HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1999x�
EVANSTON MENTAL HEALTH BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAV, DECEMBER 09. 1999
Members Present: Jane Grover. Michael Kerns, Thomas TluaraNil, Lmiis Rtmitz, Paulin Cofresi-
Silverstein, Lonnie Wiebe
Presiding: Lonnie Wiebe
Staff: Harvey Saver, Joan Barott, Lisa Hampton
Community
Representatives: Suzanne Auburn (Youth Job Center)
Lonnie Wiebe, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
1. INTRODUCTIONS AND COMMUNITY COMMENTS
The members of the audience introduced themselves and were welcomed by the Board. Jane Grover,
and Thomas Tharayil were welcomed as the two newest members of the MHB.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES NOVEMBER 11, 1999
Ms. Wiebe stated that because there were no objections to the November 11, 1999 meeting minutes, the
minutes would be accepted as submitted.
11111. RECOGNITION OF RETIRING MHB MEMBER MICHAEL KEWNS
Ms. Wiebe said the meeting was the last one for Michael Kerns as a Board member. She said he had
been a gift to the MHB. She indicated that he had been very important to the Board, as well as to her,
and that he would be missed She pointed out that Mr. Kerns had been on the MHB for more than
eight years Ms Wiebe commented about how impressed she was with Mr. Kerns when she first joined
the MHB. Board members were not talking with one another, but then Mr. Kerns became Chair. He
encouraged the Board members to talk to one another, and to work together. She thought this was an
enormous step. Ms. Wiebe said that there had been a lot of complaining about the funding process, but
Mr. Kerns had the courage to forge ahead on the MHB priority system when there was reluctance. This
was not easy to do. Mr. Kerns advocated for change in the process, and after a lot of time and many
meetings it finally began to happen.
Ms. Wiebe said Mr. Kerns had taken time from a busy schedule to advocate for the mental health needs
of the community. She read a letter of appreciation from Sandra Stumme, Executive Director of
Metropolitan Family Services, who was not able to attend the meeting. Ms. Summe's remarks
expressed appreciation for Mr Kerns' concern, fairness and support for the social service system in the
Evanston community. The letter thanked Mr. Kerns for being the agency's second and most recent
Agency Liaison, and for attending and participating in Metropolitan Family Services' local Advisory
Board meetings.
Ms. Cofresi-Silverstein spoke on behalf of Susan Stroh, who was unavailable for the meeting. She
thanked Mr_ Kerns for all his endeavors, and said that both she Ms. Stroh hoped that Mr. Kerns would
continue to make available his volunteer efforts to the community.
Mr. Saver presented % r. Kerns with a certificate containing the following resolution of the Evanston
Mental Health Board. -
Whereas, Michael Kerns served as a Member of the Etiwwon Mental Health
Band for more than eight.)+ears;
Whereas, Michael Kerns has provided strong executive leadership for the
Elrnaston Mental Health Board as he sought growth cntd chow for its programs and
mission;
Whereas, Michael Kerns has served the Evanston Menial Health Board with
enthusiasm, wi inspired vision and unwavering dedication; w-ad
Whereas, Michael Kerns has contributed valuable time, energy, and
guidance to the Eirrnston Mental Health Board on behalf of populanons with special
needs.
Now, therefore be it resolved, that Michael Kerns is recognized for his
contributions to the Evanston community, the Evanston Mental Health Board, and
its constituents and is hereby unanimously extended the gratitude and the respect of
The Evanston Mental Health Board for his leadership and dedicated service to the
goals and mission of the Evanston Mental Health Baird
Mr. Saver pointed out that Mr. Kerns had been involved in developing a number of the MHB's
initiatives over the time of his involvement. He said one of Mr. Kerns' first committee assignments was
to review and make recommendations about the State's CILA program From this he got involved in
developing the MHB's recommendations for revisions to the City's Licensing Ordinance for residential
care homes in 1993. While there was no formal City Council action taken on this Ordinance until this
past year, many of the recommendations that Mr. Kerns worked on were incorporated into the
Ordinance. Mr. Kerns also worked extensively on the MHB's Accountability Committee. This group
revised and developed the MHB's procedures and requirements for accountability for the MM-funded
agencies. Out of his efforts was developed the Quarterly Narrative Report and the Agency Liaison
process. On behalf of the MHB staff \fir Saver thanked 'Ar. Kerns for his support and his active
participation on a number of the MHB's more active committees over the time of his involvement.
Mr. Kerns thanked the MHB and said he appreciated all the remarks. He welcomed Jane Grover and
Thomas Tharayil to the MHB and recalled eight years ago how very "green" he was to this process.
Mr. Kerns said he thought the MHB has come full circle He commented that a lot of wonderful people
had served on the MHB, with dedication. There were frustrating times dealing with the processes that
he engaged in, but with preservence and a strong pulling together by its members, the MHB had
accomplished things. He recalled when Alderman Gene Feldman served on the MHB, and said he
thought that that resulted in a better working relationship with the Human Services Committee. He
commented that the previous structure with the Aldermen actually serving on the boards and
commissions was a more effective arrangement. It promoted a better understanding between the
Council and the board members It did take more time and commitment on the Aldermen's behalf. Mr_
Kerns recalled the UBP funding process. He indicated that the MHB had raised concerns about the
process, and at one point talked about pulling out of it He said, however, that he thought the MHB
had made its allocation process more effective, and it now has a greater impact. Mr. Kerns said he
thought the advocacy, education, and promotion of mental health issues in the community was where
the MHB should focus more of its efforts on in Evanston. Mr. Kerns said he enjoyed his experience
with the MHB and had confidence in all the NM members to continue working on behalf of the
populations the Board is responsible for.
Ms, Wiebe thanked Nir Kerns and presented him with a gift on behalf of the MHB members.
IV. AGENCY ACCOUNTABILTFY ISSUES
AGEscy Lutsoty REPORTS
Metropolitan Family Services (MFS). Mr. Kerns said this would be his last Liaison report. He said
that he attended MFS's November 1999 meeting. There was a presentation on the agency's consumer
credit counseling program. The most interesting thing that came out of the presentation was that the
agency has started this new family loan program. This arose out of the federal government's attempt to
put people back to work under the welfare to work program. MFS has discovered that there a number
of gaps in the program including how do these individuals get to work, where is transportation
available; can people afford a car, child care and other concrete needs. The family loan program will
help to fill these gaps and help people who are going back to the work force. The loans will be in the
range of S5000-S6000. The agency has found it very effective and they trying to work with a bank in
Evanston. They have dedicated $100,000 to this program. They are trying to partner with local banks
to implement the program.
Haman Services Committee. Ms Wiebe commented that at one time there was an Alderman as a
representative on the %1 B Mr Rov itz asked why this had changed \ir Saver said the change came
about when the size of the City Council was reduced under a local referendum from 18 members to nine
members At that point, the Aldermen reorganized their committee structure and the responsibilities of
the Aldermen so they would not be spread so thin in their assignments.
Ms. Wiebe said that she had been the liaison from the IW B to the Council's Human Services
Committee (HSC) for the past two years She said she had been following their activity and
deliberations during that period, and involved with presenting some of the MHB's issues and concerns
to the HSC She said that she was resigning from that role in protest.
For background, Ms. Wiebe referred the Board to the minutes from two HSC meetings and two City
Council meetings in October and November. Some of them were included in the MHB packet. She said
her goal had been to oppose further burdening the agencies funded under the MISA proposal with
additional reporting requirements. She said she thought that the reporting requirements that City
Council attached to the MISA funding were beyond the present expectations in reporting. She said she
thought that this put the agencies up against the wall in cuing to protect the client's confidentiality
while, at the same time, having to report on additional subjects. She was especially concerned about the
ethical and legal implications of requiring information that could identify individuals in the MISA
program. She said she was concerned that these requirements might deter individuals from entering the
program, and thought that it would not be an easy job to attract people to a NUSA program
Ms. Wiebe said that the final resolution of the issue was to require aggregate reporting of the
information being required by the Human Services Committee. She indicated that her arguments and
those from Alderman Moran got lost in the process. However, the final outcome UW that the 558,000
allocation for the MISA program was approved. The minutes in the packet reflect the additional
reporting requirements and the provision that the reporungz is in aggregate
Ms. Wiebe said her decision to resign as the Liaison to HSC was a personal decision. She said she was
very concerned about the discussion by the Aldermen about the reporting requirements and agency
accountability. She said she thought that people from this MHB who have been in contact with HSC
over the years at least will know where she is coming from. However, the MHB %till always need to
relate to the HSC. She wanted the MHB to know that she Kill support any individual or group of
individuals who will pick up this relationship. She added that she would also support any educational
endeavor the MHB or anyone else wants make to educate the mental health community and the City
about performance outcome measurements.
Ms. Wiebe discussed the role of the Agency Liaison. She said the NM would be discussing Liaison
assignments at the January meeting. She said the MHB had heard from Metropolitan Family Services
about the successful relationship they had with Mr. Kerns She said she also had developed some very
positive relationships in her liaison assignments. Ms Webe encouraged the Board members to set aside
some time in their Mental Health Board work to fulfill their liaison responsibility. She said each Board
member would be assigned to two agencies for liaison wort: Ms. Wiebe said the Agency Liaison
process was an excellent way to enhance a sense of community and to provide the NUM with
knowledge to enable it to make informed decisions.
V. PLANNING FOR INTENSIVE AGENC'1' R.ENTEW PROCESS
Mr. Saver reviewed the background of the intensive agency review process. The ti4iB wanted to meet
with each of the agencies that it funds once every two years in a format that was removed from the
allocation process. After reviewing six agencies in the past year there were seven agencies, plus one
newly funded agency, that could be scheduled for review Nir Saver added that, at the Board's request,
he contacted Dr Fred Miller from Evanston Northwestern HealthCare's Department of Psychiatry
about coming to talk with the MHB about changes and new directions for that department. He said he
was trying to schedule that for the January meeting.
Mr. Saver stated if the MHB was interested, the schedule could be arranged to include all of the
agencies that were remaining if they doubled up on presentations in some months. The goal would be to
complete the review process no later than the July meeting. The MHB agreed to re%iew all of the
agencies with which they did not meet last year.
In response to Ms. Wiebe's question, there was a consensus of the MHB to hold some of the agency
review sessions at an agency site. Mr_ Rowitz pointed out that any place other than the Ci%ic Ceuta
would have to be accessible to the public because of the Open Meetings Act requirements for the MM
Ms. Wiebe asked what role the Agency Liaison should play in preparing the agency for the review
Ms. Cofresi-Silverstein suggested that the role of the liaison should be to identify any specific ports of
concern beforehand for the agency, and to individualize the issues for them.
Ms. Wiebe said she thought that the review should look to the future, and help the MHB anticipate
upcoming issues, trends, and emerging needs. Mr. Rowitz said he thought there should also be
discussion about what else, in addition to funding, the %9M could do to assist the agencies. He added
that the MHB should ask questions relative to the priority areas under which each agency is funded.
The M iB should also try to address with the agencies what the program priorities should be under each
of the funding priority areas.
In response to Mr. Tharayil's question, Mr. Saver said there was no formal process established for the
questions. Some agencies presented themselves in a more structured approach, while others came in
and were less formal. Each review %%as restricted to thirty minutes. his. Wiebe said that the agencies
and the MHB were conditioned by many years of engaging in the funding process, and at times repeated
some of the same questions and answers. She said she thought that the direction the reviews should
take is what the agency has been doing, how well their efforts have been working and what they see for
the future. In the past reviews, some agencies were better prepared to do this than others. She said
that is why she thought the Liaison could be helpful in helping the agency to understand that the review
is not part of the funding process. Mr. Rowitz said that the standard questions the agencies are provided
in advance should include "What are the most pressing mental health problems," and "What are the
most pressing mental health problems you see in Evanston?"
Mr. Saver said he would develop a schedule for the renew process to start in January.
VI. REVIEW OF FUNDING APPLICATION AND ALLOCATION PROCESS
Mr. Saver said the item was on the agenda at the request of the MHB He said shortly before the kick-
off of the funding process last year, several Board members raised questions about the need for more
detailed information to be presented in the proposals. He said there was also concern about the
definitions that the MHB was using for its funding priorities, and the programmatic definitions that were
included under each one. At that time, :pis. Cofresi-Silverstein recommended dealing with the issue after
the funding process was completed. The MHB agreed to begin to review the funding process at the
December meeting. He made reference to the Board minutes that were included in the packet. Mr
Saver said he thought there were two alternatives for how to proceed with the project: (1) appoint a
small Board task force, or (2) provide staff with a scope of issues to consider and ask for staff
recommendations. He said that it was his preference for staff to work with a few Board members in the
review process, and to bring recommendations back for the consideration of the entire Board.
Ms. Wiebe said there were a number of considerations. what did Board members like and not like about
this past year's process; what did Board members like about working with United Way; was it helpful
for the MHB to get together immediately after the hearing to discuss it. Mr. Rowitz said that he
thought it would be helpful to include a meeting during the year — not when proposals were being
r
reviewed - with the United Way to talk about priosities and the mental health needs of the cc,1, �,I h U 6611.6 J.
Ms. Wiebe said the MHB used to meet with the CRv to discuss and resolve issues that arose abaft high
priority issues and the agencies that dealt kith them
Mr. Rowitz suggested that during the course of the next year the hiHB set aside time to talk with other
fenders about how to work better together He said he thought one or two representatives from the
MHB, the City, and the United Way should discuss perceptions of what they need to know about the
mental health issues in the community Mr Rowitz said he thought it would also help in developing the
ability to better communicate %vith the Human Services Committee In that way the HSC might be less
critical of what the MHB is doing
Ms. Wiebe commented that in her discussion with the Human Services Committee Alderman Feldman
made a similar suggestion. She said he indicated that he would come to one of the MHB meetings for a
brief time, in order that they might discuss issues and concerns htr Kerns said he thought Alderman
Newman said he would also participate his Cofresi-Silverstein said she thought the timing was just
right.
