HomeMy WebLinkAboutBG MINUTES for 2-17-2022
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: February 17, 2022
Time: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
~Virtual~
Attendance:
*Voting Members* *Voting Members*
Persons with Community Staff Staff Staff Public
Lived Experience Experience Reps.
Rev. James Fox Kim Crider Stacie Horvath Stacy Rowe Minnie Goshorn Tom O’Connor
Aging Health Planning Franklin County Human Services Children & President/
Advocate Specialist Community Advocate Human Services Fiscal Manager Youth Director LegUp Farm
Administrator
Michael Straley Doug Wilburne John Thierwechter Christy Unger Leslie Bowers Queen Alana
Drug & Alcohol Criminal Justice Franklin County Drug & Alcohol Drug & Alcohol Lorna
Advocate Specialist Community Advocate Assistant Administrator Fiscal Officer Blanchard’s
Administrator Daughter
Erin Grant Thomas Reardon Stacey Brookens Ashley Lori Young
Mental Health Housing/Homelessness MH/IDD/EI McCartney IDD Program
Advocate Specialist Community Advocate Administrator MH/IDD/EI Specialist
Fiscal Officer
Zachary McCauley Glenda Helman Erin Nye Cori Seilhamer
Early Grants MH/IDD/EI Mental Health
Intervention/Family Management Deputy Director Program
Advocate Specialist Specialist
Lorna Blanchard Missy Reisinger Thomas
Intellectual Tuscarora Hippenstiel Tawnya Hurley
Developmental Managed Data Engineer Aging Director
Disabilities Care Alliance TMCA
Advocate Specialist (Staff)
Misty Conner Stacy Yurko Sheena Baker Sharyn
Information Access Housing Communication Overcash
& LINK Services Program Coordinator Human Services
Coordinator Specialist Assistant Admin. Asst.
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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 (October 25, 2021)
I. Welcome and Introductions
Stacie Horvath welcomed everyone to the meeting. Each individual introduced themselves.
Voting Member Greg Colbert, the Homeless Assistance Advocate Specialist, was unable to attend
today’s meeting. Greg gave his proxy vote to Rev. James Fox.
II. Approval of the Last Meeting Minutes (October 25, 2021)
Rev. James Fox motioned to approve
Lorna Blanchard seconded the motion
All approved
III. Current FY Program Review: 2021-2022
Fiscal Year 21-22 Summary
o Recently received the Fiscal Year 21-22 allocation from the State in the amount of
$6,641,012. This includes the Fiscal Year 20-21 carry-over in the amount of
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$230,669. Through December 31, 2021 the amount spent was $2,744,930.
Anticipating spending $6,393,344 allowing an eligible amount for carry-over
$150,000 projected currently.
o The County is required to contribute 2.7% on all State funded expenditures.
o The County match for Fiscal Year 21-22 is estimated to be $165,000.
Fiscal Year 20-21 Retained Revenue Plan
o A Retained Earnings Plan must be submitted and approved by the State. Funds are
required to be fully expended by June 30, 2022.
o At the State level there was a glitch in the system. The annual reporting tool was
not released and wasn’t due until December and January of this year. Normally,
this was reported to the State in September following the Fiscal Year. Requested a
Waiver to the State allowing to have additional time past the January deadline.
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The State granted the request. The Fiscal Year Report and the Retained Revenue
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Plan is now due by March 8.
Committee Previously Approved Projects:
- Mental Health – Children’s Music/Art Therapy – First Start Partnership -
$10,000
- Mental Health – Respite – Kidz Therapy Zone - $43,200
- Mental Health – Peace in the Park – First Start Partnership - $10,100
- Human Services Developmental Fund – Information and Referral
Coordinator (Wages/Benefits) - $43,160
- Human Service Development Fund – Data Warehouse - $46,000
- Human Service Development Fund – Professional Development – HS Virtual
Training Day April 2022 - $2,000
Projects that will require a Vote from the Committee:
- Mental Health – Provider Increase – Full Care Services - $38,532
There are currently several providers who are having staffing issues. One of
their providers suggested wage increases. The New Vision School Care is a
residential group home that offers twenty-four (24) hour care. The home is in
Chambersburg. The home would like to give their staff a wage increase to
continue to work and provide the services that are needed.
