HomeMy WebLinkAboutBlock Grant Meeting Minutes 10.28.25
Franklin County Human Services Block Grant Committee Meeting
Minutes
Monday, October 28th, 2025
10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Virtual Meeting
Voting Members
Virtual:
Kim Crider, Kim Wertz, Brenda Lamar, Lorna Blanchard, Scott Graham, Gayle Brown, Zachary
McCauley, Bruce Levy, Austin Garcia, Sarah Ficher
Absent:
Sherri Sullivan, Kayla Stoner
Staff Members
Virtual:
Stacie Horvath, Hali Finniff, Stacy Rowe, Ashley McCartney, Zachary Gantz, John Thierwechter,
Danielle Beaver, Tressia Day, Ronda Ranalli, Melodie Hoff, Teresa Beckner, Nancy Strueber,
Allison Harvey
Guests
Virtual:
None
Acronyms:
C&Y = Children & Youth HSDF = Human Services Development Fund
D&A = Drug and Alcohol HUD = Housing and Urban Development
DHS = Department of Human Services I&R = Information & Referral
EI = Early Intervention MH/IDD/EI = Mental Health/ Intellectual &
ESG = Emergency Solutions Grant Developmental Disabilities/Early Intervention
FY = Fiscal Year HCP = Healthy Communities Partnership
TMCA = Tuscarora Managed Care Alliance HSBG = Human Services Block Grant
HS = Human Services SCCAP = South Central Community Action Program
Meeting Documents Sent Out:
● Agenda BG 10-28-2025
● HSBG Fiscal Update - Oct 2025
I. Welcome and Introductions:
The meeting was called to order by the chair, Stacie Horvath at 10:30 AM.
● Stacie Horvath introduced all to the meeting for roll call.
● Voting Members, Sherri Sullivan and Kayla Stoner were unable to attend this meeting.
II. Review of Meeting Minutes and approval:
Upon a motion by voting member Scott Graham, and a second by voting member Kim Wertz. All
in favor. 8 Yes (in support), 0 Absent, and 0 No. The minutes of the July 24, 2025, meeting were
approved.
III. Voting approval for Member Seat Person of Lived Experience Housing / Homelessness.
A need for a motion to approve Austin Garcia for the member seat Persons of Lived Experience
Housing / Homelessness. Kim Crider made the motion followed by Lorna Blanchard. All in Favor
with 8 Yes (In support), 0 Abstention, and 0 No.
IV. Voting approval for Member Seat Person of Lived Experience Drug & Alcohol.
A need for a motion to approve Sarah Fisher for the member seat Persons of Lived Experience
Drug & Alcohol. Kim Wertz made the motion followed by Lorna Blanchard. All in Favor with 9 Yes
(In support), 0 Abstention, and 0 No.
V. FY 2024-2025 Human Services Block Grant Plan Retained Earnings / PowerPoint
Presentation and Projects / Planning Discussion:
Stacy Rowe:
Assistant Fiscal Director for Human Services Stacy Rowe presented to the committee, the
Human Services Block Grant Fiscal Report. FY 24-25 allocation remained flat. Total allocation for
FY 24-25, including fiscal year 23-24 retained revenue of $194,851. Total spending through June
30, 2025, was $6,063,480. Not all of those dollars are allowed to be carried over. This allows for
$171,822. eligible for carry-over. The County is required to contribute 2.7% on all State Funded
expenditures. County Match for FY 24-25 is $154,431. Proposed retained revenue plan included
$171,822, estimated to serve 1,584 individuals. The programs within the retained revenue
program are as follows:
1. Veterans Affairs – Military Share ($34,000)
2. Sequential Intercept Mapping (SIM) Workshop ($32,266)
3. Housing Support – Rental Assistance ($30,557)
4. Aging Services ($75,000)
Voting:
1. Upon a motion by Scott Graham, to approve the reallocation of funding to Veterans Affairs
Military Share Program in the amount of $34,000.. Scott Graham to move and a second by Gayle
Brown. All in favor. 10 Yes (in support), 0 Absent, and 0 No.
2. Upon a motion by Lorna Blanchard, to approve the reallocation of funding to Sequential
Intercept Mapping (SIM) Workshop in the amount of $32,266.. Lorna Blanchard to move and a
second by Scott Graham. All in favor. 10 Yes (in support), 0 Absent, and 0 No.
