The Health & Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Tuesday, December 5, 2006, @ 6:00p.m. in the Legislative Center’s Liberty Room. Chairman Robert Rosemier called the meeting to order.  Members present were Pat LaVigne, Jeff Metzger, Sr., Richard Osborne and Jeff Whelan.  Ms. Fullerton was absent. A quorum was present. Others present were Mary Olson and Ray Bockman.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          Moved by Mr. Whelan, seconded by Mr. Osborne, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from October 30, 2006.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA     

Moved by Mr. Whelan, seconded by Mr. Osborne, and it was carried unanimously to approve the agenda.

REVIEW OF COMMITTEE’S PAST YEAR’S ACTIONS AND EVENTS

          Chairman Rosemier explained to the new committee members what the committee has discussed in the past and the responsibilities that they have.  He mentioned the various departments that report to the committee and that Ms. Olson’s department, DeKalb County Community Services, oversees the Senior Services Tax Levy.  They mail out the applications and coordinate the public hearings for this committee.  She also monitors the funds after the awards have been granted.

          The committee did discuss becoming the catalyst for locating grant writers.  He contacted eCivis, who provides a service for grantwriting.  He made an appointment to meet with them, but five minutes before the meeting was to start, they called and said they couldn’t make it.  The representative that he was his contact there, left the company shortly after that.  His new contact person, out of California, said that they would not write grants, but they are an information center to put us in touch with funding sources.  They do business only through the municipal, state, and county governments.  ECivis would be willing to give us 2-weeks free of usage of their services and give us some on-line training.  Their services can be rather expensive.  In order to put it in the hands of other county agencies, DeKalb County would need to buy in.  The County’s buy in is $15,000 and for another $5,000 they would give us another 25 access points.  In spite of not showing up he felt that they might have something to offer.

          Chairman Rosemier then spoke with the Foundation Center out of Chicago.  It is basically the same kind of service, but they deal primarily with foundations, he continued.  Membership can be annual or monthly and is much more reasonable.  They can also arrange training that sometimes can be on-site. 

          He then asked Mr. Bockman, which way do we go?  Are there funds for the County to buy this service (eCivis)?  The $5,000 and perhaps some of the County’s umbrella coverage would be made up of contributions from the other social service agencies.  Three agencies that Mr. Rosemier has already contacted said that they would be interested in buying some of these services currently.  Mr. Bockman gave him an idea – “Why restrict the funding sources to only social services, why not to anyone in the towns, cities, townships, etc.”  If we do this, it would create a larger pool of agencies that could be cross-trained and they would be able to provide training, too, said Chairman Rosemier.  He felt that this would be a good service to the people of this county with a minimal investment.  He doesn’t know how much it would cost because he hasn’t gone that far with them yet in the process.

          Mr. Bockman said that what he is suggesting is that the County becomes a certain service bureau for that type of service for anyone in the community that needs it.  It can become a profit center for the agency that starts it and that agency would be able to use the economy as a scale to cover their own administrative costs.  In order to get it going though, someone has to make an appropriation, one year won’t do it, a couple of years at minimum.  He feels that it is a worthwhile issue to look at.

          Chairman Rosemier said that recently a community needs analysis group was formed, which is a 2-stage needs analysis and who is looking at the needs of the community.  The County paid $2500 from the Senior Services Tax Levy for dealing with the senior population portion of this project. 

          Mr. Whelan said that since we are looking at possibly looking at a grant writer position - there’s no budget under Health and Human Services to fund this, right?  Mr. Bockman said no, there is not - you would be taking the proposal to the full board to fund this project.

          Chairman Rosemier said that he would like to ask the committee for some direction that he could go in?

          Ms. LaVigne said to remember that each agency is different.  We should first look at the agencies that we are already dealing with and are familiar with.  There also should be no duplication of services.  She said that she felt that we have a good beginning with this core group and to take baby steps right now. 

SETTING A MEETING DATE AND TIME

          The committee agreed to meet on the first Monday of the month @ 6:30p.m.  The January meeting, however, will be on the second Monday, 1/8/07, because of the New Year’s Day Holiday falling on the first Monday.

Before adjourning Chairman Rosemier informed the committee that State Representative Robert Pritchard spoke to him about introducing legislation for the benefit of senior citizens.  If there are any issues that the committee would like him to bring to Representative Pritchard’s attention, please notify him.

Also, Ms. Olson from the Community Services Department handed out a brochure regarding services that her department performs.  She also handed out her Community Directory.

ADJOURNMENT

          Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Ms. LaVigne, and it was carried unanimously to adjourn the meeting.

                                                Respectfully submitted,

                                                _________________________________________

                                                Chairman Robert Rosemier