Board Members Present:  Doug Fraley, Janice Abizaid, Eileen Dubin, Robert Krogman, 

                                             Charles Rose, Karen Wilkerson, Jeannette Vaupel, Cynthia Luxton (arrived 7:12 p.m.)                          

Board Members -Excused Absence:  None.

Board Members - Absent:  None. 

Other Persons Present:  Roger Hopkins               Office staff:  Elizabeth Carney, Kathy Ostdick

I.  CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by the President, Mr. Rose at 7:07 p.m.

II.  AGENDA

Ms. Dubin moved to approve the agenda; seconded by Ms. Abizaid.   The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote. 

III.  INTRODUCTIONS

Mr. Rose introduced Mr. Roger Hopkins, chairman of the Ben Gordon Center Board.

IV.  MINUTES 

Mr. Rose moved to approve the minutes of the July 2007 Board meeting as corrected; seconded by Ms. Wilkerson.  The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.

V.  COMMUNITY INPUT

Mr. Hopkins reported that the Ben Gordon Center has requested additional Fiscal Year 2008 funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services; $400,000 for mental health services and $800,000 for psychiatry services.  The Center has also asked that the Mental Health Board write letters to IDHS and Governor Blagojevich in support of these requests.  He noted that the Center is serving clients at 121% of its IDHS funding and projects that this trend will continue. 

Ms. Dubin stated that the amount that the Gordon Center is asking for is quite substantial and wondered how they could function at that level.  Mr. Hopkins also reported that the Center has to repay practice support to Kishwaukee Hospital for a psychiatrist that left the Center prior to his practice support contract being completed.  He also said that new psychiatrists are asking for starting pay that is approximately 25% more than current psychiatrists.

Ms. Carney asked how the Center’s plan to add 2.5 employed psychiatrists to the Center’s staff fits Kishwaukee Hospital’s evaluation of the community’s psychiatry services needs and the financial viability of such services.  The evaluation showed that the community could support 4 to 5 full-time psychiatrists.  Mr. Hopkins replied that there is now the equivalent of 4 full-time psychiatrists in the community.   There was some additional discussion between Mr. Hopkins and the Board members.

Mr. Hopkins left at 7:30 p.m. 

VI.  CORRESPONDENCE AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

• The McHenry Mental Health Board and several other organizations are sponsoring a symposium on the transformation of mental health care for families, children, and adolescents on October 4.  Ms. Carney will be going to this event.

• The Board discussed Ms. Gargani’s resignation from the Board and expressed appreciation for

her service.

      ·     The Board discussed guidelines for honoring members who resign.  There was a consensus that

             persons with under 5 years of membership will receive a letter and certificate.  Persons with

             more than 5 years will receive a plaque. 

• Safe Passage will hold its annual candlelight vigil against violence on October 1.

VII.  FINANCE REPORTS

Ms. Abizaid moved to approve the August 2007 agency claims in the amount of $123,011.49; seconded by Mr. Rose.  The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Ms. Abizaid moved to approve the August 2007 office claims in the amount of $1,1891.97; seconded by Mr. Krogman.   The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Ms. Abizaid moved to approve the September 2007 agency claims in the amount of $118,975.00; seconded by Ms. Luxton.  The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Ms. Abizaid moved to approve the September 2007 office claims in the amount of $3,537.76; seconded by Ms. Vaupel.   The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

VIII.  BOARD MEMBER INITIATIVES

Mr. Fraley volunteered to talk at the next Board meeting about his concerns regarding the mental health needs of veterans and their families. 

Mr. Rose suggested that the Board take a proactive response to issues that are of concern to Board members and that the agenda will now include the standing item, “Board Member Initiatives, ” to provide

members with an opportunity to bring issues to the Board.

IX.  DIRECTOR’S REPORT

• Advanced Practice Nurse:  The Gordon Center has hired a part-time APN to work 2 days per week.   They are continuing to recruit for another part-time APN. 

• Board-sponsored Suicide Prevention workshop for school personnel will be held October

4 in conjunction with the DeKalb County Special Education Resource Breakfast.

• Community Needs Assessment:  Ms. Carney met with Joel Cohen of Health Systems Research, School of Medicine, University of Illinois at Rockford, for a preliminary discussion regarding the Board’s planned community assessment.  The next step is for the Board to define the purpose of

the assessment so that a proposed design and projected cost can be developed.  

Ms. Carney gave the Board members copies of sample assessments done for several mental health

boards and other organizations.  After some discussion, the members requested that each be given

a copy of the recent Champaign County Mental Health Board assessment for review as the county is similar to DeKalb County and the assessment is especially well done.  The Board will complete its discussion at the next meeting.