3. Upon a motion by Kim Wertz, to approve the reallocation of funding to Housing Support for
Rental Assistance in the amount of $30,557.. Kim Wertz to move and a second by Lorna
Blanchard. All in favor. 10 Yes (in support), 0 Absent, and 0 No.
4. Upon a motion by Lorna Blanchard, to approve the reallocation of funding to Aging Services in
the amount of $75,000.. Lorna Blanchard to move and a second by Gayle Brown. All in favor. 10
Yes (in support), 0 Absent, and 0 No.
VI. Fiscal Review Update (2025-2026 FY):
Stacy Rowe reported to the committee the 25/26 Fiscal update as follows:
1. The Fiscal Year 25/26 State Budget has not been passed. Operations are proceeding
without an approved state budget.
2. The Fiscal Year 25/26 is assumed to be flat funded.
3. Contingency plans are being prepared in the event the budget impasse extends into
2026, along with plans in case of funding reductions.
4. FY 23/24 Income and Expenditure report was certified on August 15, 2025, by the
Department of Human Services (DHS).
VII. Human Services Program Department Review:
Stacie Horvath informed the departments will be speaking about any updates and crucial
information going on. This is to keep the public and the Block Grant Members informed.
Human Services Administrator: Stacie Horvath
TMCA is the parent broker who has the oversite over Perform Care as the behavioral health
manage company that takes a look at everyone who has medical assistance within Franklin and
Fulton County. For Franklin County there was some unspent dollars that was given to Perform
Care last year, it was not spent by Perform Care. Franklin County was awarded $100,000 and it
needs to be utilized towards consumers with social determinates of health (SDOHs). These are
things that would meet the daily needs for individuals, like housing or warmth, utilities, food, or
transportation. An example would be if someone needed their car repaired in order to get to work
to have a paycheck to keep paying the bills. This came through Human Services; they are
currently talking about how the monies could be spent behind the scenes. The next potential
Human Services Block Grant meeting could be looking to get ideas from the Human Services
Block Grant members on how the monies could be spent.
Mental Health, Intellectual Developmental Disabilities, and Early Intervention with Mental
Health Housing (MH/IDD/EI): CASSP Coordinator Nancy Streuber
CASSP is continuing to take referrals. CASSP is working on getting resources together, so they
are able to provide them to anybody in need. They are currently hearing a lot of RTFs and kids
being discharged or kids need the level of care the residential treatment facility is providing.
There are some complex cases they’ve seen, they are continuing to work with the child and to
provide everything the child needs.
Franklin/Fulton SCA Drug & Alcohol: Program Specialists Danielle Beaver
The department is continuing to provide funding for all intervention, prevention, treatment and
recovery support services. The case management unit is now fully staffed. The newest case
manager just started Thursday, October 23rd. This case manager comes with experience in this
field. D&A are currently doing second round interviews for the recovery support specialist's
position. They are hopeful to extend an offer later this week or next week. This position is to
support recovery planning and group facilitation within the Franklin County Jail. The recovery
support specialists will assist with departmental needs, support community outreach, and help
with warm hand offs from hospital referrals as well as treatment court coordination. This position
will not be providing one-on-one individual recovery support services but will be like a liaison to
services. The operations remain stable but are in a holding pattern for future planning until the
budget is passed. There is a new grant agreement with DDAP, they are currently waiting on
updates. This grant agreement is set to take place on January 1, 2026, and are typically for five
years. The previous one was extended by six months, so the new grant agreement is expected to
be for four and a half years. The terms of the agreement and the conditions are still unknown.
Ombudsman: Ombudsman Tressia Day
The main goal for the upcoming year is to get more volunteers. There is a new volunteer starting
the program now, this will make a total of four volunteers. There is a potential of two new
volunteers interested. They are looking for volunteers to advocate for the residents of the long-
term senior care facilities.
*Stacie Horvath asked the Block Grant Voting members for any updates.
VIII. Community Comments or Discussion
Kim Wertz – Kim Wertz asked if the County budget was still on track. John Thierwechter
responded the Commissioners meetings have been reporting information about the budget. At
this time the county is status quo. Franklin County is in better shape than some counties. The
county is not able to sustain the way the budget is forever, something will need to be passed from
the state.
IX. Next Scheduled Meeting: To be Determined