HomeMy WebLinkAboutBG MINUTES for 10-25-2021
FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COMMISSIONER’S
Human Services Administrator’s Office David S. Keller, Chairman
Human Services Building John T. Flannery
425 Franklin Farm Lane Robert 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 Meeting
Minutes
Date: October 25, 2021
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.
~Virtual~
Attendance:
*Voting Members* *Voting Members*
Persons with Community Staff Staff Staff
Lived Experience Experience Reps.
Rev. James Fox Sherri Sullivan Stacie Horvath Stacy Rowe Glenda Helman
Aging Employment/Training/ Franklin County Human Services Grants
Advocate Specialist Education Human Services Fiscal Manager Management
Community Advocate Administrator
Michael Straley Pastor John Kratz John Thierwechter Christy Unger James Eagler
Drug & Alcohol Faith Based Franklin County Drug & Alcohol Drug & Alcohol
Advocate Specialist Community Advocate Asst. Administrator Administrator Deputy
Administrator
Erin Grant Thomas Reardon Julia Dovey Teresa Beckner Lori Young
Mental Health Housing/Homelessness Fulton County Human Fiscal IDD Program
Advocate Specialist Community Advocate Services Administrator Director Specialist
Zachary McCauley Stacey Brookens Erin Nye Ashley
Early Intervention/Family MH/IDD/EI MH/IDD/EI Deputy McCullough
Advocate Specialist Director Director Aging
Interim Director
Greg Colbert Missy Reisinger Ashley McCartney Sharyn
Homeless Assistance Tuscarora Managed MH/IDD/EI Overcash
Advocate Specialist Care Alliance Fiscal Officer Human Services
Administrative
Assistant
Misty Conner Stacy Yurko
Information Access & Community
LINK Services Connections &
Coordinator Housing Navigation
Coordinator
1
Acronyms: (a very small portion)
C&Y = Children & Youth HSDF = Human Services Development Fund
D&A = Drug & 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 SCCAP = South Central Community Action
HCP = Healthy Communities Partnership Program
HS = Human Services TMCA = Tuscarora Managed Care Alliance
HSBG = Human Services Block Grant
Meeting Documents Sent Out:
1. Human Services Block Grant Meeting Agenda
2. Meeting Minutes from the last Block Grant Meeting (July 13, 2021)
I. Welcome and Introductions
Stacie Horvath welcomed everyone to the meeting. Each individual introduced themselves.
Voting Member Sonja Payne, the At Large Advocate Specialist, was unable to attend today’s
meeting. Sonja gave her proxy vote to Erin Grant. She stated that she would like to be counted
as a positive vote.
II. Approval of the Last Meeting Minutes (July 13, 2021)
● Rev. Fox motioned to approve
● Mike Straley seconded the motion
● All approved
September 7, 2021 Email:
Our twelve (12) voting committee members received the following email with voting instructions on
September 1, 2021 in order for our being able to move forward with the use of FY 2020-2021 carry-
over of Human Services Block Grant funds to add a new position solely for Information Access and
LINK Services Coordinator in the current fiscal year.
I just wanted to share that the request(s) for funding were approved as described in the email
below. Eleven (11) voting members cast yes votes and one (1) did not respond to the email
notification.
September 1, 2021 Email:
In July we went before the Salary Board to request that the current Information and Referral
Coordinator position be re-classed to Community Connection and Housing Navigator Coordinator, in
doing so that position will now solely concentrate on housing and shelter related needs within the
community. We also requested that the Salary Board add a new position solely for Information
Access and LINK services Coordinator. This position will focus solely on information and referral
needs for Franklin County, PA Contact 211 and associated duties, as well as organizing and
2
facilitating professional development for Human Services. The Salary Board approved our request
and the position will be filled effective September 16th. It's estimated that the wages and benefits for
the period September 2021 through June 30, 2022 will be $43,160. We are requesting that the
committee approve the use of FY 2020-2021 carry-over Human Services Block Grant funds to cover
the position in the current fiscal year.
III. Discussion of Projects/Planning for FY 20/21 Retained Earnings (Stacy Rowe)
● There needs to be a few things that need to be reconciled or closeout. Will not have the
final amount for several weeks.
