Human Service Council (HSC) Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 26th, 2015
WELCOME: The SCHSC meeting started on Thursday, February 26, 2015. The following 22 people introduced themselves and/or signed in as attending the meeting. Nicole Lullman (Central IA Community Services), Theodore Fuhs (Aspen Dental), Arti Sangri (CI RSVP), Deb Russum (Friendship Ark), Sipele Quezada (Ames Community Schools), Emily Jansen (AmeriCorps), Rachel Hanson (Childserve), Tamra Jurgemeyer (CFR), Cris Broshar (CCR & R), Natalie Hushemi (DECAT / CPPC), Cassandra Clyde (Drake University Headstart), Nicole Seid (Eyerly Ball), Laura Bender (LSI), Elise Murchison (LSI – People Place), Amy Robak (MICA), Melody Griesdorn (MICA), Cari McPartland (The Salvation Army), Laura Bell (YSS), Kaylie Kraayenbrink (YSS), Ashley Manistedt (YSS), Deidra Williams (YSS), Karen Ott (YSS).
BUSINESS MEETING: Nikki Lullman called the business meeting to order at 11:32 a.m.
Approval of October 23, 2014 Minutes: Motion to approve meeting minutes was made by Cari McPartland and was seconded by Sipele Quezada.
Approval of January 22, 2015 Minutes: January 22 – Cari McPartland noted that Women ‘With’ Initiative was a change needed in the minutes and the motion to approve with said change was made by Cari McPartland and was seconded by Sipele Quezada.
REPORTS:
TREASURER: Treasurer, Arti Sanghi stated that the current balance in the account was $1778.40. There are currently 35 paid memberships. In discussing what can be done with the current funds available, it was discussed that Mini Grants have been done before. Should we decide to provide Mini Grants again, individuals requesting the grants would need to submit a request to the executive team to review and approve. Guidelines to apply for Mini Grants would need to be set up as a committee and expressed at next meeting. It was discussed that Mini Grants could be used for Agency Needs rather than program needs including purchasing supplies. It was then noted that previously Mini Grants would be approved for programs or assisting clients. A decision about what would be the guidelines for Mini Grant approval will be needed by May by the executive council. It was then discussed that the human service council reduce membership fees. Reducing fees may allow others to join by reducing fees. Current expenses for the human service council are domain fees and website hosting fees as the current place of meeting is free to the human service council. There is also one meal and one ice cream social that are hosted each year. It was stated that the human service council should utilize fees rather than reducing fees.
RESOURCE GUIDE UPDATE: Arti has another volunteer for the program. The resource guide program has the ability to feed through information and create a database for SCHSC meetings and provide updates. The program can be used through Google Docs which is similar to Excel. This format provides a lot of individuals the ability to add information and edit the information. The information can then be printed in a PDF format. We will be using the current resource guide to set up categories and apply previous information. Next month we will have a form to fill out for your agency to provide the needed information to enter into the guide. With Google Docs, you do not need a Gmail or Google account to be able to access the information. We are expecting a viewable update for April meeting. A Sub Committee will be established for resource guide. Once a month we would be able to provide updates and changes for organization. These changes will be submitted to volunteer to enter information. We need 6-8 individuals for the sub committee. Cynthia Lidke and Rachel Hansen (Child Serve) and Chris Brocher (Child Care Resources) volunteered to be on the sub committee. It was then discussed having a resource guide once a year for updates. It was noted that there has been significant and frequent turnover in agencies and the council. It was then stated that there is a need for accurate information provided quickly to those seeking it which is why it is necessary to apply changes monthly. It was also stated that we would be sending additional applications for resource guide information out to organizations not currently on the list. There is a focus on who is missing.
OLD BUSINESS:
Website: Website is up and running and any additional information that needs to be added or removed from the website needs to be relayed to the council so that it can be added or removed.
POST TO SCHSC EVENT CALENDAR: Reminder that you are able to post your information for various events and things that are going on in the community.
TRANSPORTATION BROCHURE: Shari is not present today. There is a new Transportation brochure. 4 pages Outlines all options for transportation including cab services. WWW.CYRIDE.COM/SCT.
NEW BUSINESS:
Secretary Position: Ted is currently in a different position than he was when the position was taken to be the SCHSC Secretary. Because of this change, there is a necessity to transition the role to another individual. The responsibilities of the secretary is to takes meeting minutes, creates agenda, uploads information to Word Press and the website, and to assist the council when needed. This opportunity to takeover the position as a secretary for the SCHSC was accepted by Deb Russom.
ASSET PANEL: No report was made by ASSET PANEL representatives. Need a new individual for ASSET panel for seat #3 – Children. This is a 3 year commitment. There are 6 or 7 meetings throughout the year. There is a immediate need for a person for April. No volunteers were identified during the meeting for the current ASSET panel necessity.
SCHSC Positions are expiring for Treasurer as well as 2nd Co-Chair position. No volunteers were identified during the meeting for positions as treasurer or Co-Chair.
Future presentations: Disability only a few signed up currently. Kim Combs will be speaking on a social worker’s perspective. Any agency interested can take 5 minutes or more to speak in front of the committee to present information.
