The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, January 3, 2005 @ 4:45p.m. in the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Robert Rosemier called the meeting to order.  Members present were Marlene Allen, Julia Fullerton, Sally DeFauw, Eric Johnson and Ruth Anne Tobias.  Ms. Dubin was absent.  Others present were Ms. Karen Grush, Ms. Mary Olson, Mr. Gary Hanson and Mr. Ray Bockman.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

          Chairman Rosemier reminded the committee members to get any item to him for the meeting agenda a week ahead of the meeting (on that Wednesday prior). So for the February 2005 meeting the committee members should get items to him by February 2, 2005.

          Moved by Ms. Allen, seconded by Ms. Tobias, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda.

COMMITTEE MISSION STATEMENT

          Chairman Rosemier reviewed the committee’s mission statement with the members.  He said that the Cooperative Extension Service Office will be giving the semi-annual reports to this committee now. At the last meeting that Ms. Gullota attended she said that she wasn’t sure if the Extension Office was going to continue with these teleconferencing sessions.  Chairman Rosemier said that he would be checking with Ms. Gullota to see if they will be continuing to offer the Teleconferences. He felt that they were very beneficial to all county board members.

The committee also discussed whether they should invite various boards that the county board appoints. Some of the boards that were discussed were the Housing Authority, the Community Services Administrative (CASB) and the Cemetery Boards.  Chairman Rosemier said that he would call the Housing Authority to discuss this with them.  Ms. Olson said that she could see the CASB visiting this committee.  The committee also agreed to have Mr. Bockman review the list of appointed boards and see if there were any that could visit this committee. 

Mr. Eric Johnson asked if the coroner could submit a monthly report to see if there is any kind of pattern going on? Chairman Rosemier said that he would check with Mr. Miller on this request and get back to Mr. Johnson. 

          The committee agreed to have the departments that report to this committee meet with them on a semi-annual basis or even sooner.  Ms. Olson reminded the committee that the Senior Services Tax Levy Hearings should be held in April and then if there is a problem we can visit with the agencies again in May with the monies being awarded in June.  Ms. Grush said that her report could be given in May. 

          Chairman Rosemier said that he is encouraging department heads to make the committee aware of any needs that they have that may or may not be budgetary, which perhaps the committee can at least look at, so that the department heads know that they are not all alone out there.

          Chairman Rosemier said that he would like to look at senior services and the senior tax levy hearings to address how we are meeting the needs of seniors.  Ms. Olson said that there is a group called Networking for Families in the county that includes all social service providers for the County of DeKalb that the committee might want to invite, as a suggestion.

          Chairman Rosemier said that usually we just get an annual report from some of our departments, but that he would like to ask the departments, what’s there that we are not addressing, what would you like to have addressed?  He said that he would discuss this issue with Mr. Morrison at the Regional Superintendent of Schools Office and see what he has to say. 

REPRESENTATIVE PRITCHARD’S LETTER ON MEDICAL INSURANCE RATES FOR DOCTORS IN ILLINOIS

          The committee discussed the growing concern of doctors that are leaving the State of Illinois because of medical malpractice insurance.  They discussed the problem with finding neurosurgeons and doctors of obstetrics. Ms. Allen said that she would get in touch with State Representative Pritchard and try and get more information from him on this issue.  Chairman Rosemier said that he would contact the local clinics in the county and see what kind of problem there is here in the county.

COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT REPORT

          Ms. Olson, Director of the DeKalb County Community Services Department, approached the committee about her Block Grant Report and stated that she sends this information to the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity who compiles all the information to give to the press.  She briefly reviewed this report to the committee highlighting certain facts.  She said that the Family Development Program was completed at 153%.  The Furniture Assistance Program was completed at 170% because they get so much furniture donated for this program.  She also highlighted that they completed 104% of school physicals also this past year.  These school physical funds go to people who meet the income guidelines. 

          In her next report she discussed the Homeless Prevention Program that is offered through her department.  She said that all of the money that is awarded to DeKalb County goes to her department.  Her department then disperses the funds to people who receive temporary relief with their rent or utilities. 

          Her third report covers what her department applied for with her block grant for FY2005.  She sent it in on November 1, 2004 and just received the approval notice last week.  She reminded the committee that these are federal monies.

          Ms. Olson then reviewed the timeline with the committee regarding the process for Senior Services Tax Levy Hearings.  She said that the applications would be going out tomorrow and that they are due back to her office by February 15, 2005.  In March 2005 she will be mailing copies of all the applications to the committee members to review.  In April 2005 the hearings will be heard and then the resolution will be forwarded to the full board for approval of the awards in May or June of 2005.

MEETING DATE AND TIME

          The committee agreed to meet on the 1^st Monday of the month @ 5:30p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

          Moved by Ms. Fullerton, seconded by Ms. DeFauw, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                                                          Respectfully submitted, 

                                                          ____________________________________

                                                          Robert Rosemier, Chairman

_____________________________________

Mary C. Supple, Secretary