1. The State started a new system for allocating Federal money during Fiscal Year
20/21. They have a glitch in their system and they are not able to allocate our
final Fiscal Year 20/21 Federal allocations. Until we know what that amount is
we will not be able to closeout exactly how much is needed in State funding.
These numbers are tentative but Stacy Rowe doesn’t feel this will be a significant
amount of money and that it will be relatively close.
2. The last meeting we were anticipating returning approximately $43,000. At the
end of the fiscal year there were some increased expenses in the Mental Health
Program and the Intellectual Developmental Disability Program. All of the
allocations were spent and we will not be returning any State funds. As of now,
we are anticipated to carry-over $221,859 into Fiscal Year 2022. The County is
required to contribute 2.7% on all State funded expenditures. This is estimated
to be $158,600 for Fiscal Year 20/21.
● The Block Grant allows us to retain up to five (5) % of State eligible funding which
totals, for Franklin County, $280,421.
● It’s estimated to carry-over $221,859 into Fiscal Year 21/22 as Retained Revenue.
● The state does require a plan for the Retained Revenue. A vote is needed for the
proposed Fiscal Year 20/21 Retained Revenue Plan.
● Proposed Fiscal Year 20/21 Retained Revenue Plan
Committee Approved Projects:
- Mental Health – Children’s Music/Art Therapy – First Start Partnership -
$10,000 (Stacey Brookens/Erin Nye)
This program is going very well. They continue to get referrals for this
program.
- Mental Health – Respite – Kidz Therapy Zone - $21,600
(Stacey Brookens/Erin Nye)
rd
This program is on the third (3) Friday of every month. Funds are provided
until the end of the fiscal year. They take approximately 15 children. There
has been a lot of good feedback about this program. This program also gives
the parents some free time.
- Mental Health – Peace in the Park – First Start Partnership - $10,100
(Stacey Brookens/Erin Nye)
This program is doing very well. They offered sessions throughout the
summer and fall. They use various parks in the Franklin County area. Families
can attend and bring their children. Mostly focused on social skills.
3
- Human Services Developmental Fund – Information and Referral
Coordinator (Wages/Benefits) - $43,160
Please see the previous emails labeled “Vote/HSBG Approval for FY 20-21” at
the beginning of these meeting minutes.
Projects that will require a Vote from the Committee
- Human Services Developmental Fund – Professional Development –
Human Services Training Day (April 6, 2022) - $6,000 (Stacy
Yurko/Misty Conner)
This would include the venue and any special speakers. Training Day is a way
to connect with professionals who are providing Human Services to those
residents of Franklin County with up to date information, skill building, and
knowledge training sessions. This event is held at Rhodes Grove Camp and
Conference Center, 7693 Browns Mill Road, Chambersburg, PA. A lunch is
provided. A multitude of individuals attend.
- Human Services Developmental Fund – Professional Development –
Intro to Human Services (Spring 2022) - $750 (Stacy Yurko)
This is for another Development Training in the spring of 2022. This is geared
more towards the Franklin County staff. Pulling together all of the Human
Service Departments and giving them an overview of all of the various
services that are provided. This will also be held at Rhodes Grove.
- Human Services Developmental Fund – Housing – Landlord Summit -
$6,000
(Stacy Yurko)
The funding would cover the venue, a meal for the Summit as well as pulling
together staff. Communication with landlords is very important. There is a
list of over 170 landlords and their Property Management Companies that
operate in Franklin County. This is to build a Summit in the spring to bring
landlords together along with the Human Services agencies throughout
Franklin County to build a working group.
- Human Services Developmental Fund – Data Warehouse - $46,000
(Missy Reisinger)
Franklin County and Tuscarora Managed Care Alliance (TMCA) joined together
approximately four (4) years ago. The funding is for the split cost of two (2)
staff individuals. Some of the data analytics go towards the Data Warehouse
and some goes toward the Medicaid program. This is the Tuscarora Manage
Care Alliance (TMCA) program. It’s the actual costs of salaries, cost of
software and cost of the server. There are huge amounts of data that are
greater than what their server and network can do. Franklin County pays
sixty (60) percent and Tuscarora Managed Care pulls in forty (40) percent. It
also includes part of the contract service. They started to combine multiple
information system platforms. Some held by the State and some were
4
contracted out by department. They were fairly successful in the first two (2)
to three (3) years. They were able to pull in Mental Health (MH), Intellectual
& Developmental Disabilities (IDD) and Drug & Alcohol. They have the data
available for Early Intervention (EI) and is about to be applied. These
departments are using these dashboards to manage better. Administration is
also using the dashboard to better look across service systems and see
utilization and need. Tuscarora Managed Care Alliance (TMCA) continues the
contract with Franklin County. The next data systems that are targeted to be
brought in, in the next three (3) to four (4) years are Children & Youth (C&Y),
the Jail, the Department of Emergency Services (DES) and the Department of
Aging.
