DeKalb County, Illinois
	Minutes of the COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD June 16, 2001

Board Members Present: Mary Petruchius, Norm Gilbert, Bob Krogman, Denny Sands, Regina Parker, and Maureen Russell

Board Members Absent: Opal Zitka, and Sue Franz

Other Persons Present: Staff: Jerry Lane and Sue Halbrader

Guest Speakers: Deborah Frueh and Karen Skate (?name)

The Community Mental Health Board meeting was called to order at 7:50 p.m. by President Mary Petruchius

There were no changes or additions to the agenda.

No introductions

Mr. Gilbert moved to approve the April minutes; Seconded by Mrs. Parker. The motion carried unanimously.

 

C Mr. Lane reported that United Way in DeKalb County cut agency contributions by 30% this year.

C Mr. Lane recapitulated the June 5^th meeting attended by staff, three state Senators, and several members of the Northwestern DD Network. The group questioned legislators regarding a number of their concerns, in particular, an effort now underway by Illinois to relocate some Illinois DD residents from a Wisconsin location where they live in a group home operated by an out of state corporation. The company and the state of Illinois are negotiating the building of new housing in Freeport to accommodate them. A number of agencies in Illinois are equipped to handle the people and provide programs for them. Those agencies reported their bids and offers of space have been ignored by the Department of Human Services. The Wisconsin company is looking for a daily rate three to four times greater than the going rate in Illinois. Agency representatives asked if anyone knew why DHS is working with this exorbitantly expensive agency from out-of-state when Illinois has more than adequate accommodations. Legislators were not aware of the deal, and said they would investigate the allegations.

C Mr. Lane distributed copies of a pamphlet called "Forgotten Policy: An examination of mental health in the U.S.", published in May, 2001. The authors emphasize the necessity to support and provide good quality mental health services for all who need them and they presents strategies and recommendations for improving the current system. Agencies in DeKalb County presently use thirteen of the fifteen recommended strategies, limited only by the shortage of state funding. Mr. Lane stated at this time the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board is funding the outpatient services program at Ben Gordon Center at a higher rate than the state, which should not happen. Lane asked, rhetorically, if the Board could continue to keep things above water while the rest of the state system appears to be falling apart?

C Mr. Lane circulated several census maps illustrating the population shifts in Illinois that instigated redistricting. The color-printed maps also graphically show an increasing Spanish-speaking population.

C Mr. Lane stated that Illinois passed the mental health parity law. This is important for understanding and treating mental illness as a biological illness. However, many persons with mental illness are unemployed or underemployed. Mr. Lane then discussed a chart in the June 25^th issue of U.S. News & World Report, that shows the connection between hourly earnings and health insurance. In 1998, 54% of workers in the United States had health insurance from employers, in contrast with 66% in 1979. Rising costs account for the difference. Of workers earning less than $7.21 per hour (roughly $14,000 per year, gross) 41.9% had insurance in 1979; in 1998 26.1% were insured.

C Mr. Lane explained that the $1/hour raise approved by the legislature for direct-care workers in Illinois will not happen. The state has not defined "direct care", nor does anyone know how many direct care workers there are, nor can they estimate the number accurately. The state has no methodology for distributing the increase to local agencies. In addition, the amount of money set aside to cover the increase may not be enough. At least 30 cents of the dollar will go toward fringe benefits such as social security and workman’s compensation. At best, a worker could get a $.70/hour raise.

C Mr. Lane distributed copies of Capital Fax in which the remarks about the community mental health system being the biggest loser in the state legislature this session came from him. In addition, 217 positions were cut from the Department of Human Services this year. The only part of state government that is growing is the Office of the Inspector General.

C Mr. Lane said he and Ms. Halbrader attended the State Association meeting at which the Director of the state budget office briefed Association members on the just passed budget.

One useful piece of information learned at the Association meeting was that pharmaceutical companies have established a website at needymeds.com where consumers may find access to medication at no cost.

In Aurora, interpreters are being trained in medical terminology by Companeros en Salud

to improve their range of skills to serve the Spanish-speaking population.

RITA’S, an acronym for Returning Inmates To American Society, is a new service in Aurora, operated by a clergyman (and ex-con) and his wife, to help ex-convicts find work, housing and improve social skills.

Mr. Lane announced that the Kane County jail has reserved one wing for inmates with mental illness.

McLain County is presently paying for their jail based services out of the county’s tort fund.

C Mr. Lane announced the State Association Strategic Planning session will be will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, October 17 and 18, 2001, at Starved Rock. Board members are invited to attend.

FINANCE REPORTS

Mrs. Parker moved acceptance of the May agency claims as submitted, seconded by Mr. Gilbert. On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Parker moved acceptance of the April office claims as submitted, seconded by Mrs. Russell. On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.