Mr. Rowitz commented that a part of the review of the funding process should include a determination
about whether taxpayer dollars are being used in the best way Agencies create programs and go after
multiple funding sources. But over the long run it is important to see whether or not the taxpayees
money is being used in the most effective manner if it is requested to fund that program. The MHB
needs to consider if it is funding a program year after year, even at the same funding level, and it does
not see a change, is that the best use of the Board's funds his Wiebe commented that that point goes
to the heart of the issue of accountability for the Board -funded programs. Another concern is whether
the MHB is allocating money in the best possible manner For example, if the MHB has been funding a
program every year for $20,000 and it is very accountable, should the MHB continue to fund at that
level if it could fund another agency for $20,000 and have a better program somewhere else. Ms
Wiebe said the difficulty that come into the picture is in comparing large institutions and relatively small
agencies. The important consideration is whether or not the agency is spending their money on mental
health priorities. Mr. Rowitz commented that if the NM is clear about its priorities, then those are the
issues it should be looking for in each of the proposals
Ms Cofresi-Silverstein commented that she did not understand was reviewing the funding process
again. his. Wiebe said she thought that was what the Board had indicated it wanted to do, and that this
was a good time to reflect upon the material the MHB received from the agencies. There are questions
about whether this material is adequate. Ms. Cofresi-Silversteincommented that she thought the
material was great.
Mr Saver said it was his perspective that the amount and accuracy of the information provided in the
proposals was inconsistent from proposal For example, the MHB has emphasized wanting good
outcome objectives Some agencies have developed good measures and provide a very comprehensive
over%iew about how they are doing. Other agencies provide the MHB with some very soft measures
and don't provide any data or substantive information, other than some general, anecdotal impressions
He said he thought the MHB could decide what information they are really Iooking for and what was
acceptable. Mr. Saver added that in the past two funding cycles staff has been called upon to make
funding recommendations for programs. They have had to contact the agencies about a number of
issues that are not answered in the proposals, or in which the information was misleading He said be
thought that the proposal format could be re%ised so that the MH.B receives all this inforntatiom it
would enhance the NM's ability to make their fundirV decisions He indicated, as an cNample, Mr.
Rowitz's point from an earlier meeting about not having enough detail about program budgets_ Mr.
Kerns said he thought that this %vas something that staff should provide in a report or in-depth re iew of
funding recommendations, and summarize it for the MHB. The 1\11113 needs that feedback and srfcan
do this. Mr. Saver said that was possible, but it was a different expectation than had been expressed
previously. Some of these types of issues were items that the Agency Liaison was supposed to fuilow
up with the agency. He said he would like clarification about this from the MHB. He also said the he
thought the process would be more effective if the development of funding recommendations was done
in an in-depth discussion with staff and a small committee of Board members.
Mr. Rowitz said he would like to consider assigning one team of four students in his program to work
with the staff over the course of next semester to identify and collect this information. He commented
that the MHB is so small that even to divide up in to a group of four to deal with something that is
critical policy for the board as a whole should be done by the group as a whole.
Ms. Wiebe said she would serve on a process cornmittee to review the funding process, She said that a
task force of the Board needs to participate in this She said she thought committees were very
important and could facilitate things enormously for the MHB. She said that some of Mr Rowitts
students could work into this committee if it is feasible, but that it was important for the MHB to be the
major part of working on this. Mr. Rowitz said an important issue for him was not the application
process, but how the agencies have dealt with the things that the MHB feels is an important part of
reporting process. Have they done outcome measures' Have they found out whether their programs
are working? He said what the tiiHB should reach- be considering is the evaluation of the programs.
Ms. Cofresi-Silverstein commented that if an agency is having trouble, perhaps they could come to the
MHB for assistance and resource inasmuch as the !►ffffl wants them to do their best. Mr. Rowitz said
that the MHB, has to set the performance standards The MHB should develop a template for the
performance standards, and for what information it wants to review. Then the agencies will be able to
be more consistent because they will be following the template. It will make it easier for the agencies to
evaluate their success, and for the %fHI3 to evaluate whether the money is being spent wisely. Mr.
Rowitz added that perhaps what was the MHB's responsibility for identifying standards has been passed
on and made the responsibility of the agencies Mr Ro%Aitz agreed to work on the task force. Ms.
Wiebe said she would also talk with other Board members who were not present about participating on
the task force.
VII. STAFF REPORT
Outcome Measurement. Mr. Saver distributed information about a satellite teleconference being put
on by PBS and the United Way of America about Outcome Measurement: Are You Making A
Difference?" The event will be on Thursday, January 13 He said locally the MHB, City Planning
Department and Evanston United Way are sponsoring it All of their funded agencies will be invited.
The broadcast will be hosted by ECNIC. At Ms Grover's request, Mr. Saver said he would provide the
MHB copies of the curriculum materials.
Family University. Mr. Saver said that he is working with a planning group at Evanston Township
High School to produce the second amtual Family University. It will be on Saturday, March 17 at
ETHS. - It is for parents of high school students and young people who are getting ready to go to high
school. There will be a number of workshops for parents about a wide range of issues in dealing with
high school fife.
111inois Department of Human Services. Mr. Saver said that Howard Peters, the Director of the
Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) had resigned to take a job in the private sector. In
addition, Nick Gantes, Chief of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, and one Mr. Peters'
Deputy Directors also resigned_ This is happening at a time when a number of the trade associations and
advocacy groups are questioning whether the IDHS structure is working for their populations, e.g.,
developmental disabilities, mental illness. Discussions are being held with the Governor's staff about
possible changes to the organization of the Department.
Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation. Mr. Saver said that Cook County Legal Assistance
Foundation received word from the Legal Services Corporation, their federal funding source, that they
were no longer going to be funded as a stand-alone agency. Their funding and programs are being
taken over by Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago. This agency was approved by the Human
Services Committee to take assume CCLAF's City funding when they agreed to keep an office in
Evanston.
Aging Well Conference. Mr. Sager said planning for the second annual conference is prong. An
RFP will be issued for workshop presenters. A location for the conference is still being considered.
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan M. Barott
Minutes recorded - not yet approved
F%'aNSTON MENTAL HEALTH BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11. 1999
Members Prnent: Ellen Remolds. Michael Kerns. Susan Stroh. Marsha Mehen. I ou Rtnsitz
Presiding: Ellen Reynolds. Vice Chair
Staff: [-one% Saver. Joan Baron. Lisa Hampton t lateral
Community
Representatives: Sandi Johnson (NSSC), Dorothy Lloyd Still (Housing Options),
Maureen Ryan (Medill School of Journalism), Sandra Svm=c
('Metropolitan Family Services) William Parks (Evanston Community
Defender). Karen Helfrich (Trilogy), Helen McCarthy (Child Care
Network of Evanston). Jane Grover. Thomas Tharayil
Ellen Reynolds. Vice Chair. called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
1. INTRODUCTIONS AND COMMUNITY COMMENTS
The members of the audience introduced themselves and were welcomed by the Board.
Jane Grover and Thomas Thara%it introduced themselves and indicated that they had been approved
this past Monday night at the C:t• Council meeting as nc%% MHB members. Mr. Saver said the%
ti%ould be joining the ti1HB at the December meeting. after they had completed the process and been
sworn in as new Board member: %tith the Mayor's Office.
11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OCTOBER 14. 1999
Ms. Stroh moved and Mr. RoK itz seconded a motion to approve the October 14, 1999 MHB
Meeting Minutes as presented. Motion approved unanimously.
III. UPDATE ON MEETING WITH HUMAN SERVICE COMMITTEE
,vlr. Saver reported that :Ms %4'iebe attended the Human Services Committee (HSC) meeting to
represent the ,%,1HB's position about the MISA funding initiative. He said she %as the only lviHB
member in attendance. Ile said :he Citx Attome% presented a legal opinion that had been requested
h► C'it� Council regarding the conditions ol'tunding, that had been attached to the grant by the HSC.
41r. Saver reported that the opinion had heen pro%ided to the N11113 in the packet for the HSC
November 11, 1999. Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page 1
Minutes recorded — not yet approved
meeting.
Mr. Saver said that Nis. Brenniman opined that it was not a violati, n of confidentiality laws to
require that the requested information be provided in an aggregate !ormat. The HSC clarified th=
their request for information was intended to be an aggregate repor,. They indicated that they were
not looking for reports about individuals. Mr. Saver said that Alderman Rainey moved to change
the requirements to read that information would be provided about the census tracts in which people
reside. rather than names of streets on which they live. This amendment was adopted by the
Committee. and the MISA funding initiati%e was recommended ba-k to the Cite Council for
approval.
N1r. Saver said that during the discussion at the HSC. Alderman Moran raised questions aboto the
legal opinion. and took issue with some the implications. He said he would provide the tiiHB vfiffi
the notes of the meeting when they are available.
At the subsequent City Council meeting, the NIHB's funding recommendation was on the Council
Consent :agenda for approval. Nlr. Saver said he was told that Alderman Moran requested that the
item be taken off of the Consent Agenda. The conditions of funding that were attached to the
NIH13's funding recommendation were then discussed again at length. Mr. Saver said the City
Council meeting would be shown several times on the local cable channel if members of the MHB
«anted to see that discussion.
Mr. Saver reported that the NIHB's funding recommendation was passed by the City Council with
the following reporting requirements included about program clients as a condition of funding:
census tract of residence, employment status, and ropes of diagnoses and progress in treatment. Mr.
Saver said that the information was being asked for in an aggregate format.
Mi. Mehen asked how man% clients would be ser%ed in the MISA program' fir. Saver said the
three agencies projected o%er the course of a %ear to serve 35-36 individuals.
IV. FY2000-2001 =1NIHB BUDGET
ALLOCATION FOR PURCHASED SERN ICES
Mr. Saver re%iewed the materials in the packet about recommendations for program funding. He
reminded the \11113 that a number of agencies last year were a►%arded significant new mone,.. The
\11IQ had funds mailable as the result of art agency closing. Mr. Sayer pointed out that some
aL:encies asked for program funding under more than one priority area and did not provide much
information to substantiate or justitj. the funding request in each of the priority areas. He added that
this was still a new approach to funding for the MHB, and that they should consider how to get
more thorouLh intormatum in the proposals to about how a program tits into the priority area under
which it h requesting funding.
November 11, 1999. Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page 2
Minuses recorded — not yet approved
In response to NIs. Nlehen's question.'.ir. Saver said that in the High Risk Category the only
recommendation that had been made was to allocate S26.000 to the Childcare Network of
E%anston's mental health program for young children. That program was initially funded in the past
fiscal year in response to an UP. He indicated that if that recommendation %vas adopted_ it left
S2 .000 in the High Risk priorit% area to allocate to four programs that were requesting S46,000.
Ntr. Sayer said that he had yen little information about the 'iviHB's intent for that priority area, and
thought the MHB should discuss its expectations before developing the additional allocations in this
priorir% area. yis. lvlehen asked if the decisions would have to be made during that meeting. Mr.
Saver said if they were not the 41HB would need to meet again very soon so he could submit the
budget to the Budget Office before the end of November_ 'Nir. Saver explained that the NfHB
purchased service allocations would be submitted as a package with the MHB administrative budget
and be incorporated as a part of the City Manager's Budget presentation to City- Council in January.
Mr. Rowitz questioned -whether some of the programs were reall% a part of the High Risk priority
categorn. He said he thought some of them might fall under other categories. Mr. Saver explained
that the agencies requested funding for those programs under that category. Mr. Rowitz pointed out
that ,he \1HB reduced funding for the High Risk priority from $65,000 last year to the current,
propo-;e level of S51.000. Mr. Saver said that there was also an additional program that requested
tundinc under that catecor% that was not funded under Hieh Risk last vear. Nir. Saver added that the
High Risk categor% was added late in the process last year in order to be able to fund three programs
that did not fall under am of the other priority funding; areas. Otherwise, those three programs
%%ould not have received an% funding. As it was, each of the three programs did receive fairly
substantial funding reductions.
Mr. kerns asked «hither FamiI% Focus received any additional funding from the City as a result of
the reduction from the MHB last year? Mr. Saver said there had been no change in their City
t'und.ng level. %fr. Kerns pointed out that some of the Board members thought that the Family Focus
programs were good but did not fit well under Iv1HB funding. Fie said he thought they were more
appropriate heine funded by the City. and said lie regretted not haying a structure like the Unified
BuduetinL, Process under which all ofthe funders could have discussed an issue like this.
Mr. Rowitz asked why Childcare Net%%ork of Evanston's program vyas not requesting; funds under
the priority for children's' services? \,lr. Saver said that v►as the decision of the yiHB when it made
the allocation fix the RFP for that program last %ear.
%6. �iruh said she thought that l he gums!,- Institute had impro%ed their program and brought in a
nevv person this year. She -;aid she wanted to pee that program receive same level of funding.
fir. Rovv 1tz pointed out that the staft' recommendations did not make allocations for all of the
funding available under Chronic Mental Illness. GIs. Stroh suggested that the 1v1HB consider
Iransterring the balance of those funds to High Risk and allocate the new balance to programs. The
\41111 aureed to rev iety recommendations for and make fundine decisions for the other priority areas
tint. and then rt%ic\% the funding request-, for the Iligh RiNk priorit} area.
November 11. 1999. Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page 3
Minutes recorded — not yet approved
Mr. Sax er reported that S 100.000 was allocated to the Substance :abuse priority area. He reviewcj
the sta.-Y recommendations for funding under this prioritn area. Mr. Rowitz moved and tits. Mehen
seconded a motion to adopt the funding recommendations under the Substance Abuse priority
area (incorporated as an attachment to these minutes). :Motion approved unanimously.
41r. Sat er reported that S44.000 was allocated to the Children's' Services priority area- He
reviewed the staff recommendations for funding under this priority area. Mr. Saver said that The
Family Institute had requested fundins under this prioritt area for the first time. He said there was
no recommendation for funding that program under this priority because there was insufficient
material in the agency proposal about hou the\ x%ere serving children %%ith set ere emotional
disorders or developmental disabilities or delays, the criteria for the priorit. Mr. Row-itz moved
and its. Stroh seconded a motion to adopt the funding recommendations under the
Cbildren's' Services priority area (incorporated as an attachment to these minutes). Motion:
approved unanimously.
