GAHSC Family Preservation Chapter

Wednesday, October 22, 2003

34 Peachtree Street, Suite 1710, Atlanta -- 10:30 a.m.

Meeting Minutes

Welcome and Introductions. Members present Included

  • Debbie Atkins, Transitional Family Services (Chair)
  • Bonnie Lockwood, Cornerstones Counseling Center
  • Cindy Driggers, Cornerstones Counseling Center
  • Paige Mervis, OASIS Counseling Center
  • Betty Thomas, OASIS Counseling Center
  • Hugo Mullins, Family Ties
  • Fred Farrar, West Georgia Counseling and Assessment Services
  • Denise Santos, Gwinnett Children's Shelter
  • LaJoyce Lewis, CHRIS Homes
  • Mary Wise, Family and Children First
  • Tanya Joines, Family and Children First
  • Joe Wassell, GAHSC

New GAHCS Member Candidates

  • Family Art Therapy Center, Clayton (Beth Black)
  • Project Rebound Inc., Columbus, (Dr. J.A. Hud)

Minutes - Review

Debbie Atkins and Joe Wassell did an in depth review of the minutes from the last meeting. The following updates/comments were provided:

  • Joint Committee DHR/Providers - Juanita Blount-Clark - nothing new to add. All members will get an opportunity to participate in this important taskforce as it develops, especially as sub-committees are established to look at issues.
  • DHR, DFCS - Foster Care Unit Staffing Update
  • Nothing major to report. DHR DFCS is in a state of suspended anima nation. No people in key positions to make decisions or provide leadership
  • Level of Care (LOC) Update - implementation date now set for February 1, 2004el, but just providing the detailed information necessary for the LOC determination.
  • Contract with Ashlin Management - providers are not satisfied with how this contract was advertised and awarded. Some discussion took place on forming a possible formal collaboration among some GAHSC Family Preservation providers (similar to MAAC) to potentially bid on a future contract such as this. GAHSC could help in the facilitation of establishing such a group.
  • Homes and Services for Children Month - October 2003 - many members invited and going to Hephzibah Children's Home on October 23 for a celebration with the First LADY.
  • DJJ Update - nothing new to report. No news on a new commissioner.
  • Henry County MOU - State still planning to look at the mileage issue as a whole. Has not met yet to review.
  • Court Appearances -- nothing new to report time.
  • Fulton County Provider Meeting Issues -- some members stated that some of the new procedures put in place at Fulton County have still not taken hold.
  • Family Preservation Dollars -- no change form previous minutes.
  • Wrap-Around Services -- no change form previous minutes.
  • Family Team Meetings
  • Discussed the move toward making this requirement statewide. Issues of training, facilitation, payment, and policy all need to be further addressed. Clayton County requires that a provider facilitating a FTM must use someone other than the assessor to do the facilitation. This is just one example of what should be the policy/requirement.
  • Child Placement Conference -- see below.
  • Diligent Search (SB 236) - discussed this legislation and its impact on providers. The State is getting ready to send out policy guidelines to all DFCS Offices on this new legislation that went into effect July 1, 2003. Assessment providers are going to be asked to complete the 419 and Genograms much more thoroughly and accurately in support of this new requirement. Providers will be asked to identify all potential placement resources (both on the paternal and maternal side). Providers should not be required to interview potential placement resources.
  • Psychological Testing -- area of major concern if Medicaid cuts psychologicals for children. GAHSC following this issue closely.
  • Promoting Safe and Stable Families (PSSF) -- handout of upcoming training provided for those agencies doing PSSF programs.
  • Liability Insurance -- Providers were asked to provide GAHSC some feedback on how much (percentage) their insurance has increased in the past year. Also discussed was the possibility of seeking some sort of groups rate for liability insurance through GAHSC.

Old Business

  • Child Placement Conference - most members are already signed up to attend. Discussion about the program and more involvement from the chapter for developing next year's conference program.

New Business

  • Seminole County MOU - Joe Wassell discussed the MOU that was presented to Vashti Center that prorated the family assessment by the number of siblings at one child, $1400; two siblings, $1300/child; three siblings $1200/child; and four siblings at $1,100/child. GAHSC has checked with the State Office and was told that no change in rates has been disseminated for the State. It appears this is a Seminole County initiative only. GAHSC will continue to monitor this development.
  • FPBP GAHSC Technical Assistance - Joe Wassell announced that the State has announced that they will no longer contract with GAHSC for FPBP technical assistance. DHR is cutting back on all contracts and will be going to a strict RFP process for all future contracts. GAHSC will be investigating and monitoring this development very closely over the next few months.
  • Collateral Contacts - some discussion took place on the qualifications of individuals making collateral contacts with individuals as part of the assessment process. A Gordon County e-mail has triggered a possible question regarding appropriate credentials for doing collateral contacts. This was discussed with some variances in practice identified among those present. However, all agreed that some variances could occur and still be within best practice standards. All agreed that if there was any clear clinical aspect to the collateral contact, it must be done by the Master's level individual.

Chapter Issues

  • Time Studies. Chapter members agreed to do time studies on assessments accepted from November 1 through December 15. The intent is to try to come up with average times it takes to do various types of assessments. Members will choose which referrals to do a study on. Not all assessments need time studies. GAHSC will e-mail all chapter members prior to November 1, the revised time study forms and some instructions for completion.

Next Meeting Date/Location

Attachments:

  1. PSSF Workshops (Oct/Nov)