HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-09-12 Meeting Minutes
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COMMISSIONER’S
Human Services Administrator’s Office David S. Keller, Chairman
Human Services Building Robert L. Thomas
425 Franklin Farm Lane Robert G. Ziobrowski
Chambersburg, PA 17202
www.franklincountypa.gov
Hearing Impaired Number: (717) 264-8474
Human Services Administrator
Telephone: (717) 261-3893 Stacie M. Horvath
FAX: (717) 261-0999 smhorvath@franklincountypa.g ov
Franklin County Human Services Block Grant Committee Meeting
Minutes
Date: September 12, 2019
Time: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Franklin County Human Services Building
425 Franklin Farm Lane
Chambersburg, PA 17202
Attendance:
Voting Committee Staff Staff Staff
Amy Hicks Stacie Horvath Stacy Rowe Stacey Brookens
Employment/Training/Education Human Services Fiscal MH/IDD/EI
Community Representative Administrator Department Departments
Thomas Reardon April Brown Glenda Helman Traci Kline
Housing/Homelessness Drug and Alcohol Grants Aging
Community Representative Department Department Department
Michelle Sedgwick Christy Briggs Marisa Shields Stacy Yurko
Early Intervention (EI) Fiscal Grants Information
Consumer Representative Department Department &Referral (I&R)
Ann Spottswood Sharyn Overcash Jessica Brangarcio
Health Planning Human Services
TMCA
Community Representative Administrative Assistant
H.S. = Human Services D&A = Drug and Alcohol C&Y = Children and Youth
MH/IDD/EI = Mental Health/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities/Early Intervention
TMCA = Tuscarora Managed Care Alliance I&R = Information and Referral
HSDF = Human Services Development Fund
Meeting Documents/Handouts:
1. Today’s Meeting Agenda
2. Meeting minutes from the last meeting, 7/23/19
3. Fiscal Report
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I. Welcome and Introductions
II. Presentation/Leah’s Legacy
Michael and Robin Straley, of Greencastle, spoke about their daughter Leah. Leah struggled with
addiction. Since her teens, she had been through rehab programs and lived in sober houses. Last year,
Leah’s addiction took over her life. She passed away on Valentine’s Day of 2018 at the age of 26.
December of 2018, Leah was in a sober-living home in Ephrata, PA. It was Christmas time. A Church
group brought gifts to the home. The gifts were very nicely wrapped, except one. This one gift bag was
in a garbage bag. Leah decided to take that one. Inside the garbage bag was a pocketbook filled with all
kinds of items, basic necessities. She called her parents that same afternoon. She was so excited about
everything that was in that bag/pocketbook. Two months later, she had passed away from a fentanyl
overdose.
To honor Leah’s memory, Mike and Robin created a Leah’s Legacy Bag. The bag is filled with all kinds
of essentials that will help other women in Sober Living Homes. The bags are a specially made
drawstring bag. Some of the items in the bag are; a comb and hair brush, toothbrush and cover, notebook
and pen, deodorant, bombas socks, manicure set, dental floss, toothpaste, lip balm, snacks, hand cream,
bath towel and bath sponge and a few other things. There are also some seasonal items such as, a
blanket, an umbrella and a hat, scarf and gloves. They make sure all of the bags are the same. They
purchase the items in bulk, which allows them to receive discounts. The cost to put each bag together is
between $45.00 to $50.00.
So far, Mike and Robin have done a total of 4 distributions. They are getting ready to do a distribution at
Gracie’s House in Chambersburg. Robin said that everybody is very appreciative of the bags.
The bags will be distributed to Franklin County residents.
Robin created a website called leah’slegacy.net. She also created the Leah’s Legacy Logo.
Mike expressed, they are in this for the “long haul”. Their goal is to distribute, at least, 200 bags over the
next year. He doesn’t feel this will be a problem.
Leah’s Legacy magnets were distributed with the website address on them.
III. Approval of July 23, 2019 Meeting Minutes
a. Ann Spottswood motioned to approve
b. Michelle Sedgwick seconded the motion
c. All approved
IV. Fiscal Review of Current 19/20 Year/Update (Stacy Rowe)
a. Still closing FY 18/19. At this time, the numbers are not final but are very close.
b. There is an allowable carry-over balance of $154,937.
c. The total allocations for FY 18/19, in the amount of $6.3 million includes the carry-over from
FY17/18 in the amount of $274,225.
d. The County is required to contribute a match of 2.7% on that annually . The match is on the State
funded dollars only. The match for FY18/19 is estimated to be $156,500.
e. The Block Grant is allowed to retain revenue, annually, of up to 5% of the State allocation. The total
is $283,914 for FY18/19. The allowable carry-over totals is $154,937.
f. There are two (2) items of which the Committee will need to vote on:
1. FY18/19 Overage in Information and Referral, which is the Human Service Development Fund
category, in the amount of $13,623.
