HSAC Minutes

March 3, 2010

I.                    Call to Order and Roundtable Introductions – F. Unkle

The meeting was called to order at 2:04pm.  Roundtable introductions followed.        

Members Present:

Frank Unkle – Provider
Carol Lennox – Provider
Judy Kunec – Member-at-Large
David Rodriguez – Provider
Nichol Hoff – Consumer
Steve Marchiano – Provider
Rose Kuprianov – Consumer
Steve O’Connor – Consumer
Marilou Rochford – Consumer Advocate
Debra Bullock – Member-at-Large
Barbara Makoski – Member-at-Large

Members Excused:

Kristin Littel
Jan Seer
Bill Desmond
Barry Keefe
Kristen Bixby
John Roy
Lynne Krukosky
Jerry Thornton

Interested Persons:

Kevin Tomasello – DCF/DYFS Area Office
Nelson Amey – Interested Person
Paulann Pierson – CMCODS
Peggy Donahue – CMC Board of Social Services
Eric Rickards – CMC Board of Social Services
Mary Vasser – Family Resource Network
Marge Oxley – One Stop Career Center
Harriet Passarelli - DVRS
Shannon Staino – DYFS
Pat Devaney – Human Services Administrator
Sabrina Hand – HSAC Staff

II.                 Additions and Corrections to the Minutes – F. Unkle

Minutes from the 2/3/10 meeting were emailed to voting members and hard copies were distributed at the meeting.  J. Kunec motioned to accept the minutes as circulated and C. Lennox seconded.  Motion carried.  Once approved by the Council, meeting minutes are posted on the Cape May County web site.

III.               Administrator’s Report – P. Devaney

P. Devaney reported that the County budget has been adopted.  The good news is that there were no reductions (at the County level) to those agencies with human service contracts.  Thus, the contracting process for these services is moving forward.  However; the Board of Social Services (BSS) did receive a reduction in funding for its WFNJ Special Initiatives and Transportation contract for this current year at the State level.  Basically, the State rescinded funding that would have been provided in the 4^th quarter or April 1^st.  This program provided individual services to clients to address barriers to employment (special initiatives) and transportation to work, work activity, and child care if needed for those clients participating in the WFNJ program.  Fortunately, this did not stop the County budget from being adopted.  P. Devaney asked that agencies share any information about known funding reductions under the “New Business” section of the agenda.  As for Peer Grouping (PG) funding, the County has not yet received a funding award from the State for CY 2010.  These funds are used to provide services that prevent nursing home placement and is approximately $500,000 per year.  Notification of the PG funding allocation has never been delayed this late into the year.  The County Human Services directors are meeting with the Commissioners of DHS and DCF on Friday (3/5).  It is hoped that the Commissioners will be able to share more budget information at that meeting.  As noted in the Executive Committee report, the County Department of Human Services (CDHS) including the HSAC will cease to send paper meeting notice reminders.  HSAC voting members already receive a meeting reminder when they are emailed the minutes of the previous meeting.  For HSAC interested persons, a memo will be mailed with the April meeting notice asking those that wish to receive an electronic meeting reminder to email S. Hand with their email address.  The April notice will be the last paper notice issued.  It will include a listing of the remaining HSAC meeting dates for 2010.  Informational flyers on the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are available today for distribution.  The CDHS and the HSAC are asking agencies to assist in disseminating information about the EITC to their clientele.  Individuals can receive help with filing their taxes by calling NJ’s 2-1-1 hotline.  In addition to the EITC, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is asking that agencies make customers and employees aware that they can support child abuse prevention by checking the “Children’s Trust Fund (CTF) box on their tax returns.  Census materials including census employment information are also available for distribution today.  Agencies are asked to take a supply of brochures with them to share with employees and customers.  P. Devaney concluded her report by saying that she has been asked about the new youth shelter and has learned that there was 1 placement for FCIU in February and 4 for DYFS.

  IV.          State Department Reports:

·        DHS –

No report. 

·        DCF –

P. Devaney reported for R. Ortega who was unable to attend due to a schedule conflict.  P. Devaney stated that R. Ortega prepared a very thorough and extensive written report of DCF activities/issues for the meeting.  The report was then distributed.  

V.                    Committee Reports:

a.       Executive Committee – F. Unkle

Minutes from the 2/24/10 meeting were distributed.  S. Hand referenced #4 regarding the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) forum to report that the HSAC has received new information from DDD stating that while there will still be a forum, it will be postponed due to staff changes.  However; the Services for the Disabled Committee (SDC) will still begin preliminary discussions for the forum at its next meeting.  F. Unkle referenced #6 regarding the April HSAC meeting date to poll voting members as to their availability on 4/7 since it is during the Easter vacation week.  The poll indicated many would be out of town.  S. Marchiano made a motion to cancel the April HSAC meeting and B. Makoski seconded.  Motion carried.            

b.      Disabled Services Committee – F. Unkle

F. Unkle reported that the Committee is scheduled to meet on 3/16/10 at 10am.               

c.       Program Review Committee – J. Kunec

No report.      