Mr. Saver reported that S50.000 was allocated to the Developmental Disabilities priority area. He
re%ie«ed the staff recommendations for funding under this priority area. Mr. Rowitz moved and
Ms. Stroh seconded a motion to adopt the funding recommendations under the Developmental
Disabilities priority area (incorporated as an attachment to these minutes). :Motion approvtd
unanimously.
Mr. Saver pointed out that there were no recommendations being made for the Dual Diagnosis
priority, area. He reminded the MH13 that they made the decision for the allocation of those funds.
S58.060. in FY00-01 when they selected the Dimensions Program from PEER Services.
Connections for the Homeless and St. Francis Hospital in September.
Mr. Sax er reported that S 100.000 %%as allocated to the Chronic dental illness (CNII) priority area.
Mr. Sac er said the staff recommendations were to funding each of the programs under this priority
area at the le%el of their request. fie said that left a balance of S3100 to allocate in this priority area.
Mr. Sax er said that. while he wasn't making: any recommendation for the use of the balance, he
thought the small amount of mone% remaining could have a more demonstrable impact upon the
allocation for Trilog). Mr. Ro«itz said he thought Trilogy was moxing in the right direction. and a
thought little more money would help them. He recommended increasing their allocation an
additional51.500. -
his. Stroh suggested that the Ott I take the excess from the Chronic Mental Illness priority area and
add the funds to the High Risk priorm area. Mr. Kerns said it %%as his understanding that the staff
recommendation tier the C NII priorit% area %%as alread% an Increase o►er last %ear's funding for
several programs. In addition, the staff recommended an additional S 1350 for St. Francis Hospital
aho%e their funding request. Mr. Stroh moved and his. Mehen seconded a motion for the MHB
to allocate to programs the amount of S95,9550 requested under the CNlt priority area
(incorporated as an attachment to these minutes).
Nlr hem. ,aid he mont,n %,wuld lease a halance ol'S- 450 Ile said he %anted it) add this to the
November 11. 1999, Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page 4
Minutes recorded -- not yet approved
Fligh Risk priori.• area. making mailable a I:+alance of S29.450 to all+a:ate in that priority. Mr.
110%0z said he aisaereed %%ith the recommendation. He said he thought the High Risk priority arm
was a dumping Ground for programs that didn't tit any» -here else. He said the agencies went to the
trouble of putting together requests under the 0-11 priorir% area with the idea that there %%as
S 100.000 available. He said he thought mo% ing an.% o f the funds from one category to another after
the proposals were developed. in order to tit in funding for a couple of props. was unacceptable.
Mr. Kerns said mat the `IHB was meeting the tundia` request of those agencies that worked so
hard and diligently on their proposals. He pointed out that no programs were being cut+ and some
were receiving a.1ditional funds. Mr. Rowitz said he brought that Trilogy could make good use of
these funds. Nis. Stroh said she thouzitt it "as too soon to make that kind of move with a new
program. It µou!d be better to develop some experience with them during their first year of MHB
funding. She added that, from her experience at the High School, she has been very impressed with
the accessibility and availability of both Metropolitan Family Services and The Family Institute.
She said she thought they have been makin¢ their sen-ices available in a way that the MiHB had
wanted them to do. Motion approved unanimously.
Nis. Stroh moved and Ms. Mlehen seconded a motion to transfer S4550 from the Chronic
Mental Illness priority area and allocate it to the High -Risk priority area. legs. Stroh clarified
that this would pro%idea total of S55.550 to allocate under High Risk. Motion approved
unanimously.
.Nis Stroh moved and Mr. Rowitz seconded a motion to allocate 555,550 from the High Risk
priority area as follows: Childcare Network of Evanston - S26,000; the balance of $29,550
equally in amounts of S9850 to Famih• Focus, The Family Institute, and Metropolitan Family'
Services Family Development Program. Motion approved unanimously.
The w11IB Mr. Saver and Ms. Hampton for : eir %%ark .n de%eloping the funding; recommendations
NIENTAI. HEa1.T11 BOARD ADMINISTR.AT1% E BL DGET
M1r. Saver reviewed the City's Budget Guidelines for FY00-01. He said 93% of the MHB's budget
was based upon figures that are provided b, the Budget Office. Mr. Rowitz moved and Ms.
Mehen seconded a motion to approve the MiHB Administration Budget in the amount of
S95,500 for FY2000-2001 as it was presented. Motion approved unanimously.
V. F4*2000-2001 M11-113 01 JECTIVE5
Vlr. Saver presented draft objectives for the N11-113 for FY2000-2001. He said that the objectives
«ould be included as a pan of the tiiHB's budget package. He said a number of the items had been
discussed at earlier meetinus. He indicated that the MH had decided last year to conduct the
intenai%,c agenc% re%ie« process once e%etn too years %%ith each aeenc%. He said if there is
:agreement to continue that process. the %IFIB should discuss the structure. format. and process they
►�anlc d to use. Mlr. Rowitz mused and Ms. Mlehen seconded a motion to adopt the following
November 11, 1999, Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes page 5
Minutes recorded — not yet approved
objectives for FV2000-2001:
I. By August 2000, to have reviewed and evaluated the agency funding process, and to have
implemented changes that provide a more comprehensive information related to the
Mental Health Board's funding priorities.
2. By August 2000, to have developed an implementation plan for a select group of issues that
were identified in the 1999 Substance Abuse Round Table. The report will include
recommendations for priority funding issues and program policies.
3. By September, 2000, to have met with six 1<1HB-funded agencies to conduct an in-depth
review of what services are being provided. and what difference(s) are being made in the
community by programs funded by the Mental Health Board.
d. By February 2001, to have organized and provided at least two community- education
presentations related to a contemporary mental health issue.
5. By December 2000, to have reviewed and updated or revised the Ntental Health Board's
policies and procedures.
Motion approved unanimously.
OVI. AGENCY LIAISON REPORTS
Connections for the Homeless. Mr. Saver reported that shorny after the agencies' hearings David
Myers. Director for Connections for the Homeless, reported he is taking a new positron in early
December. He will be the Executive Director of Teen Living Programs in Chicago. At the present
time a search is being conducted for his replacement.
Vli. UPDATES
Substance Abuse Task Force. Mr_ Ro%tiitz reported that the first meeting of the Substance Abuse
Task Force was convened. A small number of people anended the first meeting. Mr. Saver said that
there Mere a number of additional people who expressed interest but were not able to attend. 41r.
Rowitz said one of their initial goals was to expand the membership. He said that the group
discussed what they thought were some of the issues upon which the} would follo% up. He said that
the% agreed it) %%ail until after the funding cycle to comene the next meeting. Kate Mahoney from
f'1.LR Serb ice:, %%aa selected it) co-chair the Mask Force.
Aging «ell Conference. Mr. Saver said that planning has begun for the second Agrng Well
conference. The NIHB agreed to be a co-sponsor again this year. The conference will again deal
�%ith mental health issues for an older population. The conference is being planned for the second or
third %%eek of Nola} 2000. This %%ill depend, in part. upon whom the% are able to get as a keynote
�;pcaker. the format "ill probabl% be the same as last year. ►+ith four or five breakout groups. The
!Tanning (group has alread-, met a couple of times. and is considering the various topics for the
hi-cal,out groups. Mr. Saver stated this the: group is much further along in the planning than last
November 11, 1999. Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page 6
Minutes recorded — not ,rot approved
year. He added that ; 'therc was an%one from the MHB nterested in participating on the planting
group to let him kno%..
Vill. STAFF REPORT
N1r. Saver commented that one of the 4IHB objectives this year is to review and update the MHB's
Polices and Procedures, and Administrative Guidelines. (Mr. Kerns commented that he thought the
NtHB had successfully this task for the past eight years.) Mr. Sayer said that Lisa Hampton would
be working on this particular project and bringing recommendations back to the NfHB. He indicated
that he was hoping that there were one or two N1HB members that would participate on this.
N1r. Saver reported that fir. Kerns' last meeting could be in December.
Mr. Saver stated the Arc of Illinois has a new video "rfitat Are We 3i airing For". He said that this
was produced as a part of a campaign to educate consumers and the public about issues related to
waiting lists for developmental disability services in Illinois. He said that this is an issue that
parents at Evanston's Park School were raising questions about last year. The "waiting list' is of
particular concern when young people age out of. or become too old for. mandaton services. Ms.
Stroh said she thought there were a number of families at ETHS that also have concems about
similar issues as they get their family member ready for graduation. Mr. Saver said he had already
spoken with Jerry Gulley at SHORE about the possibility of convening some type of educational
forum for about this issue for consumers with children who have developmental disabilities. He
said it might also be possible to get some legislators to attend the forum. In response to his.
Mehen's question. Mr. Saver said that the focus of this type of cornmunin- forum would be to
provide information about the array of services for people with developmental disabilities in Illinois.
and how far behind the State is in funding these services. tilr. Sa\ er commented if the NIHB is
interested in this he will contact groups like SNORE and Park School to see about jointly
sponsoring the e%ent. The .101113 agreed to undertake this initlati%e.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.'vi.
Respectfully submitted.
Joan NI. Barott
November 11, 1999. Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page 7
Minutes recorded — not yet approved
EVANSTON MENTAL HEALTH BOARD
DECISIONS OF MEETING
THURSDAY, NOVENIBER 11, 1999
1. Adopted the funding recommendations under the Substance Abuse priority area (incorporated
as an attachment to these minutes).
2. Adopted the funding recommendations under the Children's' Ser%ices priority area (incorporated
as an attachment to these minutes).
3. adopted the funding recommendations under the Developmental Disabilities priority area
( incorporated as an attachment to these minutes).
4. Allocated to programs the amount of S95.95:0 requested under the Chronic 'Stental Illness
priority area tincorporated as an attachment to these minutes).
5. Transferred S4550 from the Chronic Mental Illness priority area and allocate it to the High -Risk
pnonty area_
6. allocated S55.550 from the High -Risk priority area as follows: Childcare Networkof Evanston
- $26.000. the balance of S29.550 equally in amounts of S9850 to Fancily Focus, The Family
Institute. and Metropolitan Family Services Family Development Program.
7. Approved the %IHB administration Budget as it was presented in the amount of S95,500 for
FY2000-2001.
S. adopted the following objectives for FY2000-2001:
B. August 2000. to have re• iewed and evaluated the agency funding process. and to have
implemented changes that provide a more comprehensive information related to the dental
Health Board's funding priorities.
• B% August 2000. to ha, e de.eloped an implementation plan for a select group of issues
that «ere identitied in the 1999 Substance :abuse Round Table. The report will include
recommendations for priority funding issues and program policies.
• B. September. 2000. to ha.e met with six .1.11-113-funded agencies to conduct an in-depth
re.ie.. of..hat yen ices are being provided, and %%hat difference(s) are being made in the
communit h-, programs funded h. the Mental Health Board
• 13% Februar. 2001. To ha• e orLmnized and pro,, ided at least tv o communit. education
presentatwn, related to a contemporan mental health issue.
• B. December 2000. to ha.e re%ie..ed and updated or revised the Mental Health Board's
Policies and procedures.
November 11. 1999. Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page a
Priority SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Total is ,marng Available to mt Priority •• $100,000
FY99-00 FYOO-01
Program
Agency
MHB
Funding from
Proposal
Recommendation
A nt: 1Pr ram
Priority Area
nest
Request
I Change
Proposed f_-Change
_PM Cotu�tN'jG`s Substarce Abuse Case t� via er
r q _
59.&
$15.CCU
_
S6.000
59.000
•.
s0 '
Evanston C ^ - ti Defence- r SoCia, '.York SeNICes
SC
5 ^+'U
$SOO
5250
5250
EvanstorvSi,.+e Vallev Senicr Services Ser%tor C__,nselinq
Sv
S2 CO21
$2.000
S2 200
S2 200
vanstoMSv-.+!! Varey Sentcr Services 'Case Llar.agement
S2 OCC
KI
t52 000)
SO
(52.000)
Wetro Fam,rf Servers I Family Supporl a++d Preve^^on
S5.0010
S5 CCrvl
S0
$4 500
'S500)
-1EER Services Acorescent T-eatrr•ert
i S'0 OCC
S'2 SO01
S2 9CO
S10 5001
5500
PEER Serrses Acutt Treace^t
l 347 5CC
S48 21XI!
$700
$47 con
.55001
'EER Serr��es v.�th Early r;er.ent r
T S18.000
518 ?NI
S800
S18 3O0
S300
it Francis r A7:•". 3 ChrtdrAdclescent OP Ps,.---'
S1.000
S1 CAI
$50
$1 000
S0
Jt Francis/ AOC:<on Recovery Center
S7.500
S7 8751
$375
S7 250
(S2501
TOTAL
_
S10000 ,0
5111,3251
S1i,325
$160,000
SO
Priority •-
CHILDREN'S SERVICES (SED, DD)
Total Funding Available to the Priority --
5"'000
FY99-00
FYOO-01
Program
Agency
MHB
Funding from
pro sal
Recommendation
ApencyrPro9ram
f Priority Area
Request Change
Proposed I
Chang
Evanston Camrnur. ty Defender r Saua1 Work Services
54,000
54 2571
$250
54.000
50
(The Famov, instituter Therapy Services
SO
S3 GCO
$3.000
SO
$O
Weird Family Services 1 Family Support and Prevention
S32.000
$33 1CO]
51 100
S32 000
SO
ISt Francis r Aoutt & ChiIdIACotescent OP Psych
58.G0O
S10 CrAl
S2.000
S8 CCO
SO_
- — - ... —
j TOTAL
�� 544,000 1
$50,350j
$6,3501
$44,0001
SO
Priority -
CHRONIC MENTAL ILLNESS
Total Funding Available to the Priority --
$95,550
(Note 1)
FY99-00
FYOO-01
I' Program
Agency
MHB
1 Fundig from
Proposal
Recomation
_....
�� PriorityArea
stjC
Request Clta
• n e.... _
Proposed
ChangeAgency/Program
_ _
Evanston Community Defender r Socia l,l ork_ Ser.�Ces
-
S2 000
S2 250
5250
$2 250
S250
lEvanstonrSkcxie Valley Senior Services r Senior Ccunselinq
$17 GOO
515 COO
(S2 000)
S15 000
(S2.000)
1Evanstonr5kok.e valley Senicr Ser.ces Case Maraqement
I 58 O04
S'0 CU?!