- Human Services Developmental Fund – Virtual HUB –
SCCAP/Waynesboro Human Services – $6,650 (Stacy Rowe/Stacy
Yurko)
This would allow individuals to come in and to have access virtually to
resources. Especially if an individual would have challenges with
communication. The individual may not have access to a phone or a
computer. Some sort of transportation issues could be a challenge.
- Mental Health/Drug & Alcohol – Provider Recruitment/Retention –
Licensed Professionals - $10,000 (Stacy Rowe)
Providers are having difficulties retaining and recruiting licensed
professionals. This funding of $10,000 is to assist providers in order to have
provider and/or recruitment materials that they would be able to be
reimbursed for and also provide staff incentives. Human Service Departments
have been meeting with their providers.
- Mental Health – Residential Providers – Rate Increase - $20,000 (Erin
Nye)
These funds would be specifically towards the residential providers in order
for them to be able to increase their staff’s rate of pay. Many providers have
not seen a rate increase for many years which makes individuals not want to
apply for positions that may be available.
- Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities – Residential Providers – Rate
Increase – $20,000 (Lori Young)
Some of their group home providers have had to consolidate homes due to
the limited amount of staff. There isn’t anybody who receives a waiver can go
into a new home because there is no staff available. This is really needed for
their residential providers to make them competitive with other employment
in the area so that individuals with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
(IDD) continue to live in a home with supports.
* Question: Pastor John Kratz asked what is going to happen once the
$20,000 “has gone away”? What happens after that?
5
Answer: Erin Nye replied that this $20,000 was brought before the Block
Grant to get things started. As a starting cost. In the meantime, the Fiscal
and Program Staff will work together to see if the increase will be
sustainable within the budget going forward.
* Question: Pastor John Kratz asked what criteria would determine which
providers would receive the grant funds and which do not?
Answer: Erin Nye replied that for Mental Health they would look at who
they actually contract with. There are approximately four (4) or so
contracted providers that they work with for residential services. This is
where they would look first.
- Mental Health – Respite Kidz Therapy Zone – Expansion to Waynesboro -
$21,600 (Stacy Rowe)
Currently, this program is located in Chambersburg. This proposal is to
expand the program to Waynesboro as well. They are considering the
Waynesboro High School to utilize their classrooms. They would be able to
start this program in November.
o There is flexibility with this plan.
o The total 2020-2021 Proposed Retained Earnings Allocation in the amount of $221,860
must be fully expended by June 30, 2021.
o A Retained Earnings plan must be submitted and approved by the State. The plan is
submitted with the annual Expenditure Report.
o The State has not released a due date for the Fiscal Year 20-21 annual fiscal reports.
o Allocations are still pending for Fiscal Year 21-22.
VOTE: To Approve this Plan as it is Prepared
● Thomas Reardon motioned to approve
● Pastor John Kratz seconded the motion
● Approvals
“Yes votes = eight (8)
“No votes = zero (0)
“Abstained” = zero (0)
Fiscal Year 21-22 Summary (Stacy Rowe)
o Have not received the Fiscal Year 21-22 allocations from the State.
o We are receiving payments. Based on the payments that we are receiving there are
some pockets of one (1) time funding the State has allocated over the past three (3)
fiscal years. One (1) category is in Mental Health. It’s the MHSBG Federal funding. It
looks like we are continuing to receive additional funds there. We will likely receive
more than the $187,206. The last several fiscal years we have received an additional
$80,000 on top of that.
In Drug and Alcohol there is a separate pocket of money that they have been allocating
for $46,000. It is under the BHSI category. It’s Opioid specific. Based on payments we
have received to date it looks like we are receiving the additional $46,000.