d.      WFNJ – WTW – E. Rickards

Written reports summarizing program statistics for the WFNJ-TANF and the WFNJ-GA programs for January 2010 were distributed.  E. Rickards stated that the BSS remains extremely busy.  The Agency saw an increase of 30 customers (5%) in January from December and the number seen this January was higher than the number seen in January 2009.  P. Devaney referenced the General Assistance (GA) report to ask if the report was correct in that there were 535 “employable” GA recipients yet only 32 were in work activities.  E. Rickards explained that this was correct as GA is not funded to provide support services to assist individuals in gaining and maintaining employment.  He added that those who are on the GA program which is for “able bodied adults” are primarily on the program for the medical benefits not the cash stipend which is only $140 per month ($210 with other circumstances).  P. Devaney then asked if most of the GA recipients also received housing assistance from the Emergency Assistance unit.  P. Donahue responded that most do receive a housing voucher and they are required to contribute half of the GA cash stipend towards that housing.  P. Devaney concluded the discussion by stating that in recent conversations DHS Commissioner Jen Velez has indicated that she believes the GA program may be a target in the budget process as NJ is only one of two states that has a program for single adults (Utah is the other).   

e.       CEAS – E. Rickards

A written report detailing Emergency Assistance (EA) program statistics for January 2010 was distributed.  E. Rickards reported that of the 3,329 customers to come to the BSS in January, 1,484 were seen by the EA unit.  P. Devaney asked about the 272 after-hours hotline placements to determine if these numbers were high.  P. Donahue responded that the numbers were high, however; there were several “code blue” days in January (any night the temperature is below 32 degrees) and ineligibility expires at the end of the calendar year so everyone who uses this service becomes eligible again on January 1^st.  P. Pierson asked why there were zeroes in the columns for utility payments.  P. Donahue responded that the BSS had not yet received the funding in January so it did not have any money to use for utility payments.  Payments are being made now.  P. Pierson asked if she should send people who call her ability utility assistance to the BSS.  P. Donahue responded affirmatively.  She explained that the Board has several programs with various income and eligibility guidelines including the new Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP).  Rather than telling people to apply for a specific program, it is better if they simply come to the BSS for an interview and then the staff will determine eligibility and assign them to the proper program.  E. Rickards stated that if anyone (agency staff or customers) has questions on the BSS programs, they can call him at 886-6200 x258.  D. Rodriguez added that PRAC also has a homelessness prevention program that can assist with utilities and back rent.  The program contact is Kate Rodriguez (861-5800).  

                 f.   Membership – C. Lennox

C. Lennox reported that N. Amey’s appointment to Council has been placed on the agenda for the next Freeholder meeting.  With that appointment, Council will have full membership.   

A motion was made by J. Kunec and seconded by D. Rodriguez to accept the committee reports as presented.  Motion carried.

VI.                  Liaison Reports

a.       Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council – C. Lennox

C. Lennox reported that the Department of Aging will hold a meeting tomorrow (3/4) with its Advisory Council and service providers.  The 2010 State monitoring schedule for the service providers has been established and will be shared at the meeting.  The Department is continuing to host the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) representatives on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Representatives are available to assist individuals with their tax returns.  However; the service is by appointment only.  Anyone wanting an appointment should call 886-3400.  C. Lennox concluded by noting the following upcoming dates: the annual senior jamboree will be held on 5/6 and the 36^th annual senior art show will be held on 6/9/10.   

b.      WIB – G. Plewa

No report.     

VII.               Old Business

There was no old business.

 VIII.         New Business

1.      D. Bullock announced that the Branches in Rio Grande (Village Shoppes) offers a free hot lunch program every Wednesday at 12:15pm.  All are welcome.   

2.      P. Pierson stated that she had two issues to discuss.  However; she added that both may be more suited to the Services for the Disabled Committee (SDC).  The first issue is a change in DDD funding for youth transitioning out of educational programs and into day services.  Funding for these services will now be provided only on emergency basis.  She added that this puts the burden back on parents to prove their child’s need for services.  She asked if this issue was part of the preliminary planning for the DDD forums.  F. Unkle responded that the issue of day services just surfaced and therefore was not part of the planning for the DDD forums.  The forums are to be a venue to discuss the waiting list for residential placements.  R. Kuprianov stated her concerns regarding day services as she believes that all those eligible for day services should be considered as having an emergency need.  F. Unkle noted that another issue that just surfaced locally was the $114,000 reduction to the Family Support Voucher Stipend program which gave families an opportunity for a $2,500 voucher every 2 years.  P. Pierson stated that her second issue was one of inquiry as to how people with disabilities fared during the recent storms as she has heard several stories from those that are supposed to be on the Special Needs Registry.  R. Kuprianov added that many people had problems due to their inability to take pets even those that were crated with them to shelters.  P. Devaney stated that both issues should be addressed in more detail at the SDC meeting to be held on 3/16.  She indicated that the SDC would be able to address both issues and formulate plans of action including developing a set of questions for both the DDD forum and for the Office of Emergency Management.

3.      C. Lennox asked if agency representatives knew of any specific funding cuts.  S. Marchiano responded that he does not know of anything specific for CCS.  However; G. Speed, CCS Executive Director, is hearing that the cuts are coming.  He added that the Agency did see a significant loss of income due to the recent storms as clients were unable to keep appointments.  In addition, the storms also caused the Agency increased expenses in both staff overtime costs and snow plowing costs.  B. Makoski reported that for school districts it is all bad news.  Schools will not know anything definite until after the Governor’s address.    

IX.              Public Response

There was no public response.