S2 000
S10 ID
S2 000
11-1cusinq OGtions.hGme First ?, Bell House
510 OGG
S12 X,i
52 000
S12 CCO
52 OOO
lHousinq Oplior,lSHIP Transit,cral Acar.of-!s
313OGG
S13 CCO!
SO
$13 CCO
SO
NTSW First S'ep
Se GCC
5'G �CC
$2 OCO
Sip :CO
52 000
St Frarcis.Psycr Care - Merla ly III
516 CGO
S'4 7J:I
S1 300)
$14 '20
S1 3001
St F(anos , Adult 3 CnildrAaciescent OP Ps•rcn
512 OGG
S12;5lX1
$600
S12 500
S600
TrilogylPsycno_socia( Procrammrng
! SO
S6 cco
S6 OCO
S6 C00
56.000
TOTAL
'l $86,0001
$95.5501
$9,5501
$95,550
S9,550
Note t "tie Mf 6 agreed to ie^ease ire amount of the allocaber `o Cnror. c
Me -,a, :Iness from S' X --CG s S95 550 ai the November 995 M-3
^'eehng J
Havemtiof It. 1999 Mental Hearth Board Meeting Wnutes
Priority —
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
Total Funding Available to the Priority —
$50.000
FY99-00
FY00-01
Program
Agency
MHB
Funding from
Pro
veal
Recommendation
Agency/Program
Priority Area
Request
g Change
Proposed I Change
SHORE: Community ServiceslDav Prrocrammino
524 i7C,:
S26.000
$2.000 1
S240001
50
SHORE: Community Services/Residp_ntial Treatment
� S26.00C
S28.000
S2.000
S26.DO0
$0
St. Francis I Psych Care - Mentally III
SO
S2.000
$2.000
SO
SO
TOTAL
$50,0t3O'
$56,0001
$6,0001
$50,0001 SO
Priority --
Total Funding Available to the Priority —
Agency/Program _
Childcare Network of Evan stonlChildrens' MH Services
Evanston Community Defender/Social Work Services
Family Focus/Pregnant & Parentinq Teen Program
IThe Family Institute/Therapy Services
(Metro Family Services/Family Develooment
f TOTAL
HIGH RISK
$55,550
(Note 1)
FY99-00
FYOO-01
Program
Agency
MHB
Funding from
Pro
sal
Recommendation
I Priority Area
Request
Change
Proposed Change
526.00C,
S26.000
SO
S26,000 SO
Sc
$500
S500
$0= $0
S17„OGG
S25.000
S8.000
S9,850 ($7.150)
$11.OaC
$8.000
(S3.000)_
$9,850 ($1.150)
S11,000
$11,330
S330
S9,850 (S1.150)
$65.0601
$70,830
$5,830
S55,550+ .59,450
Note 1 The MHB agree -a to ncrease the amount of the allocation
for High Risk f-7n S5' 000 to S55 550 al the November 11.
1999 MHB mee":ng
November 11. 1999 Mental Health Board 1MeeLng Minutes
Minutes recorded — not yet approved
EVAtiSTON MENTAL HEALTH BOARD
MEETUNG MINUTES
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14, 19"
Members Present: Lonnie Wiebe. Ellen Reynolds, Michael Kerns, Paula-Cofresi Silverstein.
Susan Stroh, and Louis Rowitz
Presiding: Lonnie Wiebe
Staff: Harvey Saver, loan Barott, Lisa Hampton
Community
Representatives: Alexander Brown (Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services); Dorothy
Lloyd -Still (Housing Options); Linda Scott; Sandra Sttunme (Metropolitan
Family Services). Rob Roy (Evanston Community Defender); Ted
Urbanski, Karen Helfrich. Richard Doming (Trilogy), Bill Pinsoff. Bill
Russell, and Carl Hampton (The Fancily institute)
Lonnie Wiebe. Chair. called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m
1. INTRODUCTIONAND CO.%IIIUYITV CO'AI%IEtiTS
The members of the audience introduced themselves and were welcomed by the Board.
it. PUBLIC HEARING: MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR EVANSTON"S CONSOLIDATED PLAN
k1s. Wiebe opened the hearing regarding mental health needs in Evanston's Consolidated Plan (Plan).
She provided background about the Plan for the audience and invited speakers to offer testimony about
its goals and objectives for the Evanston community.
Dorothy Lloyd -Still, Executive Director
Housing Options for the Mentally III in Evanston
Ms. Lloyd -Still said that many people consider the Consolidated Plan as a funding document. She said.
hogw%er, that the Plan is important for wry agency that is interested in developing housing in Evanston.
as both a planning and funding document. The Plan influences HUD's decision making around all of
their homeless assistance activities.
At the community level, when an agency applies for funding for the homeless activities, their proposal
has to be in compliance with the Plan. The Housing Commission has to issue a Certificate of
October 14, 1999 Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes
Page t
r
Minutes recorded — not yet approved
Compliance indicating to HUD that the proposed project is consistent with the objectives and priorities
of the Plan. tits. Lloyd -Still said her agency had to go through this process when they first applied for
HUD funds for Claire House and Gainey House, as well as for the renewal funding for these pcojects.
Nis. Lloyd -Still said the Continuum of Care is a separate planning document that also must be comsisttm
with the Consolidated Plan, The Continuum identifies the range of community needs and priorities for
people who are homeless. It is the primary consideration of HUD in funding homeless assuvame
programs in Evanston. When the Homeless Task Force updates the Continuum of Care it must re =ence
the goals and priorities of the Consolidated Plan.
In addition to homeless assistance. there are other governmental agencies that also use the Conn
Plan as a point of reference. The Illinois Housing Development Authority, which is a primary source
of financing for non-profit housing developmm requires that Housing Options receive a starrmrK,t of
Compliance with the Plan. When Housing Options refinanced Home First this past Spring, tht*- had
to request a Certificate of Compliance from the Housing Commission that indicated the projeV w-as
consistent with the Consolidated Plan's objectives. ,Ms. Lloyd -Still said the Consolidated Plan is an
important document to Housing Options, and they take it seriously.
Ms. Lloyd -Still stated there is a continuing need in Evanston for specialized housing that is affoL3able
for persons with mental illness. This needs to be provided in combination with supportive services.
Housing Options can attest to the need for this r<pe of housing based upon its own needs assessment
process. the information the agency collects in its intake processes. and the conversations its stari have
with other aceneies.
The current Consolidated Plan sufficiently addresses the needs that Housing Options has identified. Ms.
Llo-,d-Still said that the follatting priorities particulars} address the special needs of people with tntal
illness:
#9 Provide services and activities which will present homelessness.
013 Provide rental assistance to elderly, small families, large families, homeless, single
individuals, and developmentalh, disabled and persons with mental illness.
In addition to these priorities. priority statements 6. 7. 8. 11. and 16 are also very supportive of the
housing needs of people ttith mental illness.
Ms. Llo-,d-Still said that Housing Options wanted to urge that the basic priorities she had identified be
maintained. and that the-, not be ".catered down` or backed awat from when the Consolidated Kan is
updated this winter. She said the MHB should pay particular attention to the priorities in light of
[IUD's statutory goals. These goals requires the City to provide decent housing, assist horeless
persons to obtain affordable housing. and increase the availability of permanent housing [hone is
affordable to low income residents without discrimination.
Ms. Lloyd -Still said that the last point was a critical one. It is important not to be malting decis:�ons
October 14. 1999 Mental Health Boars! Meeting Minutes Page 2
Minutes recorded — not yet approved
based on unsound assumptions about indi% iduals. She encouraged the \II113 to undertake a lou.�ship
role in the community to reduce stigma about persons with mental illness.
Alexander Brown, Director
Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services
(North Shore Senior Center)
Mr. Brown said he supported the Consolidated Plan and the priorities that %%ere identified. He indicated
that all of the priorities were important for the needs of the older adults with whom his agency works.
He particularly wanted to emphasize three priorities that were essential in working with individuals and
families in the community:
#3 Provide very low and low-income renters an opportunity to live in affordable, safe, dmnt,
sanitary, and economically housing.
#6 Provide very low and low income single individuals an opportunity to live in affordable,
safe, decent and sanitary housing.
#13 Provide rental assistance to elderh small families, large families, homeless, single
individuals, and deyelopmentali disabled and persons %ith mental illness.
Mr. Brown said his agency has daily contacts %kith older adults who are considered low and very low
income. 'they are paying a significant percentage of their limited. and usually fixed, income towards
rent. Consequently they have to go without paying for their food or medications. Mr. Brown
commented that many of the people they see go into nursing facilities sooner than they need to because
the stay at the facility will be paid for by the State. Or they leave the community where they have lived
their entire life. %%hile the% are in their 70's or 80's. to move into standard or sub -standard housing in
Chicago. in order to save a little cash to be able to afford food. medications and clothing. Mr. Brown
added that the assistance the older adults that his staff works with need is for things like rental subsidies.
subsidies fur utilities. and basic necessities like medications. transportation.
In response to questions from the Mental Health Boards. %lr. Brown said the source of rental subsidies.
at this time. for seniors would be Section 8. There are buildings for senior housing that they are
sometimes able to help people move into without having to wait too long if the individuals are able to
move into a studio. This might happen if a current tenant dies just %%hen the person is looking for
housing. The other Section 8 buildine for seniors in Evanston is extremely hard to get into. The waiting
list %vas just opened up this tall. but there is no %%ay to telling when your name is coming up. It may take
years. This requires that someone scan thinking and planning three-four years ahead of when they will
need the housing subsidy. ,Nlr. Brown added that most seniors are resistant to moving, and in particular
to a subsidized building.
Mr. Saver said he had receNed a call from Jerry Gulley. Director of SHORE. who was not able to attend
the hearing. Mr. Gulley indicated that the Consolidated Plan indicates that a person with a
October 14, 1999 Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page 3
Minutes recorded — not yet approved
developmental disability could be on a waiting list for supported ho-.ism4 fOr tilm-c-tire sews_ Mr.
Gulley wanted the %vtHB to know that with no expansion in the State-, BL:dgct i'kn housing for those
individuals with developmental disabilities who lire in the communiti the waft could hr ten -fifteen
years. Typically, these individuals are living at home with aging carcgi%cm
iII. HUMAN SERVICES CONIMITTEE RESPONSE To RECoNilMEN DaTIONS FOR N1ISA Ft Valk
Ivis. Wiebe said the NIFIB had submitted recommendations for funding; of the MISA Initiative to the
Human Services Committee (HSC) on October 4. She said the NIHB was not on the agenda until vM
late in the evening. By the time the issue was discussed, Alderman 4loran had already left the meeting.
Ms. Wiebe said by that time she was the only member of the MHB at the meeting.
Ms. Wiebe said the HSC asked a number of questions about the cost of the services, whether low-
income people were going to be served. and whether the client population w-as going to be Evanston
residents. Residency was raised as an issue because of CP%t's in%ol ement as a sponsor of the
proposal. One Alderman also raised concern about the amount of mono% PEER Services was going to
be receiving from the City as a result of the recommendation. Nis. «.iebe said she experienced the
meeting as being quite attacking. She added that the :aldermen accepted the N11113's funding
recommendation for the MISA Initiative. But they attached three reporting requirements about the
program's clients as a condition of funding: employment status: Evanston residenc%. by way of the
street a person live on; and_ information about the each client's diagnosis and progress in treatment, or
some information about outcomes from the program. Ms. Wiebe said the Aldermen thought that with
only 14 people being served in the first year. during the startup of the program, it wouldn't be difficult
to provide the information.
.after the meeting, the next day. Nls. Wiebe said she was uncomfortable •►ith the conditions that had
been attached to the funding. She said she called Alderman Moran and told him she was concerned
about the contidentialitN issue. and providing information about individual client$. She said she told him
that she was not expecting him to take on an issue for the NiHB main. but that she was concerned about
violating confidentiality by requiring client -specific information.
Ms. Wiebe said she watched the Cir% Council meeting on cable the following Monday, Alderman
Moran raised the question of confidentialit} w ith the Cit% Council and cited a law on the subject. She
said. at that point. the dynamics became very complicated. -,er% unpleasant. and ,ery confusing.
Fhe da\ after the Cit. Council Meeting. Ms, Wiebe called Alderman Feldman. She said she had tried
to contact him earlier, before the Council meeting. to talk about her issues. She told him about her
concern about confidentialit%. She also told him she was \er\ concerned about bombarding the
agencies with requests for information. She indicated that it was putting agencies up against the wall
to demand this kind of information. On the one hand they are trying to be accountable to the City. But
they also have to protect the confidentialit\ of their clients. its. Wiebe added that the Cit% Council
October 14, 1999 Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page 4
Minutes recorded — not yet approved
referred the issue to the Cit% Attorney for a legal opinion. and sent the proposal back to the Human
Services Committee to straighten out the issues related to confidentiality.
Mr. Rowitz commented that he thought this was an infringement of the individuals' rights. Nis. Wiebe
said that this might bean issue. She added that until this is resolved the vHB has a problem in getting
the proposal approved.
Ms. Wiebe said when she spoke with Alderman Feldimm he gave her some questions for the MHB to
consider: What are the MHB's shared values? What am the shared values between the MHB and the
Human Services Committee? Mr. Rowitz commented that the MHB has never sat down with HSC to
discuss values. Mr. Kerns said he thought the MHB could respond by indicating that the MHB has been
in existence for thirty years. The MHB has been serving a particular purpose for the City by being a
steward for mental health funds. and monitoring and overseeing the programs that receive these funds.
Ms. Reynolds said the MHB has been asked every year to prioritize its goals and objectives. She said
a considerable amount of time was spent hashing that out last year. Those goals were a statement of
what the values are. tits. Wiebe said she thought this had been provided to Human Services.
Mr. Rowitz said for the ,MHB to respond to the questions. the% needea to know what the HSC believes.
He said thought that both the tiiHB and HSC should have a social justice focus, which includes
protecting the rights and promoting the health of everyone who lives in this community. He added that
it does not make any difference if it is the MHB or the HSC, because they should share that role.