6
o The allocations remain around $6.3 million. Estimating to serve over 13,000
individuals.
IV. Human Services Program Department Reviews:
● Franklin County Adult Probation Department – Douglas Wilburne
o Not Present
● Mental Health/Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities/Early Intervention –
Stacey Brookens/Erin Nye/Lori Young
o Mental Health – Erin Nye
▪ A part-time Housing Program Specialist started last week. Her name is
Jennifer Hudler. She will oversee the Housing Expansion and the PATH
Programs.
▪ Recently, their Fiscal Officer, Becky Leidig, resigned. This position is still
vacant but they do have a temporary Fiscal Assistant that started on October
22, 2021. She will assist Ashley McCartney and Stacy Rowe.
▪ There were 16 new members who graduated from the CIT Training in
September. This was forty (40) hour curriculum training. The training dates
for 2022 have been selected for and September. More information will come
out at a later time.
▪ The Crisis Intervention Pre-trial Grant was submitted. The grant requests a
rd
3 Co-responder and funds to assist Franklin and Fulton and Cumberland
Perry County to become a Certified Regional CIT Program.
▪ October 22, 2021, Child and Adolescent Service Systems Program (CASSP)
Coordinator held a Children’s Resource Meeting. The meeting was to get
providers, schools and any other interested parties connected to learn more
about accessing children’s Mental Health Services. This meeting went very
well. This will be a quarterly meeting.
▪ The Forensic Specialized Community Residence (FSCR), which is an eight (8)
bed residence that will provide quality recovery oriented service provision
for adults with serious Mental Illness, the most recent update is that staff
recruitment continues to be a barrier, but they recently had an interview and
they will be offering the position to that person. There are three (3) more
interviews scheduled. They also identified the first three individuals who will
be moving in as soon as they are fully staffed.
▪ Staff continues to attend meetings, webinars and discussions in regards to
988. This is the three (3) digits Universal Calling Code that will be starting
July, 2022 for Mental Health and Suicidal Crisis. The Federal Law established
this as an easy to remember number.
o Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Lori Young
▪ There is just one (1) day program open, which is Occupational Services,
Inc. (OSI). The other programs closed due to an Office of Developmental
Programs (ODP) mandate, due to COVID. One (1) of the programs is due
to re-open in November, 2021 and there is no word on the other one (1).
These programs are waiver funded.
7
▪ They have a new transportation provider. It is the Alliance for Non-profit
Resources (ANR). They provide transportation for individuals with
Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDD) to and from work and day
programs.
▪ The Community Mobile Nurse, which is Block Grant funded, is doing a very
good job. The Community Mobile Nurse is for individuals who live with
their families but may need more assistance where medical needs are
concerned.
● Children & Youth – Minnie Goshorn/Donna Davis
o Not present
● Area Agency on Aging Department - Ashley McCullough
o Stacie Horvath reported that Ashley McCullough is the Deputy Director of Aging
and is also the Interim Director as they still continue to interview for the Director
of Aging. Second interviews are scheduled for tomorrow, October 26, 2021.
Ashley McCullough is doing a fantastic job!
o Ashley McCullough reported that everything in the Aging Department is steady.
They have two (2) staff vacancies for Care Manager. Everyone is doing a great job
and keeping up with their case loads.
o Currently, it is open enrollment. The Aging Department is very busy with
Medicare Counseling. This will go through December 7, 2021.
o The intakes for In Home Services have been steady. Last month was a slight bit
lower than normal. Still getting a lot of referrals.
o All Senior Centers are fully open except Mont Alto Senior Center. The reason
Mont Alto Senior Center has not fully opened is due to hiring a new manager.
● Ombudsman – Payton Mummert
o Not present
● Grants Department – Glenda Helman/Dan Brown
o In regards to the Human Service Block Grant, they have not received the
Verification of Acceptance of the Human Services Plan for Franklin County. They
also have not received any requests for changes which indicate they are headed
down a good path.
o The Criminal Justice Advisory Board will be this Thursday, October 28, 2021. The
presentation will be Juvenile Justice System Enhancement Strategies and how
they affect Franklin County. Judge Krom and Chief Ackerman will be presenting at
this meeting.
o The department has received word about the Emergency Shelter Grant for 2021.