2. The proposed allocation of FY18/19 carry-over.
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V. Fiscal Year 18/19: Review of Non-expensed Monies and Discussion of Requests for Utilization
The following, are areas of which to be presented to the committee to allocate the FY18/19 Retained
Revenue. This is a summary of all requests. Most of them will go through the Human Services
Development Fund (HSDF):
1. Community Connections/Human Services Housing (HSDF) = The proposed amount is $83,437.
The estimated number of individuals to be served is 625.
2. Aging/Personal Care Services (HSDF) = The proposed amount it $20,000, with the estimated
number of individuals to be served is 10.
3. Strengthening Families Program (HSDF) = Healthy Communities Partnership (HCP) has
proposed the amount of $18,000, with the estimated number of individuals to be served is 120.
4. Training Days (HSDF) = The proposed amount it $12,000, with the estimated number of
individuals to be served is 500.
5. Aging Services – Grandparents Partnership Program (HSDF) = The proposed amount it $8,000,
with the estimated number of individuals to be served is 25.
6. Data Warehouse – Children and Youth (HSDF) = The proposed amount it $7,000, with the
estimated number of individuals to be served is N/A.
7. Recovery Outreach and Support (Drug and Alcohol) = The proposed amount it $6,500, with the
estimated number of individuals to be served is 200.
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*Funds of which are retained and carried over to the next year, must be fully expended by June 30 of
the following year. If the funds are not spent, they must be returned to the State.
A Retained Revenue plan must be submitted to the State, each year, requesting approval for the selected
projects. The plan is submitted with the annual Fiscal Report.
Project Descriptions:
1. Community Connections/Human Services Housing ($84,937)
*Stacie Horvath
a. This program will assist with the planning, development and implementation of housing
programs through different Human Services departments, as well as providing oversight for
the coordinated entry system known as Connect to Home.
b. The concept is to have a three (3) person team available in order to connect individuals
with available programs and services.
c. The thought behind the Communities Connection Division is to continue to do what needs
to be done and also for future expansions.
d. The different departments within Human Services have been working together and working
with outside agencies, who are also providing housing services, to come together, to strive
to make it easier and less complicated for individuals who are homeless.
e. Stacy Rowe explained that the Block Grant funding would only serve an estimated 625
individuals. The entire division is estimated to serve, at least, 1600 or more individuals
annually.
f. Ann Spottswood asked if there has been any thought or consideration, for the individuals
who are not available during the daytime hours, due to their working schedules, of being
available until seven (7) p.m. in the evening?
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Stacie Horvath replied “yes” to this question. Out of the three (3) individuals working with
Community Connections, two (2) of the three (3) positions will be non-exempt. The third
position will be exempt.
Stacy Rowe said that for the first year, the cost is primarily for the addition of one (1) position
and pulling the team together. They are anticipating, for year two (2), and in the future years,
an additional $15,000 to $20,000 to keep the program moving forward.
2. Human Services Development Fund – Aging Personal Care Services ($20,000)
*Traci Kline
Services for Aging have continued to increase. They receive approximately 70 referrals per
month opposed to 15 referrals per month as in the previous years.
Personal Care Services is the main request Aging receives.
a. Personal Care is “in home” services where contracted agencies will go directly to the
individuals home.
b. This service is for individuals who do not need the level of a nursing home facility but
need some assistance to stay independent while living in their home.
c. A typical care plan is approximately $600 per month. The cap on this is $765 per
month.
d. The $20,000 requested, conservatively, would serve approximately 10 individuals. It
would depend on how much services the individual would need.
3. Human Services Development Fund – Strengthening Families ($18,000)
*Stacey Brookens & April Brown
a. This program serves families living in the Chambersburg and Greencastle area.
b. This is a universal seven (7) week evidence-based program. It is short term but has a
long term effect.
c. It is designed to work with families to improve parenting skills and family relationships.
d. It spans across multiple disciplines which include problem behaviors, delinquency and
drug and alcohol abuse in children.
e. It works on the children and caretakers in the home as well as to help build healthy
attachment.
There was a discussion regarding the reported outcomes for this program, to justify the
funding.
a. Ann Spottswood questioned the number of cohorts requested.
b. Christy Briggs supplied data information:
Chambersburg = eight (8) families; eleven (11) parents; ten (10) youth and five
(5) children.
Greencastle = six (6) families; eight (8) parents; seven (7) youth and two (2)
children.
With the grand total of forty-three (43) individuals.
c. Thomas Reardon made a comment that he would like to see the pre and post test results.
* The data information will be sent out via email. At that time, we will ask for a vote (via
email).
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4. Human Services Development Fund – Training Days ($12,000)
*Stacy Yurko
a. This is a free, one (1) day event, held at Rhodes Grove in Chambersburg.
b. This is for anyone who is working in Human Services.
c. Training Days offers a keynote speaker. There are three (3) different sessions with four
(4) different categories.
d. Individuals can attend as much as the entire day to as little as just one (1)
session/category.
e. The event is October 16, 2019. Each year, the event is held in October and there is
another one in April.
f. The theme, this year, is on diversity and inclusions.
g. Registration will be open until the end of September. Currently, there are 122
individuals registered.