N1r. Kerns said the MHB has a mission statement and %clues in its Charter. He said that information
could be shared %Kith the HSC. tits. Wiebe said she thought Alderman Feldman was asking what values
the MHB shared with HSC. tier. Kerns said that no one ever asked the 11HB to sit down to discuss the
issue.
Mr. Kerns commented that before the MHB tries to respond to a list of questions. they need to know
%,,hat this scenario means for its allocation for this funding , ear`' He said it the issue dragged on long
enough. the fiscal }ear would be over. He asked whether the funds could be carried over into the next
fiscal year to fund the commitment to the agencies" Mr. Saver said he was not aware of any provision
for this. Mr. Kerns said that the money is gone if it is not spent by February 28. 2000. .
Ms. Wiebe said there appeared to be some confusion aboui procedural issues %, hen the recommendation
%vas considered by the City Council. But the HSC will hale to review the issue and send it back to the
City Council for it to he considered tier final adoption. Mr. (terns said the \111B could consider taking
the mono% and allocating it among all of the funded agencies if the issue is not resolved during this
fiscal year. Ms. Wiebe said the issue was supposed to be reconsidered by the Human Services
Committee at its meeting in November.
Ms. Wiebe said Alderman Feldman also asked what the 1iH13's thoughts were about agency
accountability without infringing on confidentiality. In response to tits. Reynolds' question. Nis. Wiebe
October 14. 1999 Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page 5
f►
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said she was the one who had called Alderman Feldman. In that discussion he solicited the %IHB's
opinions about issues related to confidentiality of reporting progress and outcomes for clients. He also
uas interested in knowing how the NIHB evaluates this information once those reports are trade. In
response to Mr. Kerns, Ms. Wiebe said this was a generic question, and not specific to the MHB's
funding recommendation for the MISA program. The Alderman wanted to know the %fHB's thoughts
about accountability reporting and where it begins to infringe upon confidentialit%.
Mr. Kerns asked whether the question assumed that the current accountabilit% requirements in the
NIHB's contracts with the agencies were not sufficient? He pointed out that the NIHB already has a
system of accountability. The funded agencies already have to provide and report on outcome
objectives and performance measures. Quarterly reports are provided, and the programs are reviewed
in an annual funding process that the City no longer participates in %%ith the NIHB.
Ms. Reynolds expressed concern that an individual's past history, where they live in Evanston, or
employment status should have nothing to do with receiving services. She said she did not know what
purpose it would serve to have all of that information provided about individual cases. If an agency is
designed to provide certain services for an individuals' particular needs, that an individual has mental
illness should be enough for them to receive services. `Is. Reynolds said that there are indi%iduals out
on the street doing things that might be socially unacceptable. but that is part of their problem. Their
history and where they live should not matter for them to get help.
Ms. Re• riolds said she was offended by this approach in asking for information about individuals
because it minimizes some very sensitive mental health issues. She said that five or six years ago thete
was an attempt to have an Interagency Agreement in the City. Agencies. schools and government tried
to pull things together and coordinate services. People were trying to cut back on some of the paperwork
and procedures to make cooperation on cases easier. Nis. Re%nolds said it did not work because
sensitive and confidential information cannot be released to other bodies just because they signed a
compact or agreement without proper consent.
k1s. Remolds said she did not think that most people understood what true confidentiality meant. She
added that it was not what Evanston should be about if certain people could not be protected, and
information was made available about their individual cases. She said she thought it w-as a tiiolation of
all sorts of regulation; %%hen reports are provided about clients with specific information. She added
that she t%as concerned that this requirement would be applied to all agencies, and not just a program
for 1-4 people. and did not think it was necessan to kno►% what street an individual lives on when the%
live in E%anston.
Mr. Ro%%itz said he «as more disturbed bs an attitude that seemed to be -If we pati for you. ,we have the
right to know all about you." e.g., if you have gotten better. He said he thought what was being
discussed was a big brother approach that was not appropriate. He said he was concerned that it might
also infringe on the rights of individuals.
October 14, 1999 Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page 6
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In response to Ms. Wiebe's questions. se,-eral Board members discussed the way in •Aftrth
confidentiality- guidelines were implemented in their offices.
Mr. Kerns asked if the HSC was aware of «hat the expectations were for the MISA Initiative for
accountability? Ms. Wiebe said that the HSC wanted more information than what was included in the
MHB's correspondence with them. In response to %fr. Kerns' question. Mr. Saver said that the RFP
included the standard contract police guidelines and reporting requirements.
Mr. Rotvitz said that the NIHB should suggest to HSC that the information they were requesting be
provided in an aggregated fashion. where no particular individual could be identified That would a]Iary
the HSC to know that the money was being spent in an appropriate manner. He added that to require
specific information about individuals was going too far.
Mr. Kerns said he thought the HSC's concert] for the information being discussed undermined
confidence in the ti1HB, that had been delegated the responsibility for overseeing the mental health
funds. He added that the HSC did not seem to put much trust or confidence in the MHB's ability to
monitor accountability- in the VISA program.
his. Reynolds said there might be a misunderstanding of what the group is trying to do with this
program in terms of mental health. because '01SA is a very misunderstood arena. She said she thought
there were hurdles being added for everybody to jump through to get to the end result. In the end it
discourages those who are trying to do it. She added that it was very late in the game for this particular
proposal. if the mindset of the HSC was that the %IHB did not do its work correctly. or didn't ask the
right questions. She added that she thought the NfHB had been very thorough and specific in what it
requested by way of program design and information.
GIs. Rex nolds said she thought ;hat the \IHB had exchanged information and memos last year with the
HSC regarding the Board's role and its allocations. She said she thought it was not fully resolved. and
it felt like an exercise that the N11113 had to engage in. %Is. Wiebe said she thought the NIHB had to
continue the dialogue «ith HSC and said the issue mould be discussed at a meeting in November. She
said she ►%ould send a memo to the Human Sen ices Committee reflecting some of the discussion at the
meting and the %IHB"s concerns. She encouraged as many- Board members as possible to also attend
the meeting with her.
IV. AGENci f t `oi%G HE %RINGS
Presentations x%ere made by the following agencies requesting funds from the liental Health Board
for FY2000-01:
The Famil-, Institute
Triiogy I:,, anston
October 14, 1999 Mental Health Board Meeting Minutes Page 7
1141nutes recorded — not yet approved
(The Working Notes from either or both of these hearings are available upon request from Mena!
Health Services. Please contact Joan Barott at 866-2919 to obtain copies.)
V. STAFF REPORT
Mr. Saver reported on hearing assignments and instructions for the agency hearings on Saturday,
October 23 with the Evanston United Way. He reminded the MHB that after the bearings are over the
Board is scheduled to meet to discuss information that was presented in each hearing. He encouraged
each member to take their own notes for the discussion because there was going to be three hearings
conducted at the same time this year.
Mr. Saver distributed a summary of all agency funding requests. He indicated that it was organized by
funding priority area, and identified under which priority areas the agencies had requested funding for
each program.
Mr. Saver introduced Lisa Hampton the new intern assigned to his office this year from the University
of Chicago.
Mr. Saver reported that the first meeting of the MHB's Substance Abuse Task Force would be meeting
on Tuesday, October I9. Mr. Rowitz said he was hoping to increase the size of the group that was
volunteering to serve on the Task Force.
Meeting adjourned at 9:40 A.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan M. Barott
October 14. 1999 Mental HeaM Board Meeting Minutes Page 8
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MENTAL HEALTH BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, JULY 8, 1999
Members Present: Lonnie Wiebe, Louis Rowitz. Ellen Reynolds, Paula Cofresi-Silverstein, Susan
Stroh, Marsha Mehen
Presiding: Lonnie Wiebe
Staff: Harvey Saver. Joan Barott
Community
Representatives: Alexander Brown (North Shore Senior Cuter); Dorothy Lloyd -Still, Alice
Kreiman, Frederica Fissell, Lucille Krasnow (Housing Options); Sandra
Stumme (Metropolitan Family Services); Vickie Kalisch (NANH)
Ms. Wiebe, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
I. INTRODUCTIONS AND COMMUNITY COMIMENTS
The members of the audience introduced themselves and were welcomed by the Board
II. APPROVAL OF 'i%IINUTES NNE 10, 1999
Mr. Rowitx moved and Ms. Cofresi-Silverstein seconded a motion to approve the June 10, 1999
Minutes. Motion approved unanimously (6 aye — 0 no).
III. AGENCY REVIEW- HOUSING OPTIONS
Ms. Wiebe invited the following representatives from Housing Options to join the MHB: Dorothy Lloyd -
Still, Executive Director; Frederica Fisseli, Clinical Services Director, Lucille Krasnow, Vice President;
Alice Kreiman, Secretary.
Ms. Krasnow opened the presentation by reminding the MHB that Housing Options is not a direct service
agency. They develop, manage and provide housing. while contracting for the clinical support services.
She said that the organization breatI% appreciates that the NIHB funds those services for three of Housing
Options' programs.
Ms. Krasnow said that CARF accredited Housing Options in the fall of 1998, She indicated that CARF
was eery impressed with the organization and worked out a way to provide the accreditation, even though
Housing Options was not a direct service provider. More recently, Housing Options received a grant from
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Minutes recorded . not yet approved
the Barter Allegiance Foundation that will enable the agency to Fro% ide vision and dental screenme for
all of their residents. This %%ilI fill a big hole in the needs of their residents. In addition, the Clhicago
Foundation for Women and Beth Emet Congregation have both M-svided fundnns: for a w•omen's group.
Ms. Krasnow said that Housing Options conducted a strategic planning process last November in order
to identify areas for agency growth. The Board and staff identified a number of possible service issracs for
the underserved mentally ill population in Evanston. They considered which ones could be served and
which ones would be difficult to serve. The process identified a population of persons who were homeless
and would have some difficulty using structured services as one for which the agency felt they could
develop a new housing model. They recently submitted a funding proposal for this tarough HUD's frinding
for a homeless continuum of care.
Ms. Fissell summarized the agency's services for the residents being served. She said many wens long
term Evanston residents. She said that their proposal for a new housing model would serve Evanston
residents in the homeless shelter.
In response to 1%v1r. Saver's question. Ms. Lloyd -Still said they were researching the changes this year in
the State's Medicaid budget to determine what impact, if any. there would be upon the services funded
under the Baxter grant for vision and dental screenings.
Ms. Wiebe asked if Housing Options' potential clients had difficult- living with roommates? Ms. Lloyd -
Still said that was the plan for the HUD proposal. Ms. Wiebe said the agency's plans seemed to be to serve
a far more challenging group than they had in the past. Ms. Lloyd -Still said the Board decided upon that
direction. The need was identified for those individuals who are in the communir. and who are difficult
to serve, or who are not taking advantage of the available services. his. Kreiman said those are indi,.iduals
who are here in Evanston and need to be helped. She added that it would require innovative prograrrt ning.
Ms. aVlehen asked about Housing Options' referrals from Albany Care and Greenwood Care. Ms. Fissell
said these are usually for individuals who seek to move out from those facilities- They are not ahvays
appropriate for Housing Options' sera -ices. his, Mehen asked what percentage of The agency's residents
resides in single apartments rather than sharing an apartment? his. Lloyd -Still said of the permanent
housing units there is only one single unit apartment. Everything else is either a m-o- or three -bedroom
unit. A criterion for the screening for this part of their program is the ability to take advantage of a group
milieu. The scattered site program has four of the seven apartments that are one-�-_droom units.
.Mr. Rowitz said earlier in the year the agency mentioned the need for housing for :ndividuals with a dual
diagnosis. He asked %%hether they had anv plans for this? at+is. FisselI said the needs assessment for their
strategic planning did show- this to be a high priority population. But they are not currently planning for
this population. Some of Housing Options' clients have a dual diagnosis, but ctieir programs are not
intentionally structured for this.
iv1s. Kreiman said Housing Options' Board of Directors is one of the most professior:W groups she has ever
July 8, 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes page 2
Minutes recorded - not yet approved
served with. She said they very carefully chose the population they thought they could do the best job with.
Ms. Krasnow said there were two other populations that the Board also identified two other populaaions
that they felt the need to consider for future programming: individuals currency in the agency's housing
who are aging, and anyone with a child. Mr. Saver asked whether Housing Options is able to take couples?
Housing Options is not at this time. his. Fissell said that then have had requests from Albany Care and
Greenwood Care for this. but they are not able to accommodate couples at this time.
Ms. Cofresi-Silverstein asked for details about the %•omen's group. Ms. Fissell said the idea arose out of
group meetings of Thresholds staff with the residents. The women wanted their own group, and wanted
to be able to lead and direct it, and provide mutual support for each other. They brought then: were specific
issues for women with mental illness that were not pertinent to men with mental illness. The women
choose the topics and decide whom they want to invite to the meeting as presenters. They have discussed
such topics as harassment, how to relax, birth control, dating, and relationships. The members have felt
the women*s group has been a safe place to discuss their concerns.
Ms. Wiebe invited the Housing Options representatives to elaborate on anything additional with which they
wanted the NfHB to be familiar. Nis. Lloyd -Still commented that the organization wanted to continue with
their strategic planning process. They already have a framework for continued planning efforts. There are
four major focal points:
i. if Housing Options receives its funding from HUD for the new program, the start-up and
implementation of this program will take the full attention of staff in 2000;
ii. Housing Options will review the guidelines for length of stay in the SHIP Program, which is the
scattered site program. People in this program are expected to move after two years, which upon
inspection seems arbitrary. They will look at developing guidelines to formalize the changes in the
length of stay in this program:
iii. In the fall of 2000, Housing: Options will begin to plan the purchase of a mixed -use building. They
would like to buy a building in a commercial district where Housing Options could have their
offices on the first floor and a couple of apartments on the second. There might also be a space that
generates revenue:
iv. Housing development is opportunistic. Nothing in the plans would preclude taking advantage of
an event that would provide some positive outcomes for the clients or the agency.
