 and 6. An L-letter has been sent on the tools available, like the engagement report, etc. We have set a goal of maintaining a 90 percent engagement rate. Jim likens the process back to Project Zero. The reports available should make it easier for staff to track participants.

 

Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) should have completed the hiring of counselors in June, which should result in service to the new counties that came up in the last year. We’re going to have to do a better sales job to get people to MRS and MRS may have to work just a bit harder to keep them engaged.

 

Because of the caseloads, staff don’t spend much time on what MRS can do for the client. We need a better connection with MRS and we need counties to pay attention to medical deferments, which typically are not long lasting.

 

We have to engage those who are currently IN’s. A third of the cases are pulled out of the calculation because they are relative cases, ineligible grantees.

 

Irene noted an E-FIP issue in the thumb area of the state. There are two cases in which the participant earns the money but doesn’t work the hours to meet the requirement. It is not known how many cases there are like this statewide. We can allow 10 hours of community service after the 20-hour requirement is met.

 

Evert suggested that if a brochure were published and given to everyone coming into the county DHS office that explains their rights and responsibilities, along with the services and expectations of MRS it might help. Jim felt this suggestion to be worth exploring.

 

G.        County Director Qualification Requirements

 

The latest plan is that if a person meets the Civil Service qualifications review but does not have a Bachelor’s degree, that person would be eligible for the position as if they were a person with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree. The difference is in the screening criteria.

 

Because of the wording in county director position announcements it is not clear that those without a degree may apply for a qualifications review. A meeting with Sue King is being held and one of the discussion topics is the wording of announcements.

H.        County Director Evaluation Process

 

Board members have been given the second draft and have provided no response, which indicates satisfaction with the proposal. The new process is being reviewed with regional managers. Terry will disseminate the process to the field and MCSSA can disseminate the new process to the county board members. Evaluations are typically due at the end of the fiscal year.

 

A request was made that county board members be given a copy of the final evaluation once it is completed. Confidentiality needs to be built into the process.

 

It is anticipated that the new form and attending process will be disseminated prior to the summer conference and that a presentation will take place on August 13, Board Member Development Day.

 

I.          Director’s Issues

 

Director Ahmed was in St. Ignace.

 

Jim was thanked by the committee on behalf of the whole state for his dedication and caring. Jim commented on how valuable it is to work as a team. He leaves us in good hands with Terry.

 

Now that Jim is a life member he can participate with MCSSA in any way he wishes.

 

Jim commented on his appreciation for working with MCSSA. The association provided him with an avenue for working with the county boards, which he would not have had without the association. The forum of the Advisory Committee has been very beneficial in keeping in touch with the counties.

 

IV.       Meeting Adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Shelley Jipson-Lomax