Access Network of Care October 26, 2017

Wake County Human Services

Funded Provider Programs / State Programs / Other Programs
Wake County Human Services (Care Network Lead Agency) (RWB, EC, PF, HOPWA, CAPUS, MAI, RWC) / John Brown, Gladys Bonilla, Stephanie Bryant, Kristin Canady, Emily Fishbein, Katie Horstmann, Michael McNeill, Yvonne Torres / NC DHHS / Robin Rivera,
Advance Community Health Center / Anthony Hannah / ACP / Kenya Servia,
Alliance of AIDS Services – Carolina (PF) / Lindsay Holland
City of Durham (HOPWA Grantee) / Matt Schnars
Duke Partners in Caring (HOPWA, PF, RWB) / Amber Esters, Suzette Curry
Duke Pediatric ID (RWB, RWD) / Linda Connor
Durham County Department of Social Services / Janeen Gordon, Erica Jennings, Contessa Sawyer
Healing with CAARe, Inc (RWB, PF, CAPUS, MAI) / Carolyn Hinton,
UNC Adult ID / Hillary Anderson
WECAHC (RWB, PF) / Gregorio Lazo
WVCHC (RWB, EC) / Michelle Ogle

Welcome/Introductions/Housekeeping

Michael McNeill welcomed the network meeting. Introductions were made among those present.

Open Comment

  • Michael McNeill reminded the network about the region’s website (Accessnetworkofcare.org) and encouraged programs to complete the online resource directory information.

MAKO Presentation

  • Mako Medical Laboratories presented their laboratory program/options. A copy of the presentation will be requested for inclusion on the region’s website.

Ryan White Part B 2018-2019 Budget Meeting Update

Michael McNeill provided a recap of the network’s September 2017 budget meeting (the meeting to determine the 2018-2019 budget). While the budget remain largely unchanged from 2017-2018, it is expected to have two changes:

Reallocating some Food Pantry funds to Medical Nutritional Therapy. Wake County Human Services is testing a nutritional assessment based food pantry program. The county intends to conduct a series of glasses for HIV-positive individuals also living with Diabetes. The classes would teach the participants how nutrition plays into diabetes. Each class will involve cooking lunch and then having the participants leave with the ingredients to make that lunch. Beyond the four classes, the nutritionist will develop a nutrition plan for the clients and work with the food pantry coordinator for that to be the food the clients obtain from the food pantry. The funding would move from the support service category Food Pantry / Home-delivered Meals and into the core service category Medical Nutritional Therapy. The funding to provide that food was moved from Healing with CAARE, Inc., to Wake County Human Services (for the food pantry at WCHS).

The Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) position has traditionally provided Ryan White enrollment. However, HRSA guidance to the state has indicated that it must be specifically for ADAP enrollment. Thus, the position needs to move to an agency that submits applications to Purchase of Medical Care (POMC) for ADAP approval. The entire funding for the activity is $29,010. The region voted to move that service / position to Advance Community Health Center.

Ryan White Part B 2017-2018 Budget Changes

During the September 2017 budget meeting, Wake County Human Services asked for a portion of the current food pantry budget that is allocated to wake county residents be moved to WCHS for the pilot program. The network voted to do so.

The network requested an additional $270,842 in one-time Ryan White Part B funding. Michael McNeill informed the network that the request was approved. The funding was limited to non-salary, Core services that could be expended by March 31, 2018. Michael would let the region know when the funds were available for use.

Michael updated the region about the state’s plan to purchase insurance for eligible clients as of January 1, 2018. Presently, the network purchases insurance for six individuals. Michael asked the network to consider options for the funds currently used to purchase insurance should the region be able to transition any of the six individuals to the state program.

Since the last meeting, the state’s contract office announced that salary increases for non-state employees could not be included in the current grant. They also announced that the networks could project salary increases for next year. (the ruling not to allow current salary increases was subsequently reversed).

Prevention

Yvonne Torres reported that the Prevention Coordinator position had closed. The candidates are currently under review and will hopefully be scheduled for interviews in November with the chosen candidate selected by December. Michael McNeill stated that their were 70 applications and that 9 of them were forwarded for consideration. The 9 were distributed to the 4 reviewers and the candidates that received interview requests from at least 3 of the 4 reviewers were called for an interview. There were 3 of those individuals.

HOPWA

Wake HOPA (Franklin, Johnston, Wake): Stephanie Bryant indicated that the Wake HOPWA program was again operational as of September 1, 2017. She also spoke of the challenges in coordinating local services in Johnston and in Franklin counties.

Duke HOPWA (Lee, Person, Warren & Vance): Due to delays in HUD submitting Notice of Grants awards, the state was delayed in sending out contracts. Thus, Duke still did not have a fully executed HOPWA contract. Therefore, they could not accept STRMU requests yet. Duke HOPWA now has PHP available for 6 families in place for the first time. Duke potentially has 2 TBRA vouchers available.

Durham HOPWA (Chatham, Durham, Granville & Orange): Durham HOPWAis currently accepting STRMU referrals. They have nearly executed 100% of the 2015 budget; when they begin accessing their 2016 funds, PHP will be available within their program as well. Matt Schnars indicated that Durham HOPWA had undertaking the creation of a new policy and procedure manual specific to managing the HOPWA program.

Open Comment / State Discussion / State Meeting Updates

Kenya Servia announced that CAREWare staff Patrick Botting’s last day is October 31, 2017.

2017 Meetings

  • December 14, 2017Durham County Health Department, Conference Room B