MINUTES OF THE NOVEMBER 27, 2007 MEETING

MCSSA STANDARD OF LIVING/HOUSING/EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS COMMITTEE

 

MCSSA OFFICE                                                                                                        LANSING

 

Those in attendance                                          County                                                 District

Kim Hughes                                                     Allegan                                                 IV

Wayne Peterson                                               Hillsdale                                               IV

Mike Williams                                                  Branch                                                 IV

Marie Iott                                                         MDHS

Mel Haga                                                         MCSSA

Pam Hartenburg                                               MDHS

Shelley Jipson-Lomax                                       MCSSA

Brian Marcotte                                                 DLEG

Bobbie Rodriguez                                             MDHS

 

 

I.          Meeting Called to Order at 1:30pm by Co-Chair, Wayne Peterson.

 

II.         Disposition of Minutes of October 30, 2007.

Mike Williams moved to approve. Seconded. Motion carried.

 

III.       Reports

            A.        DHS – Pam Hartenburg

Marie Iott and Bobbie Rodriguez reported on the status of Bridges. Bridges testing is ongoing.

 

There have been a few glitches in the FSSP for clients leaving one group and going to another group, but efforts are underway to resolve these glitches. When asked if Bridges is on track the response was that it’s a difficult question to answer. Progress continues to improve functionality and make it field implementation ready. Mike Williams reported that he was part of the testing process before permanent testers were brought on board and he was impressed with what he saw.

 

Identifying information will only have to be entered once. PEM and PAM are being converted to BEM and BAM. Definitions need to be developed because so many things are changing. English will be used rather than code and what used to be an acronym is now a word.

 

MRS is not taking referrals for those claiming disability yet. Service is not being provided to the new JET sites, but continues for the old JET sites.

 

B.         DCH – Brian Marcotte

Brian reported that holes and cavities in JET policy are being worked on. There are some items that conflict with one another, such as whether an individual receiving extended FIP benefits has to be meeting federal requirements for hours. EFIP is extended FIP. As long as they have been moved from FIP to EFIP they are meeting requirements, yet policy conflicts exist. EFIP is intended to give the person a safety net for a longer period of time to ensure their success. Daycare assistance continues under EFIP as does transitional Medicaid.

 

Brian is working with DHS central office on the JET additional money appropriated to DLEG for MRS and his bureau. His staff performed formula runs of the additional money and DMB and DHS approval is being sought.

 

Brian has received a couple of inquiries regarding the local agreements for direct support service money. Bobbie Rodriguez is collecting the “promises” from each local office to the MWAs. A formula run will have to be done once the final amount is known.

 

Policy has been released that increased the budget amounts for the MWAs. Brian’s office has not yet received the program plans and budget summaries to release the additional monies.

 

He’s been working with DHS DIT and their contractor on Bridges updates. They have implemented changes in the one stop MIS system to incorporate Bridges changes.

 

IV.       New Business

            A.        Legislative Priorities

While caseloads are increasing the counties present didn’t report a tremendous increase. Jobs may be available, but they are at low wages and most often part time, thus not providing any benefits.

 

Strengthening Family Life needs to be continued. There is legislation in the hopper that would prohibit any payments under the state’s EITC until the rainy day fund is built to a certain dollar amount. In other words, the poor will be filling the rainy day fund. This would put the onus on the backs of those least able to afford it. We will address this in the priorities.

 

The back-to-school clothing allowance is a “no-brainer” and will be maintained.

 

Energy-efficient housing will be maintained. SER policy is going to make finding affordable, appropriate housing more difficult. Landlords will be required to certify that the property has no lead paint in order for relocation dollars to be used.

 

Committee members were urged to be thinking of issues to be addressed for the FY 2008-2009 budget and raise these issues at the next meeting.

 

V.        Next Meeting Date is December 18 at 1:30pm.

 

VI.       Meeting Adjourned.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Shelley M. Jipson-Lomax

 

STANDARD OF LIVING/HOUSING/EMPLOYMENT programs COMMITTEE

MEETING OF DECEMBER 18, 2007

 

AGENDA

 

 

I.                   Call to order at 1:30 PM

 

II.                 Disposition of the minutes of November 27, 2007

Agenda update

 

III.              Reports

 

A.  Brian Marcotte – DLEG

 

B.  Pam Hartenburg – DHS

 

IV.               Unfinished Business

A.  Legislative Priorities

V.                 New Business

 

A.                 Legislation

1.      SB 662

 

     VI.      Adjournment