The County will be receiving $165,498 which will go to the two (2) sub-recipients
which is South Central Community Action and Waynesboro Community and
Human Services. It’s used for Rapid Rehousing to get individuals into housing out
of homelessness and will help with the cost of Emergency Shelter for Homeless
Prevention for individuals who are facing eviction and for the Homeless
Management Information System. It will pay for individuals to enter information
into the system. Each of the recipients will receive three (3). five (5) %
administrative costs.
● Drug & Alcohol – Christy Unger/James Eagler
o The department is fully staffed.
▪ They have a new Prevention Educator who started two (2) weeks ago.
8
▪ Two (2) new Case Manager’s started within the last two (2) months. One
(1) is working with Probation through a grant for individuals who are
sentenced to Probation with restricted conditions.
▪ A new Fiscal Officer started a little over a month ago.
▪ Their new Administrative Assistant started back in July.
o There are some additional services they have been contacting for.
▪ Added an additional Certified Recovery House to their contracts. House of
Hope is a Recovery House located in Chambersburg.
▪ The department is in the process of adding providers to offer Certified
Recovery Specialists (CRS). Certified Recovery Specialist (CRS) is in plan
for PerformCare a lot more of the facilities are hiring a Certified Recovery
Specialist (CRS) to offer those services and they can bill Medical Assistance
(MA) for Medical Assistance (MA) funded clients.
▪ They also have a Family Certified Recovery Specialists (FCRS) who is
employed by Roxbury Outpatient Services in Chambersburg. She is going
to start offering some family support classes for adults who are affected by
a loved one’s use
o The next Treatment Court is moving to in-person court.
o The department is seeing increases in call and referral volume.
o Continuing to learn about additional needs. The State is pushing counties to offer
more community based Case Management.
o Stacie Horvath asked Christy Unger if they need additional members for the Drug
& Alcohol Advisory Board. They still need a member for Education and a member
with Lived Experience and an individual affected by Substance Use for Franklin or
Fulton County. One would need to be Fulton County.
● Community Connections and Housing Navigation - Stacy Yurko
o Seeing an increase in those who are not eligible for Emergency Rental Assistance
(ERAP) Program Funds but are coming for other funding to help them from being
evicted.
o Shelters have been maxed out. They are down to one (1) shelter who is accepting
referrals. This shelter is the Waynesboro New Hope Shelter.
*If you know of anyone who is looking for housing, in regards to the shelter,
please refer them to Stacy Yurko so she can seek other means of shelter.
o On their “By Name List”, active households who are either street homeless or
fleeing Domestic Violence, there are 122 households at this time for Franklin
County.
o The biggest issue they are finding is affordable housing. Rent for a two (2) or
three (3) bedroom have drastically increased. The individuals they are working
with cannot afford such a high rent payment.
o Landlords are renting to individuals/families with the highest credit scores. They
are also asking individuals/families to show their income is three (3) times the
amount of their rent. Example: With a $1,000 per month rent payment the
individual needs to show their income is three (3) times that much per month. So
9
$3,000 is what they would need to pay for the first month’s rent and security prior
to moving in.
● Information & Referral Access and LINK Services – Misty Conner
o Most of the calls they are receiving are individuals calling for help with their gas
and electric bills. Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
started accepting applications on Monday October 18, 2021 and will go through
May 5, 2022. Most other calls are for food pantries, soup kitchens and rent
payments.
● Veterans Affairs (VA) – Justin Slep
o Not present
● Tuscarora Managed Care Alliance (TMCA) – Missy Reisinger
o Not present for Department Review Updates.
V. Community Comments or Discussion
● Rev. Fox asked about advertising a newspaper article that he had read in the Herald
Mail–Facebook Live Presentations coming up in November by Brook Lane, Hagerstown,
MD. There are five courses they will be presenting on line regarding Care Giving and
Holiday Stress. Rev. Fox will send Ashley McCullough the article information.
● John Thierwechter, Franklin County Assistant Administrator, reported that they are
now in the new Judicial Center. There are some minor things they are working through
but overall everyone seems to be very positive about the Center.
VI. Next Scheduled Meeting: TBD
Meeting Adjourned:
● Mike Straley motioned to Adjourn
● Thomas Reardon seconded the motion
● All approved
10