Ms. Mehen asked about Housing Options' current sites. Ms. Lloyd -Still said the 1st and 2nd wards were
the only areas that did not have am of Housing Options living units. In addition, the Administrative Office
is in the 6"' VL'ard. She provided the following breakdown of their sites:
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Minutes recorded - not yet approved
Ward = Of Buildings/ F = of People
I Apartments i
3 ' 1 ! 4
4 ! 3 9
5 I 9 i
6 1 3
7 2 4 '
S 1 6
9 !
Total I I 37
Ms. Lloyd -Still said she wanted to discuss the agency's ability to give priority to Evanston residents that
was raised during an earlier discussion about Housing Options' new HUD proposal. They will be working
with Connections for the Homeless, and anticipate that they will be the primary referral source, but not
their only referral source. The data she has received from David Mvers (CPNI) is that the shelter serves
approximately 675 unduplicated individuals during the year. Of those, 160110 are Evanston residents.
Approximately 25% of the Evanston population would be eligible for the HLM program because they
have a mental illness. From Housing Options' intake information. approximate)• 10 of those individuals
would be appropriate for the new program. Additionally, from the agency phone surveys, they received
reports about a number of additional individuals who are currently li%ing in the community who would also
be appropriate. Ms. Lloyd -Still said that if the new program is funded, Housing Options would be open
to respond to the MHB or any other City board or commission with any information that is desired about
the program and its residents, other than information of a confidential nature.
Ms. Kreiman said a close friend of hers helped to start the Evanston Mental Health Board. She said the
original intent was to have the MHB be an advocate in the community for mental health issues. She
indicated that she was a«are that on occasion Housing Options has been seen as a threat in the community.
She said she hoped the k1HB could continue to support Housing Options' efforts.
Ms. Wiebe asked the MHB if there %%as any additional discussion from the last meeting about follow-up
to the Continuum of Care process and Housing Options' plans. Ms. Lloyd -Still reminded the MHB that
Housing Options reported last fall about the their difficulty in getting their renewal funding from HUD
because of deficiencies in the Continuum of Care. She said it was important to have a good Continuum
of Care because that is what HUD bases their decisions on.
The IvIHB thanked the representatives from Housing Options for their presentation.
IV. AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY
Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services. its. Wiebe said the agency has started a new money
July 8, 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes Page 4
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management program and that support is coming from the Illinois Department on :aging. The
Grandparents and Grandchildren Group is having a picnic on Sunday. July 18. 199U. 1 - 4 p.m. Lighdiouse
Park and all are invited.
SHORE. Mr. Saver said he spoke with Mr_ Gulley about his monthly statistical reports. In the past few
years, SHORE had experienced a decrease in the number of children being served at Shore School. The
agency reported that a part of this was due to children being mainstreamed back into their own school
districts. Recently. the number of children being served from Evanston has been increasing. Mr. Gulley
reported that a state law was recently enacted that established networks to provide information to primary
care physicians about the availability of early intervention services for children with special developmental
needs. Mr. Gulley reported that it appears that a number of families are finding out about the availability
of early intervention services for their children with handicapping conditions who otherwise might not
have. It appears that a number of physicians are providing that information to Evanston families.
Childcare Network of Evanston. Mr. Saver distributed a report from CNE about the new children's
mental health program. He said this was the first report to the MHB about its recent funding initiative. The
report indicated that the MHB-funded program had already served 18 families in the first quarter. Mr.
Saver pointed out that the collaboration the MHB funded between CNE and Metropolitan Family Services
in response to the ;iHB's RFP for children's mental health services also resulted in the two agencies
working together to develop a FAST program for the YMCA developmental preschool. However, the
MHB does not fund the FAST program.
Evanston Hospital. Ms. «'iebe said that Mary Helt-Gavin had been the liaison to Evanston Hospital.
She asked what role. if any. the MHB wanted to have in maintaining a role with the Department of
Psychiatry. In response to a question. Ms. % iebe referred to a memo from Mr. Terry about his meeting
with the president of the hospital. The memo confirmed that the hospital reaffirmed their commitment to
maintain and fund the outpatient psychiatric services that the MHB previously funded. Ms. Reynolds
commented that she thought the relationship between MHB and Evanston Hospital had been severed when
the funding was eliminated. She said she did not think there was a need for a continuing liaison relationship
with the Department of Psychiatry. and suggested that the MHB ask staff to folio", up on any issues. Mr.
Rowitz suggested that the MHB invited them to meet with the MHB once a year to provide information
and updates about their programs. Mr. Saver was asked to follow up with the hospital to find out if they
were interested and willing to meet with the MHB to share their plans and provide a status report about
how they are doing. It was suggested that the December meeting would be a good time to meet with their
staff.
In response to Ms. Wiebe. Lkis. Mehen agreed to assume the role as liaison with Family Focus.
his. Wiebe announced that the MHB would look at changing liaison assignments in the spring.
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V. MENTAL HEALTH BOARD 1999 ALLOCATION PROCESS
Mr. Saver reviewed the allocation hearing schedule and pointed out that there will be three concurrent
hearings in this year's process. Ms. Wiebe said Board members would not be able to hear as many agency
presentations. She said she was concerned about how Board members were going to be able to inform each
other about what they heard in the hearings they attended. Vir. Rowitz suggested that 1 iHB have a
checklist/guide sheet to review in the heanne sessions With a place to write commentary and take notes
on specific things to look for in each hearing. Nis. Stroh suggested that the MHB meet for lunch
immediately after the hearings to talk %kith each other while the hearing sessions are fresh in the memory.
Ms. Cofresi-Silverstein said it would be useful to have each Board member provide some type of short
summary of the issues identified during each hearing. Nlr. Saver said that if the MHB wanted to convene
for lunch after the hearings to discuss the presentations, each of the Board member's comments could be
copied in a packet for distribution at that time. Them was a consensus among the MHB to meet over lunch
after the Saturday allocation presentations to discuss the agency hearings.
Mr. Saver asked the MHB to consider including an additional. supplemental budget form to enable
agencies to describe their funding requests based upon the NiHB's funding priority areas. He said it would
require the agencies to determine under which of the funding priority areas they want to have their
programs considered. Mr. Saver said that last year ►vas the first year the MHB actually broke up their
funding into specific priority areas. Funding recommendations were developed by staff having to make
a determination under which categories to consider each prom -am request. He said he thought it should be
up to each agency to make the determination about the categories under which they wanted to be
considered, and to have to provide the information to support that request.
Mr. Rowiu said he would rather have the agencies provide more specific information in the funding
request. He added that the agencies should provide more progrun specific information for each request,
and decide under which particular funding category they want to apply. He said he thought it would be
easier for the MHB to justify funding if the agencies were asked to justify the priority area under which
they are applying. Mr. Rowitz commented that he did not want to discourage any agency from applying
for any priority area, but he wanted to see a proposal that was oriented to a specific program area, not to
multiple programs. He said would like to be able to for next year take all the information on a given
priority, and determine how the MHB spent the money and what was the outcome of the funding in that
priority area.
Mr. Saver said that the type of proposal format being described %vas what the MHB had utilized up until
1995. There was more specific financial, programmatic. and outcome -oriented information about each
program for which funding was being requested. The members of the funding panel. at that time, decided
that they wanted less information to review. He added that the MHB could discuss a more extensive
proposal format. but it was too late to make the changes for this funding cycle.
Ms. Wiebe said that the MHB had worked eery hard to mo%e in the direction of funding specific program
services, rather than agencies. She said she did not think that forcing an agency to select a single funding
July 8, 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes Page 6
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priority area for a program could help the %IHB to accomplish this. She said that the NIHB's funding
decisions in the past year recognized that some programs provide services that fall under more than one
of the MHB's priority areas.
Ms. Stroh commented that the M14B should be more specific in describing funding priorities to the
agencies, and providing more information about what is expected under each. As an exampk, she
indicated that the MHB has one priority for developmental disabilities, and another one for children with
developmental delays. An agency such as SHORE might apply for both because they have children and
older clients who are developmentally disabled. She said she thought the agency might also be confused
about under which priorit}- to submit their application because the MHB has not been clear enough about
it expectations. NIr. Roµitz recommended that the MHB consider, in the future, having a kickoff mcxting
for the grant application process. He said it could be a time µhere the funding application was distributed,
and the MHB members could present their funding priorities and program expectations to all of the
agencies at one time. leis. Stroh said the MHB would have to do a better job of explaining what was
included in each priority areas. She added that the meeting should also be an opportunity for the MHB to
discuss issues related to agency accountability. %Is. Cofresi-Silverstein suggested that the.IHB discuss
and plan for these issues for next year at the December Board meeting, Ms. Wiebe pointed out that the
MHB had been trying to simplify the application process for the agencies. Now it appears that there is
some concern by the NIHB that it is not receiving enough program information. She said she would
schedule the funding application and review process as a December agenda item.
Mr. Rowitz moved and Ms. Cofresi-Sih-erstein seconded a motion to allow agencies to apply for
program funding under more than one MHB funding priority category. In response to questions. Mr.
Rowitz said he thought that if an agency applied for more than one category for a program. they should
rank order their request in terms of which priority category was primary and secondary for the program.
He said he thought the addendum budget form presented by %fr. Saver could be modified for this purpose.
There was consensus about this among the group. Motion passed S aye (Rowitz, Wiebe, Stroll,
Reynolds, Cofresi-Silverstein) — I no (Mehen).
VI. COMMITTEE REPORTS
Substance Abuse Round Table. Mr. Saver presented a draft of the Round Table report. There was
consensus among the NfHB to accept the draft material. The Board asked the Substance Abuse Round
Table planning Committee to do a final editing and make changes in the report before it is distributed. Ms.
Wiebe said ylr. Rowitz was the Chair of the Committee, and that there was a need for another member of
the MHB on the Committee. She said she stiould fill this role until there is a replacement.
,MUSA Funding Initiative. Ms. Wiebe reported that the Funding Subcommittee was continuing to gather
information about the need for MUSA services. and what is currently being provided µRhin the
community. The RFP for the funds will be sent out the first week of August. The timeline. at this point,
is to bring a recommendation for the selection of an agency to receive the funds to the \,IHB at the
July 8, 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes Page 7
Minutes recorded - not yet approved
September Board meeting. tits. Wiebe reported that the 4[HB would need to be flexible in the startup of
the program. Depending upon the agenc}js) selected a program might be starting from scra=h. In
response to questions, Mr. Saver discussed the RFP process and how the proposal will be distributed. Ms.
Stroh volunteered to also review the proposals with the Finding Subcommittee.
Revision of Long Tenn Care Ordinance (LTCO). Ms. Mehen reported that she met with Peggy Philips.
who has been coordinating the process to revise the LTCO. Mr. Saver stated that a number of DHKS staff
have been working internally on the revisions. They have been eliminating all of the areas where there is
duplication with the State ordinance. Ms. Mehen said she expected that there would be a drab of the
revised document for review by the Committee by the end of July.
VII. AUGUST MEETING
The MHB agreed to not have an August meeting.
VI11. STAFF REPORT
Mr. Saver distributed three late Quarterly Reports.
Mr. Saver commented that Chicago Heights is being sued for a second time, for alleged violations of the
Federal Fair Housing Act Amendments. He said the city was denying a permit to Thresholds for a group
home for persons with mental illness. Previously. Chicago Heights settled a suit in which they were
denying a building permit for a home for persons with developmental disabilities. In addition to the
settlement, the city was also forced to make payments for punitive damages to the individuals %bo were
scheduled to live in the home.
Residential Care Home Licensing Ordinance. fir. Saver reported that the Human Services Committee
did adopt the Residential Care Home Ordinance that had been being discussed for some time. The
Ordinance is being recommended to the City Council for approval. In response to a question, Mr. Saver
said that Mr. Terry had already asked him to begin to organize an application process.
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan Ni. Baron
July B. 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes Page a
r
A�
EVANSTON MENTAL HEALTH BOARD
MEETING MINUTES
THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 1999
Members Present: Lonnie Wiebe, Louis Rowitz, Ellen Reynolds, Paula
Cofresi-Silverstein, Mary Helt Gavin, Susan Stroh, and
Marsha When
Presiding: Michael Kerns
Staff: Jay Terry, Joan Barott, Joel Kurzman (Intern)
Community Sandi Johnson, Alexander Brown, Ethylene Baker, (North
Representatives: Shore Senior Center), Kate Mahoney (PEER Services)
Michael Kerns, Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
1. INTRODUCTIONS AND COININIUNITY COININIENTS
The members of the audience introduced themselves and were welcomed by the Board.
Chair Kerns commented the refreshments were in recognition of Joel Kurzman's last
day serving as intern with the Mental Health Department/Board. Chair Kerns thanked
Joel for his efforts in %vorking with Lou Rowitz on the Substance Abuse Round Table
Discussion Group. The MHB %vished Joel success in his future endeavors, and
presented him with a Certificate.
Joel Kurzman (Intern) thanked the NM for allowing him the opportunity to participate
int lie functions of the Board, and he feels enriched from this experience.
Chair Kerns stated that this is his last night as Chair of the Mental Health Board, and
he thanked the members for their support and he enjoyed %vorking with the members
of the Board.
IL APPROVAL OF MINUTES MAY 13, 1999
Mr. Rowitz moved and Ms. Cofresi-Silverstein seconded a motion to approve the May
1.1, 1999 Minutes. Motion approved unanimously.
Minutes recorded • not yet approved
Ill. AGE`CY REN'IE%V - NORTH SHORE SENIOR CENTER
Sandi Johnson, Alexander Brown, and Ethylene Baker were the presenters for the
NSSC Ms. Johnson thanked the M B for inviting the NSSC to present this evening
acid they appreciate the past support and fiinding that the NM has give to them. Ms.
Johnson gave a brief history of how the NSSC came to establish an office in Evanston
statinu that in 1995, the State asked NSSC to provide case management services to the
residents of Evanston and Niles To«nship. NSSC was asked because NSSC is a case
coordination unit next door to Evanston Skokie Valley. Approximately 400 of NSSC
members are residents of Evanston. Ms. Johnson stated that the NSSC Board thought
long and hard about this before accepting this additional challenge. Ms. Johnson met
with several of the leaders in Skokie. Evanston, and told them what NSSC was being
challenged with. The NSSC Board decided to accept the challenge of taking on an
additional service area and in February 1996, the doors were opened in Evanston.