The Board meeting was held at Canterbury Place, a new housing complex for persons with special needs. Prior to the business meeting Board members and staff toured the buildings. Our host, Deborah Frueh, called the complex the "first project", one that took five years to build. They went through an intense "hazing process" on the way to finding the money. In the end, she said, they were able to get a 40 year loan at 2% and they were paid to build the housing. Her partners, Suzanne Larson and Karen Skate, have special needs daughters. Motivated by the discovery, years ago, that little housing exists for persons with developmental disabilities, the women created housing to suit their needs. One goal was to make it possible for people to be as integrated into community living as they wanted to be.

The tour began in the community room, an open, bright and pleasant central area adjacent to laundry facilities, bathroom, office, and four exits to the parking lot, adjoining buildings and the grassy play area. DCP Safe gave Canterbury Place a grant to establish a youth activity group in conjunction with Briarwood, the neighboring low income building complex. She told Board members that an architect drew the plans based on a design for a university dormitory, and Extended Home Living Services assisted them in redrawing until the plans complied with ADA accessibility recommendations.

The north-south sidewalks are heated. Each of the six four-bedroom units have spacious bedrooms, two large accessible full bathrooms, a kitchen with a dishwasher, garbage disposal, range and a moveable island, a dining and study area with a ceiling light and fan. Each bedroom has separate cable and phone wiring, and the lower units have roll-in showers for wheelchair bound individuals. (Half the units, all on the lower level, are for special needs). Rent for each unit is $600 per month. This project is for low income persons; ten persons are presently on the waiting list. Each unit is limited to eight people (who do not have to be related), and one care giver can live in. The manager’s unit is upstairs, 1,250 square feet, and is provided free of charge, as the manager is paid $6,450 per year.

The partners in Canterbury Place define a person with special needs as anyone whose condition rates special funding.

Ms. Frueh said Suzanne Larson has just been put in charge of northern Illinois’ Project Ground Floor, a DHS sponsored program with a $25,000 grant to serve disabled persons by providing housing. She stated there are more housing opportunities including group homes, stand alone units and apartment complexes.

The second Project they have undertaken is assembling and marketing a comprehensive catalog of agencies and services for parents. This book-on-disk will be available soon at no cost to direct users (parents, family, caregivers) and will be found at agencies, libraries and other publically accessible places. Demonstrated by Ms. Skate, a general partner and IT professional responsible for the computer program, it is a sophisticated tutorial and sourcebook for caregivers that will answer questions for overstressed providers of care who are new to the system.

A third Project is in the pipeline, a service, about which no more can be said at this time.

In response to the tour and discussion of needs, Mr. Lane stated that Illinois has identified over 21,000 persons with DD who are living with caregivers 60 and older. To give people an idea of the scope of the problem, Illinois will need to come up with at least 3,000 new seven bed units in the next few years. In DeKalb alone, we estimate about 150 individuals will need affordable housing. It is important to give consideration to how and when these units will be built before the need is so great that it cannot be met.

 

None

No appeals of the preliminary funding allocations were received. After a brief discussion:

Mr. Gilbert moved that the funding allocations for fy2002 be approved; second by Mr. Krogman. On a voice vote the motion passed unanimously.

Sample service agreements (contracts) were distributed to Board members with the schedules that agencies receive, sign and return to the mental health board.

Capital requests were considered. Mr. Graves provided the board with two estimates for repaving the parking lot at Ben Gordon Center. The Board wants Mr. Graves to give them one more estimate before a decision is made. Ben Gordon Center also wants to know if the Board will entertain automatic door openers for their main entrance to make it ADA compliant. Consideration of repaving and automatic doors was tabled until the Board can see three estimates from Mr. Graves for each project. Mr. Lane was asked to inform Mr. Graves.

The Board approved Mr. Lane’s request for permission to write to each agency asking them to provide a wish list of capital projects.

 

Mr. Gilbert moved the Board cast a unamimous vote to adopt the recommended slate of officers for FY2002: Mary Petruchius for President, Regina Parker for Vice-President and Opal Zitka for Secretary-Treasurer. Second by Mrs. Russell. On a voice vote the motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Lane discussed the county’s FY-02 budget process. We will receive the budget packet in July at which time we will know how big an increase is possible. Mr. Lane will prepare a draft budget and levy request in time for our next meeting. The budget this year should be a straightforward process as there is little room for anything new. If Board members have concerns or questions about the budget they are invited to e-mail or call the office.

The CMHB objectives for the coming grant year were discussed. It was agreed to add reestablishment of the Men’s Recovery Residence to the items carried over from this year.

Mr. Sands moved to adopt the Community Mental Health Board objectives for GY02 as discussed; second by Mrs. Russell. On a voice vote the motion passed unanimously.

The motion to adjourn was made by Mrs. Russell, second by Mr. Krogman. The meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.

_________________________________
Opal Zitka
Secretary/Treasurer

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