Council Social Services Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Social Services Standing Committee met at 15:00 under the presiding leadership of Chairperson Myers. The committee heard six informational presentations covering a range of social services topics, including updates on partner agency health plan costs, a departmental overview of the Department of Social Services, operations and staffing at the Day Treatment Center, senior center and aging services, a potential partnership with United Way, and the legal status of providing health insurance to partner agencies. During the meeting, the committee took one motion to a vote and heard public comments from seven members of the public. The session focused primarily on information-sharing and discussion rather than formal action items.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on February 8, 2011:

• Leslie Jarvis
• Jeanette
• Commissioner Mills
• Diane Woods
• Christy Stambaugh
• Bill Farmer
• Council Member Lawless
• Council Member Stennett
• Council Member Myers
• Council Member Henson
• Council Member Ford
• Council Member McCord
• Council Member Simpson
• Council Member Wallace

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Motion to Adjourn

Council Member Ford moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed by voice vote at 1:22:57.

The following council members voted in favor of adjournment: - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Stennett - Council Member Myers - Council Member Henson - Council Member Ford - Council Member McCord - Council Member Simpson - Council Member Wallace

No council members voted against the motion.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting addressed several financial allocations and funding mechanisms for community programs:

Day Treatment Center Funding

The Day Treatment Center received a total appropriation of $490,315. This funding was structured through two sources:

• DJJ reimbursement: $241,845
• General fund contribution: $248,470

Senior Center and Aging Services

A contract valued at $2,000,009,000 was approved for funding the Senior Center and aging services. This contract involves 18 partner agencies in the delivery of these services.

Public Comment

Several council members and commissioners raised concerns about staffing, agency operations, and facility planning during the meeting.

Staffing and Leadership

Commissioner Mills announced the hiring of a Director of Youth Services and Director of Family Services, emphasizing the importance of strong leadership prior to reorganization 10:54. Council Member Lawless raised concerns about staff at the CASA project who had not lived in the city for years, noting that names in the organizational chart may be outdated 11:25.

Financial and Reimbursement Issues

Council Member Stennett asked about $3 million in uncollected Medicaid reimbursement, citing back billing from the health clinic and ongoing efforts to resolve record mismatches 15:19.

Senior Center Operations and Space

Council Member McCord questioned the suitability of the current senior center location due to traffic and access issues, and suggested exploring the former Lexington Mall site as a potential new location 38:36. Council Member Wallace suggested relocating some partner agencies to free up space for programming, noting that the current setup limits opportunities for seniors 35:00.

Partner Agency Space and Housing

Council Member Simpson asked whether partner agencies pay rent and expressed concern about space constraints, suggesting some agencies might be better housed elsewhere 42:35.

Budget and Youth Services Priorities

Council Member Ford emphasized the need to focus on youth services and prepare for a tight budget, urging the committee to advocate for social services funding 1:21:14.

Appointments

The following appointments were made during this meeting:

• Diane Woods was appointed to serve as Acting Director of Family and Youth Services.

• Commissioner Mills was appointed as Director of Youth Services.

• Commissioner Mills was appointed as Director of Family Services.

Contested Items

Legal Authority to Provide Health Insurance to Partner Agencies [timestamp: unavailable]

Council Member Wallace raised a procedural dispute regarding the legality of extending health insurance benefits to non-LFUCG partner agencies. Wallace challenged whether the government had the authority to provide such benefits, citing concerns about financial advantages and the arbitrary nature of which agencies were included in the arrangement. The dispute prompted a formal request for a legal opinion to clarify the government's authority in this matter.

Senior Center Space and Partner Agency Relocation [timestamp: unavailable]

A split vote occurred over the question of whether partner agencies should be relocated to free up space at the senior center. The debate centered on the practical feasibility and consequences of such a move. Concerns were raised about the partner agencies' ability to relocate given their operational constraints and the potential impact on the services they provide to the community. The council remained divided on whether the benefits of reclaiming senior center space outweighed the disruption and challenges a relocation would create for these partner organizations.

Update on Partner Agency Health Plan Costs

1:00

Ms. Leslie Jarvis presented data on the financial impact of including non-LFUCG employees in the health plan. The presentation focused on the costs incurred by LFUCG for satellite agencies over a three-year period.

Key Findings

According to the data presented, LFUCG incurred nearly $1 million in claims over three years for satellite agencies. Following the removal of these agencies from the health plan, costs decreased.