In Febmary, 1996, NSSC had six staff members. NSSC believes strongly in working
with the residents of the Community Ms. Johnson stated that NSSC has always had
satellite sites in the Community, and has 20 sites in the 23 Communities, with Evanston
being the largest site NSSC has an Advisory Council which oversees that NSSC is
providing the ser%1ces to the Community, and the senates prodded are discussed with
this Council. Ms. Johnson stated in addition to the monies received locally from the
City of Evanston. Evanston United Way, and the NM, Federal and State, NSSC
works very hard to obtain private funding. Ms. Johnson stated their agency does not
believe in waiting lists, in particular working with older persons who need the services
now.
Alexander Brown, Director of ESVSC (NSSC), stated he had been with the agency
approximately two years. Mr. Brown commented that to date, the agency has
approximately 14 different programs that provide services to older adults in their own
hotnes. i e.. homemakers who do cooking, grooming. etc . through the Community
Care Program which is a State funded program. NSSC provides also counseling and
case management which is practical assistance with most any type of practical
problem. NSSC also does indi-,]dual counseling for depression The agency serves
chronically ill clients Mr. Brown stated that he works closely with Jay Terry, Police
and Fire Departments. Ombudsman Nancy. Flowers, Mr Sayer. to coordinate all the
^1
Minutes recorded • not yet approved
services, in addition to counseling, NSSC offers access to, home deliver-, of meals,
Respite services, etc At the present time. NSSC has 20 staff persons working out of
the Evanston office Mr. Brov.,ii stated that the% have the tlexibrltn due to the type of
staffing they have, to Let out to the honiesite. and an in -take is started right awa,.
Most of the clients NSSC sees have impairments. 1 e , 50' o have mild to moderate
dementia. When NSSC starts suppl\-ing services to the older adult ui the household,
it means that the adult offspring sloes not have to &1 quite as 11111th Many of NSSC's
clients struggle with alcoholism or substance abuse. NSSC supporls the Grandparents
Raising Grandchildren where senior relatives caregivers come twice a month to a
support group, and they get emotional support. ibis. WViebe asked how NSSC deals
with the rapid growth of the aeerlcv on the staff come from a staff of 6 to 20, with an
expansion of space. Mr. Brown stated that the agencv added 1 `/s full additional staff
within the last four months and has streamlined things. The biggest challenge is in
deciding what services the client is going to need Nis. Silverstein asked if the clients
were just prior to Assisted Living or is the population that usual do not make it to
Assisted Living Mr. Brown stated that the majont., of their clients are frail, elderly,
and homebound . The inaiority of them need assistance daily. most of low income and
would not have the funds for Assisted Living. Because of State and Federal funding
these clients are able to stay in their homes. Their clients usual live in apartments or
in homes with their children. Ms. Johnson commented that thev do see clients from the
Primm Tower, 2300 Noyes Ct., and the Perlman buildings. Ms. Gavin asked that she
expand further on their services to these buildings NSSC Case Management is filnded
by the CDBG and one of the Case Manager's responsibilities is she is assigned to
Phmm Tower and is there a day a week At 2300 Noyes and Perlman buildings, the\
do have a part time Case Manager and the Social Worker. In addition, NSSC has five
buildings to cover between Evanston and Skokie NSSC has started a health and
education program in all these buildings. Mr_ Bro\%m stated that approximately 2 - 3
years ago (lie State passed a law that anyone 60 and over v.,ho is scheduled to go to any
nursing facility has to have a brief assessment by the Department of Aging personnel
and NSSC has a hill time person based at Evanston and St Francis hospitals, and the% -
do a brief 15 - 25 minute assessment. The primary questionnaire is, "are there any
community sera ices that could be put in place that would help that person not go to a
nursing facility and come back to the Community" One of the reason that NSSC has
grown so much is most of these individuals do uo to a nursmg facilit}• for two - four
weeks due to i e fractured hip, surgery, etc . with our assessment and NSSC's
tWinutes recorded - not yet approved
brochure, and often times when they get back home, they will call NSSC and state that:
they do need NSSC's services. More and more referrals are coming from older adults
both NSSC's clients and the people we have seen in the hospitals. Most of NSSC's
clients come to them not connected with other providers. NSSC's entering the hospital
will receive a Visit from NSSC's social worker. Chair ferns asked if NSSC is a
provider of some of these sen-ices or does NSSC just coordinate them, and is there a
sliding scale? Ms. Johnson stated that for counseling services, and the Older
Americans Act NSSC cannot set a fee for services, but a donation can be accepted.
Most of the clients of NSSC are very low income. Mr. Brown stated that NSSC has
many volunteers who donate their time. Ms. Gavin asked what kinds of Dementia is
seen by the staff at NSSC. Mr. Brown stated clients have Alzheimers, strokes and
other Dementias. Mr. Brown stated that when they do an assessment, the client
receives a mental status examination and a comprehensive assessment of their physical
functioning and who is taking care of them. NSSC always works with physicians to
get the client hooked tip. fvls Johnson stated that NSSC has a Daycare Program for
Alzheimers. Part of that Proeram NSSC has an Alzheimer's Support Group and in
collaboration with the Alzheimer's Association, an Early Stage Support Group. Ms_
Johnson stated that she, being a resident of Evanston for 30 years, is happy to provide
service in the Community in which she resides and tl»s is very important. Nis. Johnson
stated that thev are very proud of the services that they have been able to offer the
community and work with the other agencies in the community to offer the quality of
life for older adults. Mr. Brown appreciates the challenges placed by the MHB in
allocating fttnds in a responsible way. It is difficult to loot: at the numbers what they
actually mean, as numbers continue to grow and many of the clients are invisible they
do not come to hearings, they are in their homes. Their connection to the churches here
in Evanston is very strong.
Ms. Wiebe stated, as the liaison to NSSC, she was amazed at watching v.-hat NSSC
has done in a relatively short time. Ms. Johnson thanked MHB for the support.
The MHB thanked the representatives from NSSC for their presentation
IV. AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY
11finutes recorded - not yet approved
Childcare Network (Metropolitan Family Services) - Paula Cofresi-Silverstein
stated that she would be the liaison for this new program, Childcare Network
f Metropolitan Family Services).
V. ESTABLISHMENT OF FY2000-2001 FUNDING PRIORITIES
Mr. Tern, referred to Mr. Saver's memo and how the process worked last year in terms
of what your original objectives were and how the process played out through the
funding process and the City Council budget adoption process. The final budget
allocation was shown via a chart as compared to what was decided back in October,
1998. Three questions had been asked in the memo, in particular the category of high
risk and whether the M1113 wishes to keep this category. Second question of how the
MHB v.-anted to allocate Rinds annually for the priority areas for the Fall 1999 funding
process, part of the process 1998 involved trying to make a fit between the agencies
proposals and the priorities areas which were identified by the Board because the
agencies filnding allocations came in without the identification of the priorities being
known, This year, because of the time, we have the opportunity to set the priorities
areas get the message out, and then leave it up to the agencies in terms of what
priorities areas they want to apply for ftlnding. Would this be something you would be
interested in doing? Chair Kerns stated these should be looked at one at a time. The
MHB has nominated a sixth category as a result of the Round Table Discussion. He
noted that because of the significant change with the City budget agreement there is a
cut back on 73 category. Ms. Wiebe asked, "does the N11iB want to look at this in
terms of the confusion this presents?" More than once the question has been raised that
the Community Is confused about our priorities, not only because it was late last year,
but because of changes. She sees long/short term priorities, and multi pnorities i.e.,
high risk, and she suggests that we state our original priorities; the services for children
I s comparably a short terns or some of this is special concerns, and that we divide some
into priorities and special concerns to have it all in a list of priorities, does not make a
lot of sense to her Ms, l lebe wishes to look at this prlonty statement, and is this the
way the MFIB wants to keep it. It appears that when he L%1HB has a special interest,
,.ve add It on as a priority. It could be added on as something else. It presents
confilsion in her thinking. She would like to keep dual diagnosis under # I and also 92.
Ms. Silverstein stated that she felt the community was knowledgeable and has been
able to follow where the Board was putting its priorities. She felt to no%v go back
1Ninutes recorded - not yet approved
would create even more confusion and frustration.
Kate Mahonev (PEER Services) commented that to put together dual diagnosis Aith
substance abuse the board needed to remember the age grouping for adolescents and
both substance abuse and dual diagnosis.
Chair Kerns felt that the NtHB should not disturb the listed prionties. Ms. Wiebe
stated on the assumption that the MHB will be getting out the priority list earlier this
year, the need for the high risk category may be less. Chair Kerns felt all these areas
had some high risk. Ms. Reynolds felt that an asterisk should be placed by what the
definition of high risk is; some programs that are catering to the needs of what would
be a typical high risk population, she would worry that they do not get phased out
because you do not have it as a separate category Ms. Silverstein commented that the
MHB had decided some time ago to stay with high risk and she feels that it is an
important category. Ms. Gavin commented that the agencies seeking funding are
looking for clarety. Mr. Rowitz commented that the agencies have to make a choice of
which current categories they wish to define their programs under. Chair Kerns asked
if there were any motions to change the current five priorities with an amendment to be
made to L6. Board members expressed their confusion that dual diagnosis was its o«-n
category 46• while dual diagnosis was listed under the definition of category =1
substance abuse. It was decided dual diagnosis would remain a separate funding
category but it should be listed as perhaps = 1 A . Mr. Rowitz stated at the Round Table
Discussion Group, dual diagnosis was ranked third on the list, Pnmary Prevention
activities were ranked first.
Chair Kerns asked if the MHB wanted to change the finding allocations as Mr_ Saver
has indicated if the MHB wants to publish their funding dollar allocations to the
agencies as %ve go into the process or does the MHB %vish to wait until the fall to
allocate by service. Ms. Wiebe felt the Board should inform the agencies before they
apply and get as much information out as possible Mr Rowitz stated that the MHB
still needs the flexibility that the funds in category # I do not get suspended. They
could pay for a program in one of the other priorities.
Ms. Reynolds requested that Mr. Saver give the MHB the current definition of what
people say is dual diagnosis what are they referring too. Ms. Reynolds commented
-.-)acre
Minutes recorded - not yet approvers
there are lots of things that fall under dual diagnosis terms of what your other condition
is. Chair Kerns asked if there were thoughts on the current allocations as to what exact
information do you want, i.e., do you want to keep it the same, etc. his. Reynolds
suggested moving some of the high risk money to one of the lesser funded categories.
Ms. Wiebe is concerned about the original allocations for chronic mental illness and
our families, we have gone from S200,000 in October of last year to S86,000 now.
The only category that she could feel comfortable with is moving from high risk
category. Ms. Ga,.gin commented that the discrepancy here is Evanston Hospital and
uncertainty over whether the board would ever fund those programs again. Mr. Terry
stated that Evanston Hospital has committed to providing those serl"Ices and a letter has
been received indicating this. It is unlikely their will be basis for binding those services
in the next fiscal year. Mr. Rowitz suggested reducing Category- 5 High Risk by
$1 4,000 and increasing Category #2 Individuals with Chronic Mental Illness by the
same amount. Ms Wiebe indicated if that was a motion she would second it. After
further discussion the board approved the following allocations for the 1999-2000
finding process: Category =1 Individuals with Substance Abuse Problems $100,000;
Categont ;:I A Dual Diagnosis S58.000, Category #2 Individuals Wrzth Chronic Mental
Illness and their Families S 100,000-, Category 93 Services for Children and Families
$44,000, Category 14 Ser-, ices for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities and
their Families 550,000; and Category =i-5 High Risk $51,000. Michael Kerns reminded
the Board that it al«-ays retained the right to deviate from these amounts if a pressing
need presented itself.
Chair Kerns sought board comment as to whether the agencies applying for funds
should stipulate that under which MHB category they were applying for funds. Mr.
Roy ltz endorsed the idea, noting that all applications for State or federal funding force
agencies to do that. It was the consensus of the Board that agencies will be asked to
apph' under specific categories Mr. Terry clarified that staff will require agencies to
make a choice. Applications to multiple categories for the same program or
applications -which do not specific will not be accepted Mr. Kerns indicated this was
fine «ith the pro-,iso that the Board always retains the right to be flexible during the fal!
process.
VI. METAL HEALTH BOARD 1999 ALLOCATIONS PROCESS
Minutes recorded • not yet approved
Mr. Tent' reported that Tom Jager and Harvey Saver met to go over the Fall Process,
Mr. Temp stated that Tom Jager and Harvey Saver are proposing that essentially we
move to a three hearings at one time format on a single Saturday.. This is the wav that
United Way Board made their hearing process, and felt that this worked out very well.
The proposal from Mr. Saver and Mr. Jager is to go from an hour to fifty minutes per
agency which is a 45 minute hearing and five minutes for transition time. Childcare
Network gets thro%vn into the Saturday mix being funded by both the United Way and
MHB. This increases the total time necessary for hearings Mr. Jager and Mr. Saver
are suggesting three hearings at one time with two representatives from each body at
each hearing. This has the hearing day over by 12:00 Noon. Two critical issues are
is this a format that you are comfortable with?; and this will require at least six board
members to be present for the morning. Historically there has been some difficulty in
haarng sic board members in attendance for the morning.
The third area for board discussion is that every rear we have these broiler plate
questions that we want the agency to answer. They come in as a separate
communication. Tom and Harvev are suggesting to put them all in to the actual
proposal it is a little easier to handle the paperwork. Are then any new or different
questions in terms of the questions to be asked are there any new or different questions.
Do you want all these questions to be asked as they have been in rears past?
Mr. Terr commented that the Board has had this process in which the Board has had
a separate Thursday night for hearings for agencies which are not funded with United
Wav and this now has shrunk to one ( if Evanston Hospital does not request funding).
The only one would be The Family Institute, assuming they will apply for funding.
Ms. Wiebe commented that she was in favor of shortening the sessions. However Ms.
Wiebe was concerned that the members would all have to be there for the three
concurrent heannus. She noted could not attend the first part of the morning.