VOTE: To Approve this Provider Increase
o Thomas Reardon motioned to approve
o Erin Grant seconded the motion
o Approvals:
“Yes” votes = eight (8)
“No” votes = zero (0)
“Abstained” = zero (0)
- Mental Health – Student Assistance Program Training – Spring 2022 -
$3,000
This program is operated by Healthy Communities Partnership. There has been
an increase in the number of referrals to this program. The staff is working with
students to complete the Mental Health screenings that are needed to identify
what support and services they need. They are looking into having a training to
help team members to learn. It’s a trained Students Assistance professional who
has also been trained in the program. They would like to offer the free virtual
training in September. The presenters name is Melissa Gordon. She is the
Director of Prevention Training and Education for the Council of
Southeast Pennsylvania. She is offering six (6) half day virtual trainings for up
to thirty (30) individuals at the $3,000 cost.
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VOTE: To Approve the Student Assistance Program Training
o Lorna Blanchard motioned to approve
o Kim Crider seconded the motion
o Approvals
“Yes” votes = eight (8)
“No” votes = zero (0)
“Abstained” = zero (0)
- Mental Health – OSI Transportation Program - $8,774
Occupational Services, Inc. has been talking about wanting to provide
transportation services to the individuals in the program. They submitted a
request. They currently have five (5) individuals that have been referred by
Service Access and Management but they cannot attend the program due to no
transportation. They have three (3) individuals in the program that do not have
transportation or cannot rely on their current transportation. This is minus the
five (5) that have been referred. The transportation would include pick up and
drop off for each individual.
VOTE: To Approve the OSI Transportation Program
o Lorna Blanchard motioned to approve
o Thomas Reardon seconded the motion
o Approvals
“Yes” votes = eight (8)
“No” votes = zero (0)
“Abstained” = zero (0)
- Mental Health – Peer Support Training Certification - $3,903
This would allow two (2) individuals to become certified as Peer Support
Specialists. This request is coming from the Mental Health Association. They
will be hosting a two (2) week Certified Peer Support Training in March. The
cost will include: the training, it’s the registration fee, the training cost, taxes
and a Pennsylvania Certification Exam.
VOTE: To Approve the Peer Support Training Certification
o Kim Crider motioned to approve
o Lorna Blanchard seconded the motion
o Approvals
“Yes” votes = eight (8)
“No” votes = zero (0)
“Abstained” = zero (0)
- Human Service Development Fund – Data Warehouse – Children & Youth
Services (CYS) Data Conversion - $7,000
This has been on the list for several years. There have been some challenges
with contracting with the provider on the other side. The challenges were
worked out and there is a plan in place.
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They are starting to enter the Children and Youth data into the Human Services
Data Base.
They have plans to include several other data systems. They currently have five
(5) store systems in:
1. Mental Health data
2. Intellectual Developmental Disabilities data
3. Veterans Administration data
4. Medicaid data for Behavioral Health which includes Substance Abuse
and Mental Health data
5. Drug and Alcohol data
6. The Children and Youth data will be entered
7. There are two (2) systems that are Auxiliary Systems that could feed into
it.
8. Department of Emergency Services and the Jail are on a hold due to
legal reasons.
9. Having some issues with the Department of Aging regarding who can
have access to their systems to pull down the data.
VOTE: To Approve the Data Warehouse – CYS Data Conversion
o Thomas Reardon motioned to approve
o Doug Wilburne seconded the motion
o Approvals
“Yes” votes = eight (8)
“No” votes = zero (0)
“Abstained” = zero (0)
- Human Service Development Fund – Military Share Program - $15,000
The Veteran Affairs is requesting $15,000 to fund and operate the Franklin
County MilitaryShare Program for a period of one (1) year.
They plan to start operations in two (2) locations. There will be a tractor trailer
filled with a variety of different kinds of food for the Veterans in Franklin
County. This is a monthly program. Each Veteran/family is required to provide
proof of military service in order to participate. They will also need to complete
necessary paperwork which includes their address, telephone number, the
number of individuals in the household along with their ages.
Since this is not a current Human Service Program within the County, this
request was submitted to the State for prior approval for a specialized service.
The State did grant approval.
VOTE: To Approve the Military Share Program
o Lorna Blanchard motioned to approve
o Doug Wilburne seconded the motion
o Approvals
“Yes” votes = eight (8)
“No” votes = zero (0)
“Abstained” = zero (0)
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IV. Funding Discussion for FY 2020-2021
Vote for Funding Request Proposal – LegUp Farm Program
o The President of LegUp Farm is Tom O’Connor.
o LegUp Farm is a Pediatric Outpatient Therapy Center.
o Their location is in Mt. Wolf in York County.
o The farm is coming up on their twelfth (12) year of operation.
o They provide approximately 20,000 Outpatient Therapy appointments annually to
approximately 700 different children throughout the area.
o They do Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy, Behavioral Health Services,
Nutrition Counseling. They have an Equine Center. They offer Therapeutic
Horsemanship, Equine Assisted Psych-Therapy Programs.