5. Aging Grandparent Partnership Program ($8,000)
*Traci Kline
a. Working and having discussions with the Keystone Stars Program.
b. The intent is to have “Seniors” partner with daycare centers.
c. Starting the program in the Waynesboro area.
d. This is a really good volunteer opportunity for Seniors to work with the children to give
them a head start at learning.
e. This is a Faith-based program.
6. Human Service Development Fund – Data Warehouse ($7,000)
*Jessica Brangaccio
a. Stacy Rowe explained that there is a question out to the State regarding this request. The
question is, if this request is eligible under the Human Services Development Fund as it is
more program specific rather than project specific. If the State would say it is not eligible
under the HSDF, there would be a proposal of a plan B. The plan B would be to divert
this $7,000 to Aging for additional Personal Care Services. If this would be the case,
there may be an additional vote needed by the Block Grant Committee.
b. The Human Service Data Warehouse is bringing together population data and service
level data from the eight (8) different Human Service Departments.
c. They have encountered some struggles with Children and Youth data, due to the State
Level System. The contractor/vendor, of which controls and validates the data, has never
built an extract in the format TMCA needs for the Data Warehouse.
d. The cost to build this would be approximately $7,000 as a one (1) time expense.
7. Drug and Alcohol Recovery Outreach and Support ($6,500)
*April Brown
a. This request is for the purchase of the Leah’s Legacy bags. The cost of the bag itself
and the items within the bag.
b. Today’s presentation listed the several contents in the bags.
c. The budgeted amount is $50 per bag, which would supply 130 bags.
Stacie Horvath asked if anyone had additional proposals for discussion.
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The next steps would be for the committee to vote on each item. There are four (4) voting members
in attendance at today’s meeting. In the event of a tie, Stacie Horvath would be the tie-breaker.
Amy Hicks stated that she feels relatively comfortable of what has been presented.
a. Amy Hicks motioned to approve the proposals as presented, with the stipulation
that there will be a hold on “Strengthening Families” until the follow up data
information is provided to the committee.
b. All approved.
VI. Discussion of Potential New Member Recruitment
There are twelve (12) spots for voting members.
There is a category, “persons with lived experience” and a category, “Community Experience
Representatives”.
o Persons with Lived Experience (6 spots):
1. Mental Health (MH) = Vacant
2. Intellectual Development Disabilities (IDD) = Carey Freeman is the Consumer
Representative for this category.
3. Early Intervention (EI) = Michelle Sedgwick is the Consumer Representative for this
category.
4. Drug & Alcohol = Vacant
5. Aging = Vacant
6. Homeless Assistance = Vacant
o Community Experience Representatives (6 spots):
1. Health Planning = Ann Spottswood is the Community Experience Representative for this
category.
2. Employment/Training/Education = Amy Hicks is the Community Experience
Representative for this category.
3. Housing/Homelessness = Thomas Reardon is the Community Experience Representative
for this category.
4. Criminal Justice = Vacant
5. At Large/Community & Family Liaison = Sherrie Sullivan is the Community
Experience Representative for this category.
6. Faith Based = Mary Margaret Bittle
Please contact Stacie Horvath or Sharyn Overcash with potential new member names along
with their contact information.
VII. Open Discussion
Amy Hicks from the United Way of Franklin County
o United Way is excited to be introducing the A.L.I.C.E (Asset Limited, Income Constrained,
Employed) initiative.
a. This initiative helps them to describe and help understand the individuals they serve who
are working but struggling to make ends meet.
b. They talk about choices, but sometimes the choices are very limited.
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c. To see the data for A.L.I.C.E, go to uwfcpa.org or just goggle United Way of Franklin
County.
d. They will be holding group conversations on the A.L.I.C.E. topic. If interested in
participating in the group conversation, contact Amy Hicks.
o United Ways Campaign Kick Off is Friday, September 27, 2019 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., at
the Orchard’s Restaurant, Chambersburg.
a. There will be an A.L.I.C.E. presentation.
b. Sharyn Overcash will send out the details of the “Kick Off”.
Ann Spottswood from Wellspan Health
a. Ann reminded everyone to please help promote the Summit Endowment fund availability.
b. The Summit Endowment 2020 Grant Making Workshops are Thursday, October 3, 2019
from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. and Friday, October 11, 2019 from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Stacy Yurko
will send out the flyer.
c. They are currently working on Strategic Planning, which is based off of the Community
Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and the priorities of the Community Health
Improvement Plan (CHIP).
d. The Endowment will be looking at funding priorities.
VIII. Next Scheduled Meeting: To Be Determined
IX. Adjournment
Thomas Reardon motioned to adjourn.
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