HOMELESS PREVENTION AND POVERTY (Sipele Quezada) – Works with youth who are homeless and in transition. There are 3 new programs. Sipele is still at the Ames school district. She serves about 200 homeless students (identified). When students are homeless, they generally keep very quiet and want to keep DHS out and the sigma away so the closer estimate of homeless students is 350 that exist in the school district. There are two types of homeless students. The first is that of homeless students living with families who are also homeless. The second is homeless individuals who are not living with their parental units. These individuals may be “couch surfing”. The school district is working directly with kids who do not have a solid home. Homeless students generally love being at school because they know that they will be eating and will be warm. One focus is that of public awareness and to make sure that everybody knows that homelessness is a problem in Story County. Homelessness is not a scruffy old guy living under a bridge, it can be a 9 year old kid living in motel with parents. There are 3 projects the school district is working on this year. There are 3 interns supporting these projects. 1) School pantries. (Student pantries). These pantries are available to all students. The school is working and talking with high school students. It was discovered that girls wouldn’t come to school because they don’t have personal hygiene products during menstrual periods. Individuals don’t participate in Gym because they don’t have personal hygiene products or they don’t have the correct clothes. When students go hungry during day, it breaks concentration. There is a pantry in the middle school and 1 in the high school in Ames. Items are food, personal hygiene, clothing, winter supplies, donations for prom dresses, clothes for gym, and school supplies (at highschool). All the food is free. In the high school, there is a fridge and shelves for students. The pantries are designed for students. The middle school has a larger space. There are some items for younger elementary students to pull from. They do have some adult size items as well. Donated clothes are sorted through by students – the focus on the pantry are to provide things in the pantry that students would wear. Sponsors are Cornerstone Church, Food pantry, Duck Worth Wearing and Loft. There is also cash and donations from staff and other service organizations. The pantries are open to all students. Just because students are not homeless doesn’t mean that they don’t have a need. Everybody can utilize the pantry. 2) School Supply event in August. This is in the early stages of coordinating. School district gets a lot of community support for school supplies. There is currently a lot of overlapping supplies and needs missed because of so many different school supply needs. Everybody will come together for one back to school event. Ames Community School District is partnering with it, but it will be open to all of story county. Meeting will get going in the next month or two and will be in Ames. Funnel all organizations interested through Ashley Mawer. 3) Poverty simulation. Help gain a better understanding of the people that community school deals with on a daily basis. How we can be a part of it. Meeting is April 9th from 12:30am till 4pm. Training would start at noon for service providers. If interested in being a part, Ashley is the contact. Poverty simulation is a MO model but is based around Ames. Come to event, volunteer to be a provider, share needs and success and data. Ashley discussed individuals can come in and experience what it is like to live in poverty. Simulation is based on 4 weeks, with 15 minutes allocated to simulate each week. In the simulation, you will need to buy food, pay rent, go to work, etc… and make decisions quickly and have to decide what to cut out of needs and utilize resources in place. Everything in county is available to them. Come in and play role of service providers for simulation. Some stipend positions available for current clients. Leadership Ames invited all of the chamber of commerce and all business and organizational leaders for this program.
AMERICAN HEART HEALTH – QUITLINE IOWA (Laura Bell) – Work with YSS. Works on Tobacco Control. Provided slideshow about tobacco and what is involved in tobacco and tobacco uses. Discussed 2nd hand and 3rd hand smoke as well and how individuals are impacted. Electronic Cigarettes were discussed with inconsistency in chemicals and products and lack of regulations. Organizations are beginning to transition from Smoke free to Nicotine Free. Nicotine free also encompasses nicotine discs, hand gels, gum, and patches as well. Free for anyone 13 and older to call and receive coaching. Coaching can be done via phone and web. Patients 18 and older can receive free NRT products along with coaching 8 week supply. Must complete all coaching calls (5 calls). Each call is about 10-15 minutes. Can call back for additional support. Provides services in other languages. Medicaid patients can get a 12 week supply but must be faxed referred by Dr. Iowa Medicaid would then take over providing NRT products. If they stop doing calls before they are done, then they have to start program over.
RENT AND UTILITY SERVICES (Cari McPartland) – There is currently a lot of phone calls and a lot of need for people with rent and utility needs. There is a current list of rent and utility assistance for when individuals call Salvation Army. Some questions that are asked immediately are if they are a resident of Story County. They also ask if they have spoken to MICA about lighting and heating program. Individuals are directed to speak with MICA first. It was discovered that some individuals are currently declining initial support from MICA. Salvation Army will Contact utility company to discuss past payments and current situation. The Salvation Army provides links for rent and utility assistance to other organizations and resources. Salvation Army will send people to Community Services as a first option. Make sure that past due is taken care of but that they have a plan to get the next months paid and everything going forward under control. They cannot assist if there is going to be an immanent foreclosure or eviction. The goals is to provide assistance for permanent living and not to extend the inevitable for one or two more months.
Community Services (Nikki Lullman) - Community Services has a set of criteria that they need to meet and rules about residency and employment for Community Services needed to assist. If you currently on a LBP with FIP Community Services cannot assist. Single individual limit is $400 and an additional $50 for utilities. With a household it is $500 and an additional $50 for utilities. Individuals are asked to come back to Community Services to followup after assistance. Individuals will just call the office, they don’t need appointment. Office hours are: M-F 8-4pm. If there is a medical reason you are not able to work you can potentially get 3 months of assistance. Provide Dr. Note that you cannot work and the duration of the time unable to work. If a person is a Vet and have served 90 days in active duty, they can go to either the VA or to Community Services. If they are a veteran, they need to use the VA for those services.
CHILDREN’S DENTAL (Nicole Dudly) – “I Smile” is working. They provide dental screening and fluoride varnish. This is effective in preventing cavities and decay. This can be done for individuals up to age 21 or on Medicaid, or no insurance. It is designed for ages 0-5. They provide dental care referrals and assistance in finding a dentist. Dental visit promoted at age 1. Begin good oral health habits. Dental screens do qualify for all students entering kindergarten and 9th grade. Provide a lot of oral health information. There is a school sealant program. Schools have to qualify for the program. MICA provides dental vouchers for kids. Story County Dental Clinic accepts Medicaid, Hawk-I, and sliding scale. They are a full service dental clinic.