o They work primarily with children from birth to twenty-one (21)
o The Equine Program works with individuals four (4) years of age and up. This
continues beyond twenty-one (21) years of age.
o After many years they were able to find some land. The Legup Farm was donated
approximately eighteen (18) acres of land off of Mont Alto Road where they are
hoping to build the next Legup Farm. They were offered a one (1) million dollar
grant from the State to do some site work. COVID hit and everything came to a
standstill. They were able to utilize the one (1) million dollars to get site work
almost completed.
o What they are asking for is twenty-thousand dollars to help them with the
marketing campaign which would help them raise the money for construction. The
request is purely related to help them to spread the word in Franklin County in
order to connect to the right individuals to let individuals know they are coming
and that they need the communities support, what their goal is and what their
mission is.
o They are a non-profit. Approximately eight-five (85) percent of their families
utilize Medicaid.
o Before the Block Grant Committee can vote on this request they need more
information on some funding that is coming through. Some additional things they
may need to fund. Also, Stacy Rowe wants to check with the State to make sure this
request is approved. This request will stay on the Block Grant’s radar. May need
to have an email vote.
- Intellectual Developmental Disabilities Program (up to 150,000)
o The program has a family that has two (2) individuals that reside in the home who
are adults. They receive Waiver Management through the Intellectual
Developmental Disabilities office. The office is considered as the Administrative
entities. The office is responsible for their safety and well-being, the waiver
services and their care. These two individuals are on ventilators and are also
tracheostomy dependent. They have very complicated health issues. They receive
consolidated waiver services. They have skilled nursing which is a one (1) to one
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(1) ratio. The program received special permission to do one (1) to two (2) ratio in
emergency situations. The mother then is the back-up.
o The problem they are facing that makes this an emergency is that the nursing
agency that is qualified to provide their services does not have the staffing to
provide the care for these individuals. The agency only has three (3) full-time
nurses. This is not enough for the coverage that is needed. The program is looking
at different options of what they can do. They do have guardians who are making
their decisions. The State appointed these guardians. They are looking at out of
home placement based on their high level of care. The program is looking for a
long term care facility that would take these individuals. There are no vacancies
anywhere. They are also considering short term facilities where they can go for a
short period of time until a long term facility would open. There are two (2) short
term facilities that are considering it but they do not have to accept these ladies
due to their level of care being so high. The responsibility falls back on the County
to make sure that the staffing is provided. They are trying to find skilled nursing
staff. They need to be ventilator and tracheostomy trained.
o The program is desperately looking for nursing staff that is qualified or someone
they can get qualified to continue to provide this care for these ladies until they can
get them to the appropriate facilities. The agency that currently has some nursing
staff cannot fully provide the staff so the program needs to make up for the rest.
Stacey Brookens added that they are not sure if they will need part-time, full-time,
PRN or as needed care. If the current nurses leave tomorrow then the IDD
Program is required to provide full-time care until they can get the ladies into a
long-term care facility.
o There is another agency in the home that is provided other services. They are
willing to open a group home for these two (2) individuals and provide the staffing.
This will take some time. But in the meantime Stacey Brookes said she needs
enough money to provide one (1) on one (1) nursing in the home until something
comes available. She also said that she cannot give an exact dollar amount
because she doesn’t know. They are looking at twenty-four (24) seven (7) one (1)
on one (1) care. It would be 168 hours per week. The amount is roughly $14,000
per week. That is not counting overtime pay or travel expenses for a traveling
nurse agency to provide the staffing.
o This becomes an emergency situation this coming Saturday (2/19/2022).
o Lorna Blanchard commented to Stacey Brookens that she is so sorry she is in this
situation and is happy Stacey is sharing this with the board.
VOTE: To Approve to allocate up to $150,000 for the Intellectual Developmental
Disabilities Program
o Rev. Fox motioned to approve
o Zachary McCauley seconded the motion
o Approvals
“Yes” votes = eight (8)
“No” votes = zero (0)
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“Abstained” = zero (0)
Community Mini-Grants Discussion
o At this time, the funds are not available for Mini-Grants.
V. Human Services Program Departments – Operational Reviews
Drug & Alcohol Services (Stacie Horvath for Christy Unger)
o They are extremely busy.
o Their funding is staying strong and steady.
o At this point they are not seeing any issues or concerns.
o The department has two (2) open positions. A Prevention Treatment Specialist
position and an additional Case Management position that will be primarily
housed at the Franklin County Jail and a small amount of time at the District
Attorney’s Office. After these positions are filled, the department will be completely
full.
