The Health and Human Services Committee of the DeKalb County Board met on Monday, May 5, 2008 @ 6:30p.m. in the Administration Building’s Conference Room East.  Chairman Robert Rosemier called the meeting to order.  Members present were Ms. Fullerton, Mr. Metzger, Sr., Mr. Osborne and Mr. Stoddard.  Ms. LaVigne was absent.  Mr. Michael Flora, Executive Director of the Ben Gordon Center and Ms. Pat Vary were present.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

          Moved by Mr. Metzger, Sr., seconded by Ms. Fullerton, and it was carried unanimously to approve the minutes from the April 14, 2008 meeting.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

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

DISCUSSION OF ADDICTIVE BEHAVIORS AND THEIR TREATMENTS – MICHAEL FLORA OF THE BEN GORDON CENTER

          Mr. Michael Flora, Executive Director of the Ben Gordon Center, approached the committee regarding the issue of addictive behaviors.    He said that Ben Gordon is celebrating their 40^th year of providing services in DeKalb County.  He proceeded to pass out a Fact Sheet on the Center to the committee. 

Mr. Flora said that they offer 24-hour access to these services.  He said that Ben Gordon provides services at every school in the County.  They have seen a tremendous increase in services since February 14, 2008 with over 100% in psychiatric care for children.  The breakdown in age shows that they have seen a little over 4,000 DeKalb County Residents this year, which is a tremendous increase over the last few years. They receive over 250 new requests a month and over 250 phone calls a day.  Average monthly caseload is between 2,100 to 2,200 cases. 

          Mr. Flora continued by stating that 37% of the people that they see has a mood disorder, like bipolar disorder or major depression.  Twelve percent (12%) are substance abuse disorders, 4% psychotic disorders, 9% anxiety disorders, 8% attention deficit disorder, 2% post-traumatic stress disorder, and others. 

          They see between about 1% or 4,000 people annually between the ages 0-5 years old; 14% between the ages of 6 to 12 years old; 9% between the ages of 13-15 years of age; 11% between the ages of 16 – 18 years of age; 13% between the ages of 19 – 24; 20% between the ages of 25 – 35; 15% between 36 – 45 years of age; 15% between the ages of 46 to 64 years of age; and 2% at ages 65 and beyond.

          Right now the largest growth is between the ages of 6 to 15 years old, then 19 to 25 years of age. 

          Ms. Fullerton asked what is the most common problem with those age groups?

          Mr. Flora said the ages of 6 to 12 years old, they are seeing attention deficit disorder, hyper-activity, and conduct disorders.  The 13 to 15 year olds they are seeing primarily substance disorders, bi-polar disorders, ADHD and conduct disorders.  He said that they have better diagnostics that are helping them to diagnose these children now.

          The growing disorder that they are seeing in children ages 6 to 12 and 0 to 5 years old is autism/augsburgers disorder.

          Are you anticipating that you will see the age group of 46 to 65 grow because of the baby boomers? asked Ms. Fullerton.

          Mr. Flora said yes, because the 55+ age group have a different view of behavioral healthcare.  The 43 year olds and up, as they retire, we will see the real majority of these babyboomers in 2011.  They have a tendency to take better care of themselves physically and emotionally and have greater access to resources than perhaps 55 years old and beyond.  So he feels that we will see greater utilization of health care in general.

          They are seeing some returning veterans for mental health care services in the County, also, he said.

          Mr. Flora then stated that the majority of their care is paid by Medicare, Medicaid or Indigent funding.  Thirty-five percent of the people that they see are Medicaid eligible; another 35 to 40% are Indigent funded.  Each year, for the last five years, Ben Gordon Center has provided over $400,000 worth of donated and charity care - over and above what the State and Local grants pay for.  Their grants run out about every January. 

          Mr. Flora continued by stating that they have 53 full-time employees, with 35 of them being clinical.  They provide a level of care as the larger urban and suburban suppliers do with a lot less staff.  He continued by stating that organizations to the west of us, and Rockford, will see less patients than us, but will receive more money for their department of mental health and have about 250 staff members with a $12 million budget.

          Ms. Fullerton asked why the difference?

          Mr. Flora said that he was told that they would have to take it away from someone else.

          Chairman Rosemier said that you have mentioned this in the past and we all have to do something about it.

          Mr. Flora said, yes, we do need to write the Governor’s Office and Director Jones, the Director of the Department of Mental Health. We need to let them know that DeKalb County has been underfunded for years.

          The committee asked Mr. Flora if certain personalities are more addictive?

          Mr. Flora said yes, that adolescents are more likely to have gambling related problems and college age. 

          He said that the different types of gambling that they are seeing out there are on boats, horse racing, sports, backgammon, etc. 

          When does gambling become a problem?  He said it is when it manifests into a psychologically addictive and harmful behavior.  He then went into the symptoms to look for (see sheet attached to these minutes).

          Mr. Flora also said that they usually see someone with a gambling addiction because they come in for other issues like, marital problems, depression, job loss, apprehension for crimes such as theft, etc.

          Chairman Rosemier asked Mr. Flora for some “cheat sheet” on the numbers that the committee members could refer to?

          Mr. Flora said that he would be happy to provide that sheet to the committee.

          After further discussion Ms. Vary suggested that several county board members could write a letter to their legislators. 

          Mr. Stoddard suggested collecting all of the signatures from the board for this letter.

          The committee thanked Mr. Flora for his very informative report.

Before adjourning Chairman Rosemier said that Mr. Horn would be attending the June 2008 committee meeting.  He will be updating the committee on their funding and services.

In July he will be inviting various leaders from Sycamore, Cortland and DeKalb for the 3^rd meeting on the affordable housing issue.

          In August he will be trying to invite Ms. Fullerton’s referral person who will speak on education and other options to lessen gambling addictions.

          Chairman Rosemier also stated that he would be emailing out to the county board an invitation to attend an alternative Energy Workshop hosted by the Illinois State Wind Coalition.  He and Mr. Andersen had attended one and found it to be very interesting and informative.  He said that they would be holding a second event this summer and that is the email that he will be sending to everyone.

ADJOURNMENT

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

                                                Respectively submitted,

                                                _________________________________  

                                                Chairman Robert Rosemier

_____________________________ 

Mary C. Supple, Secretary