Discussion

The committee discussed whether the policy change to remove satellite agencies from the health plan was financially beneficial. Jeanette participated in this discussion alongside Ms. Jarvis.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken.

Department of Social Services Overview

Commissioner Mills presented an overview of the Department of Social Services 6:39, covering organizational changes, budget allocation, staffing levels, and program performance.

Key Topics Presented

The presentation included a detailed breakdown of the department's budget and organizational structure. Commissioner Mills highlighted staffing vacancies within the department and discussed current program initiatives and their outcomes.

Key Emphasis

Commissioner Mills emphasized the department's need for strong leadership in youth services. She also underscored the department's commitment to cost-efficiency, noting that the department has maintained service delivery despite operating under limited funding constraints.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action or debate recorded.

Day Treatment Center Operations and Staffing

Acting Director Diane Woods presented an overview of operations and staffing challenges at the Day Treatment Center 21:10. The discussion focused on significant staffing gaps and operational constraints affecting the facility's capacity.

Staffing Shortages

Woods detailed critical staffing shortages, noting that 10 positions have remained unfilled since 2006. This long-standing vacancy issue was identified as a major constraint on the center's operations and service delivery capacity.

Enrollment and Capacity

The committee discussed the potential to increase enrollment to 75 participants. This expansion would require addressing the existing staffing gaps and securing adequate resources to support additional clients.

Operational Challenges

Several operational barriers were identified during the discussion:

• Medicaid Billing: The need for Medicaid billing capability was raised as an important factor for the center's financial sustainability and ability to serve eligible clients.
• Transportation: Transportation challenges were noted as an ongoing concern affecting client access to services.
• Funding: Funding limitations were discussed as a constraint on the center's ability to expand operations and fill vacant positions.

Key Participants

Acting Director Diane Woods and Commissioner Mills participated in the discussion, with Woods providing detailed information about the center's current operational status and the barriers to expansion.

Outcome

The discussion was informational in nature, with no specific decisions or action items formally recorded. The presentation highlighted the interconnected challenges of staffing, funding, and operational capacity that would need to be addressed to expand the Day Treatment Center's services.

Senior Center and Aging Services

Christy Stambaugh presented on the aging population and current challenges facing the Senior Center 31:01. The presentation addressed several key issues affecting senior services in the community.

Current Challenges

The existing Senior Center faces significant space constraints that limit its ability to serve the growing aging population. The facility is currently occupied by partner agencies, which further restricts available space for senior programming and services.

Key Discussion Points

The committee discussed several important considerations for future planning:

• Ideal location for a new or expanded facility
• Programming needs to serve the senior population
• Solutions to address current space limitations
• The role of partner agencies in the facility

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with the presentation serving to educate the committee about the challenges and needs related to senior center services and aging population support. No formal action or decision was recorded as a result of this discussion.

Potential Partnership with United Way

Bill Farmer from the United Way presented information about the organization's strategic direction and discussed potential partnership opportunities with the committee 1:03:49.

Presentation Overview

Farmer outlined the United Way's shift toward an outcome-based model that focuses on three primary areas: education, income, and health. This represents a change in how the organization approaches its community impact and grant-making strategies.

Partnership Exploration

The committee explored the potential benefits of partnering with the United Way, with particular emphasis on two key areas:

• Improving oversight and accountability of partner agencies
• Leveraging grant opportunities available through the United Way

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal decision or action items recorded. The discussion served to introduce the United Way's new direction and explore how a partnership might benefit both organizations' goals.

Legal Status of Providing Health Insurance to Partner Agencies

1:16:03

Council Member Wallace raised concerns regarding the legality of providing health insurance to non-LFUCG partner agencies. The discussion centered on potential issues with this practice, including questions about the financial implications and the criteria used to determine which agencies would be included in such coverage.

Council Member Wallace specifically highlighted concerns about arbitrary inclusion of partner agencies in the health insurance program, noting that providing such benefits could create unintended financial consequences. The discussion reflected uncertainty about whether the current practice had a clear legal foundation.

In response to these concerns, the committee agreed to seek a formal legal opinion on the matter to clarify the legal status of extending health insurance benefits to partner agencies that are not part of LFUCG.

Outcome: Informational. The committee determined that legal counsel should be consulted to provide guidance on this issue.