• NAMI of DeKalb, South Kane, and Kendall Counties has reduced their Executive Director’s hours from 30 to 20 per week due to financial constraints.  They are requesting that their funding remain the same during this transitional period.  This request will be reviewed by the Finance Committee and a recommendation will be made to the Board.

• Jail Based Services:  The Sheriff’s Department has started its integrated medical and behavioral

health services program at the Jail with Grant Year 2008 funding from the Board.  The Sheriff

has expressed appreciation for this opportunity to improve their services to both Mr. Rose and

Ms. Carney. 

• November and December meetings:  Ms. Carney asked if the Board wants to combine these

meetings, as was done last year.  This will be discussed at the October meeting.

• County Board Jail Savings Account:  Ms. Carney and Ms. Dubin reviewed the current status of

      the possibility of the County Board developing a new jail building “savings plan” that would

divert new construction property tax dollars to a jail fund.  County Administration did not recommend starting a savings plan to the County Board in its Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Recommendations, but did present what such a plan could look like.  The example presented would mean that the Mental Health Board’s revenue could be reduced by potentially $80,000 the first year, $160,00 the second year, $320,00 the third year, etc. up through 10 years.  Ms. Carney will monitor this possibility and keep the Board informed.   

X.  COMMITTEE REPORTS

Executive Committee:  Mr. Fraley brought up that last spring he had raised the question of the past president becoming a part of the Executive Committee.   Ms. Carney noted that the By-Laws would need to be amended.  After some discussion, Mr. Rose asked Ms. Carney to add “as well as the immediate past-president” to article 4 section D of the By-laws, which is the section that identifies the membership of the Executive Committee.  The Board will vote on this change at the October meeting. 

The Executive Committee reported that at their September meeting they discussed changing the process for recruiting and interviewing prospective Board members.  Types of diversity and backgrounds that are preferred for Board members were discussed, as well as an interviewing process.  

The following plan was established:  Current candidates will be invited to observe a Board meeting

and letters will be sent to various area entities asking them to identify interested persons.   The Personnel and Nominations Committee will review candidate’s letters and recommend candidates to be interviewed by the full Board.   Ms Luxton suggested that the Board members forward questions for perspective members, so all applicants be asked the same questions. 

The Board discussed the possibility of a conflict of interest being present for candidates who are in

practice in the community.   Ms. Luxton suggested that the Board’s concern about a possible conflict of interest be communicated to such candidates and if they do not feel that a conflict would be present, that they share their thinking with the Board.  The same process would apply if a spouse or significant other of a candidate is employed by an agency that receives Board funding, or if he or she were in practice in the community.   Ms. Carney will contact current candidates that are in practice in the community and convey this information.

Finance Committee:  The Finance Committee needs a third member.  Mr. Krogman volunteered to be on the committee temporarily.

Personnel and Nominations Committee:  Mr. Fraley volunteered to be on the Personnel and Nominations Committee, if needed.

XI.  OLD BUSINESS

Ben Gordon Center HVAC Study: The study has been completed we are waiting for the report.  Ms. Carney will meet with the KJWW Engineering Consultants and the Gordon Center and report to the Board.

Sexual Harassment Policy:  The Executive Committee has reviewed the policy and recommends its adoption.  The Board discussed having procedure that includes two readings of a policy prior to adoption. Ms. Luxton expressed concern that given the small size of the Board operations that another reporting option be made available, in addition to reporting to the supervisor or the Board president.  Ms. Carney suggested including the Employee Assistance Program as an employee resource.  The Board also discussed having the Executive Committee trained to handle sexual harassment complaints so that an employee could report to any members of that Committee.  Ms. Carney will look into training opportunities for the Board.  

XII.  NEW BUSINESS

Board Opening:  This was discussed earlier in the meeting.

Ben Gordon Center request for a letter of support: The Board discussed the Center’s request that had been presented by Mr. Hopkins earlier in the meeting.  After discussion, it was decided to send letters of support to the IDHS and the Governor, but in support of psychiatric services not physician employment, as well as additional funding for mental health services.

Law Enforcement Training:  Ms. Wilkerson stated that she has been appointed chair of the Human Relations Commission in DeKalb and is interested in working with the Board to provide training for the DeKalb police force in working with persons with mental health issues.  Ms. Carney stated that there is a program that the Board is already working on with NAMI that would tie in to this.  Ms. Carney will follow up with Ms. Wilkerson on this issue.

Ms. Vaupel stated that she has some office equipment from her school that she is willing to donate or sell.  Ms. Carney told her about Hope Haven’s need for a copier and suggested that Ms. Vaupel call Hope Haven and also email Dan Templin at the DeKalb County Community Foundation as he can put this information out on a agency mailing list.

XIII.  ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 9:33 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________________                      _________________________________

Janice Abizaid, Board Secretary                                              Kathy Ostdick, Recording Secretary

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