Lorna Blanchard expressed her appreciation to Cori Seilhamer and Lori Young for
allowing her to back them and for opening the Children’s Respite Care, in Waynesboro,
once a month, free to families twenty-one (21) and younger who have children in special
needs. She said, it’s just another way to see the Block Grant work.
Mental Health/Intellectual Developmental Disabilities/Early Intervention
o Mental Health (Cori Seilhamer)
They were successful with getting a Respite day a month in the Waynesboro
area. They are utilizing the Waynesboro School District. In order to access this
contact Kidz Therapy Zone. This is also happening in the Chambersburg area.
Cori said that if they can find other locations they are willing to travel.
They continue to move forward with the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT). Getting
more First Responders. The next training will be in April. The Crisis
Intervention Team (CIT) International Conference will be hosted in
Pennsylvania this year.
Aging Services (Tawnya Hurley)
o The department is trying to fill a few positions. They continue to have interviews.
The department has two (2) new staff. Care Managers start today.
Tuscarora Managed Care Alliance (Missy Reisinger)
o The Community Navigator Program – TMCA will begin in April 2022. This is a
multi-contract Program (South Central Community Action Program (SCCAP),
Center for Community Action and Fulton Family Partnership) to pay for
community navigators and the contracted agencies that will screen individuals for
Behavioral Health needs upon presenting for social determinants of health
assistance, refer to a behavioral health provider and assist the individual in
acquiring resources toward their social determinants of health needs. The goal is
to enhance the outcomes of treatment through ensuring that individual’s basic
needs are met so they can achieve their full wellness potential. The target
population is Medicaid eligible individuals in Franklin and Fulton counties.
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o TMCA was approved through a Reinvestment Plan. An allocation of funds that if
existing resources don’t meet the individuals needs or if an individual isn’t eligible
for the resources, they will be able to fund them. This is all done through the
managing of Medicare funds that they have done and allowed to keep three (3)
percent savings on that for these types of programs.
o Another program they are interested in doing is a Pure Operated Recovery Center.
They could not find a provider who is willing to do this. TMCA revised a
Reinvestment Plan that was previously approved. They would like to do Recovery
Capital Mini-Grants so groups of individuals, who are in Recovery, who want to
gather and do something social with other individuals who are in Recovery that is
Substance Abuse free. Hoping TMCA can fund them for that. Still have some
revisions to do.
o During the pandemic, Medicaid eligibility and redetermination was waived.
Individuals did not need to re-determine their Medicaid. The Federal Government
has given guidance to the Office of Medical Assistance Programs on how they are
going to stop this. They anticipate their Medicaid eligible individuals will be
decreasing because re-determination is going to be needed to occur through the
County Assistance Offices.
o A new feature was added on to the programs that are currently in the Data
Warehouse is an ad hoc reporting capability. As they start to use data to manage
their programs a little better they may come upon a problem that the dashboard
doesn’t answer yet. They can put in a request to the department to have an ad hoc
program installed.
o They are starting on the Children & Youth Services extract and are really looking
forward to pulling it in.
Grants Management (Glenda Helman/Dan Brown)
o They have received notification that their Fiscal Year 21-22 Human Services Block
Grant annual plan has been approved by the State.
o The Criminal Justice Advisory Board will be meeting Thursday, February 24, 2022.
The presentation will be the Mental Health Co-Responders. Everyone is welcome to
attend.
Franklin County Administration (John Thierwechter)
o John Thierwechter wanted to thank Stacey Brookens and her staff for all of their
work with this most challenging issue they are facing. The department is
struggling to find a good solution for the family/two (2) individuals that are in the
Intellectual Developmental Disabilities Program. He expressed, there is no
apparent good solution for this situation.
Also, he wanted to thank the Block Grant Committee for considering/allowing the
funding to be used for the two (2) individuals.
VI. Open Forum: Community Comments or Discussion
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Zachary McCauley expressed his concern for the family/two (2) individuals in the
Intellectual Developmental Disabilities Program. He offered his help wherever is needed.
Rev. Fox feels things are progressing with the Franklin County Aging Department. His
latest concern has been about Aging and the Methodist Church. There seems to be some
kind of a mental block in dealing with a lot of major issues. The Church seems to overlook
the older persons. The agencies which handle this type of issue are no more within the
Church. Rev. Fox expressed that it is really kind of sad and so he’s been putting more
attention to this issue. He is going to turn more with what is happening with the Block
Grant and a number of other issues in Franklin County where there is something
happening. There have been a lot of comments made about working with the prisoners
and prison performance, which is dear to his heart.
VII. Next Scheduled Meeting: To be Determined
Meeting Adjourned: Kim Crider motioned to adjourn
Thomas Reardon seconded the motion
All approved
* Minutes of this meeting will be available on the Franklin County Website
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