Ms. Wiebe proposed that an evening hearing be added instead of attending or changing
Saturday Ms Reynolds raised the question that the Saturdays hearings were held as
a preference for the agency representatives. Chair Kerns stated that the hearings
depending on %%hat the hours are, i.e., 3 '/. or 4 lirs. It would be more feasible to hold
them on Saturdays.
A motion was made to accept changing the Saturday hearings to three hearings at a
QP
Minutes recorded - not yet approved
time with a forty five minute hearing for each appheant. The Board voted 7-1 to accept
this motion_ (Wiebe opposed) Board members all reviewed their calendars and
committed to being present for the October hearings.
Chair ferns asked if there were any changes to the agency questions «-hick Board
members sought. Ms. Silverstein commented that she is always interested in the issue
of current trends and what is most challenging and to understand what they are doing,
what kind of trends are the agencies seeing in their programs. The Board agreed that
question should be added. ibis. Wiebe pointed out that Question #2 was leftover from
when Families was the MIM priority. Ms Mahoney commented that in the past the
agencies have been lvnited to three pages of questions, and she wanted to know if this
would be the same this year. Mr. Terry stated that there would be new guidelines for
length and format guidelines.
VII. EVANSTON HOMELESS CONTINUUM OF CARE
Evanston Homeless Continuum of Care - Mr. Terry stated The Evanston Homeless
Continuum of Care is a document what is produced which goes to the Department of
Housing and Urban Development which talks about a community's plan for taking care
of the homeless from outreach to permanent housing. This document needs to
accompany funding proposals which agencies submit directly to HUD in response to
a major availability of fiends which HUD makes every year. Mr. Tern- and Mr. Swer
have served on the Homeless Taskforce which developed the Continuum of Care and
also prioritize community needs. Two agencies developed proposals. The Continuum
of Care and the actual proposals are separate but the lines between the two kind of blur
because the Continuum of Care identified priorities which the proposals closely align
themselves to. and the proposals reflect the priorities in the Continuum of Care. Two
agencies applied, one being Housing Options which is doing a proposed permanent
Housing through apartments for the homeless mentally ill, and the other agency is CPM
Connections for the Homeless proposing to provide temporary housing for young
mothers with children who are Homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The Human Services Committee is responsible for reviewing the Continuum of Care.
The Committee met on May 19, and May 26, 1999 to review the Continuum. Most of
the discussion dealt with the individual agency proposals. Essentially the concerns
Rage
Nllnutes recorded - not yet approved
raised for Housing Options fell into two areas. Programmatic concerns were raised
including a very strong concern by Alderman Rainey that this was a population which
%%,as not stable, and was not going to be stable and locating them within residential
neighborhoods without very strong superision could be injurious to those
neighborhoods The other concerns were raised by Alderman NeLxman which dealt
with both the CPM connection to the people who would be served by Housing Options,
and the geographic distnbution of the apartments to be fiinded under this program
within Evanston and perhaps within the region. Alderman Newman questioned how
Housing Options could on the one hand say they were primarily serving persons with
an Evanston connection while stating CPM, which does not serve a large number of
Evanston residents, would be a primary referral source for their program. Questions to
CPM Connections were limited, as there seented to be consensus that this was a good
program wortin of support. There was a HSC meeting May 19, 1999 and a Motion
was made by one Alderman to approve the Continuum of Care and that Motion failed
for lack of a second, essentially producing no recommendation., and the meeting
adjourned without any action being taken on the Continuum of Care A decision was
made to have a second HSC meeting on May 26. 1999, three members of the
Committee attended that meeting and after considerable discussion the Continuum of
Care was approved by a vote 2 - 1. Aldermen Newman and Moran voting in favor of
the Continuum of Care «nth Alderman Rainey voting against. Alderman Newman
predicated his affirmative vote on the Continuum of Care on his belief and assurances
that the Cite could monitor Housing Options compliance with residence and geographic
diversity_ promises throtigh its finding mechanisms through the CD Committee and the
I,11-i13 As the funding process goes forward in the Fall. Board members should be
aware that Council members may be looking for the MHB to monitor questions of
Housing Options in terms of ho«, they are serving Evanston residents and how they are
distributing their apartments throughout the Community. Alderman Rainey
independently sent a communication to I -IUD expressing her own personal objections
to Housing Options proposal This is a brand new program, the HUD money is being
requester) for new progamming for both CPM Connections and Housing Options, and
we «ill not learn until late fall whether either one of these proposals will be funded.
Ms. Gavin questioned if the MiHB should revie«, Alderman Rainey's letter and perhaps
the MHB should write a letter as well, and does the MHB owe a response to Alderman
Newman in terms of his expectations. Mr. Terry commented that representatives from
Agnutes recorded - not yet approved
Housing Options stated they are willing to supply all the information that is being
requested. One of the programs that is funded, the SHIP Program, closed one of their
Fourth Ward apartments and is opening a Sixth Ward apartment as they seek
geographic diversity within Evanston. Mr. Rowitz commented that HUD has been
receptive to Iocal oversights. Ms. Silverstein asked if this means that people outside of
Evanston would be coming to Evanston for services. Mr. Terry stated that was one of
the concerns of Alderman Newman. Housing Options stated that they serve people
with an Evanston connection, and they have their oxen definition of an Evanston
connection. Mr. Terry suggests prior to any letters being written to read the Housing
Options proposal and be comfortable with it. Housing Options has said this is a
population that they have not worked with extensively and, if they get problems, they
will end the program. Housing Options admits that this is a high risk population. Ms.
Wiebe feels that MHB is dealing math a eery complex issue. Chair Kerns suggested
that a copy of the proposal be distributed to the NM members and place it on the
agenda for discussion at the July meeting.
Viii. REVISION OF LONG TERM CARE ORDINANCE
Revision of Long Term Care Ordinance - Marsha Mellen and Harvey Saver met and
Ms. Mehen will follow up with the Intern (Peggy Philip). At the present time Ms.
Mehen is the only member on the LTC Ordinance Committee and is looking for MHB
mernbers to «work with her on this Committee. Chair Kerns and Susan Stroh stated they
would be willing to serve on this Committee.
Il. `Oi IINATIONS AND ELECTION OF I999-2000 MHB
OFFICERS
Nominations and Election of 1999 - 2000 NIHB Officers - Chair Kerns called upon
the Nominating Committee for 1999 - 2000 MHB Officers (Paula Cofresi-Silverstein
and Man, Gavin). Man, Ga-%In thanked Chair Kems for his leadership and under your
leadership the MHB has taken a positive direction of a strong advocate for the mentally
ill and the vulnerable people in the Community. iMMny Gavin also thanked Lonnie
Wiebe for her work as Vice Chair to the MHB. In recognition of Ms. Wiebe's hard
work, her name was placed in nomination as Chair. ;Nis Gavin stated that due to the
size of the MHB, and members availability, the Vice Chair's position will be on a
Wnutes recorded - not yet approved
rotating quarterly basis with Ellen Reynolds being Vice Chair for the first quarter. Mr.
Kerns called for a vote on the Nominating Committee recommendations and they were
unanimously approved.
Ms. Wiebe thanked the NM for their confidence in her, and with everyone's best ideas
she believes the coming year will be great. She thanked Chair Kerns for his generosity
in agreeing to stay through the funding process because there are so few members.
Mary Garin announced this is her last evening as member of the MHB as she is
resigning. Ms. Wiebe commented that she felt she had known Mary Gavin for a very
long time, and she has come to know Mary as a compassionate, intelligent, person of
integrity and she will be greatly missed. Mr. Kerns echoed Ms. Wiebe's remarks and
thanked her for all of her work.
XI. STAFF REPORT
Mr. Terry stated that the Human Services Committee on Monday evening, approved
the Residential Group Care Home Licensing Ordinance. The group home discussion
moves to the Council floor. The Ordinance will be introduced Monday June 14 and
scheduled for action June 28, 1999. Mr. Terry will keep the MI-IB informed as to the
progress.
Meeting adjourned at 9:50 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan M. Barott
Pane 12
Minutes recorded -not yet approved
E'% .A_ 5TOti ME1N'TAL HEALTH BOARD
.NIEiETENG NIL1-i..TES
THURSDAY. MAY 15. 1999
Members Present: Lonnie Wiebe, Louis Rowitz, Ellen Redmolds. Paula Cofresi-
Silverstein. Marsha ,vlehm and Michael Kerns
Presiding: Michael Kerns
Staff: Harvey Saver, Jay Terry. and Joan Barott
Community
Representatives: Alexander Brown (Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services);
Sandra Stumme (Metropolitan Family Services); David Myers,
Dr. Liz Brtunfield, James Montgomery (CPM Connections for
the Homeless)
Michael Kerns. Chair, called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
I. INTRODUCTIONS A.`D COMMUNITY COMMENTS
The members of the audience introduced themselves and were welcomed by the Board.
H. APPROVAL OF NI NOTES MARCH 11, 1999
Mr. Rowitz moved and Ms. Cofresi-Silverstein seconded a motion to approve the March
11, 1999 :*vIHB meeting minutes. Motion approved unanimously (6 aye - 0 no).
III. AGENCY REVIEW: CPM CONNECTIONS FOR THE HOMELESS
David Myers. Executive Director of CP11 joined the Board. He introduced Dr. Liz Brumfield.
CPM Board member. and James Montgomery. Director of Clinical Services. Mr. Myers said
they nelcomed the opponunitti to present to the MHB. He thanked the MHB for the confidence
they have shown in CPM's programs and for the funding support that has been provided to them.
i41r. Myers stated that CPM is working hard to deliver on the trust and confidence that the MHB
has shown them.
Mr. `1vers said they appreciated being invited`to discuss their thoughts and ideas about the
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direction for the community's mental health services. fir. Nivers commented that he %vas aware
the NIHB was going to discuss the issue of dual diagnosis for people with ; abstance abuse and
mental illness as a possible priority for this year. He said his presentation .ouid include how
CPNI's programs attempt to address that issue.
Mr. \lyers said CP , I has organized into two separate divisions. One focuses upon families.
while the other emphasizes working with individuals. The latter is primarEy through the shelter.
Through Entry Point. CPNI's outreach program. and the clinical services pr,,,.ided at the shelter,
CPNI provides a great deal of service for dually diagnosed homeless indivi�4uals. The Entry
Point Director has training and expertise in substance abuse and in mental health. Jim
Montgomen-, the Director of the clinical programs, has certification as a substance abuse
counselor and in mental health. In addition, CPIV1 has a full-time Substance Abuse Case
Nlanager position that is funded by the NIHB. %fr. Ayers added that Dr. Brumfield is CWs
consulting psychiatrist and has a psychiatric clinic at Hilda's Place that also addresses issues
related to persons with a dual diagnosis.
In response to its. Wiebe's question. Mr. Myers said at any one time up to ()00'0 of CPA's
population has a dual diagnosis. Mr. Montgomery said the percentage varies day to day. but
usually runs 40-601a. GIs. Wiebe asked khere did Entry Point tit into these nizures? Mr. 141yers
said the program is brand new so those figures are not yet included. The challenge they have is
coordinating the outreach services with the shelter smices, and with the auxiliary services and
the clinical services. They are working to,.%ard a common intake process that focuses upon a
seamless system of care and intervention. with no difference between the outreach services and
the services ol'the shelter. fir. Mycrs said that CPNI could al%%ays track Erttr.- Point separately
because of its federal funding source. CP%1 "ill decide later hot% to internal% track the
relationship bemeen Entry Point and the other clinical services provided b% the shelter.
Mr. Rowitz asked about what expansion CPNI is anticipating for the next fit a nears? Ntr. Flyers
discussed -,cry recent developments that «ill soon begin to be implemented He said CP'til just
receiNed word about a Baxter Allegiance grant to make health care more accessible to homeless
people. Their definition of health care includes both the physical as well mental health. This
coming year CPNI will have resources to double their psychiatric time available, and to expand
nursinu time from 15 hours to 40 hours. CPNI also has additional funds to provide for
psychiatric medications. and to increase their ability to do screenings and get lab tests. Dr.
Brumfield commented that the tab testing would be very important. For the Mork that she does it
is almost impossible to do it %%1(l1 gut tab testing. CP\i -,sill be able to mont.or medications and to
make sure that a patient is �kell enough to be on certain medications. Dr. Brumfield added that it
is more complicated when «orking with persons who are dually diagnosed because you do not
kno%% what is in their bodies. An individual might tell you that they are not using alcohol, but
«ithout the results of urine screening you cannot be sure. With the ability to test. CPli can
accurately kno%% %%hat chemicals areinan indi�idual's bod% %rho is being treated.
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Mr. *%I ers said one thing that is not %%ithin the continuum of care of E%ansion or %%ithin the
agency. itself is transitional apartments for individuals %vho are leaving the shelter but are not
ready for long term independent living. '-tr. Myers said that this has been discussed but there
have been no plans. CP.%1 currently provides transitional housing for families but not for
individuals. Mr. Montgomery commented that some clients «ho fall into this category can be
referred to Housing Options and some eo to the Y%fCA
Mr. N1%ers commented that CPN1 does not see the need to expand the number of shelter beds they
provide. There are 36 beds in the shelter. Evanston residents fill approximately 15% of the beds.
Mr. Sayer commented that CPA's monthly reports reflect that the percentage of Evanston
residents being served has been going up over the last year. He said it appeared that the
Evanston numbers are right on track with what the agency had projected, but the number of
people being served from other areas was less than had been projected. fir. Montgomery
responded that CPN1 has had a number of Evanston residents at the shelter at one time and they
have been able to work with them longer. in their last report the average stay «vas up
considerably. to 80 days. fir. Nlont_omery said the% to to keep Evanston residents until they are
ready to go out The residents are encouraged to stay and take advantage of the services that are
available to them. like say inc enough money so that they can afford Evanston rents.
:ti1r. Kerns asked where individuals are referred «ho are in need of detox or inpatient substance
abuse treatment' He asked. in particular. %�hether Evanston residents %,.ere being referred out of
Evanston due to lack of services in torn. Mr. Montgomery said that one of the problems they
encounter is that Evanston residents cannot be referred into Chicago for treatment based upon
catchment areas. He said that CP%f could refer individuals to LSSi on Kenmore. or Haymarket in
the West Loop in Chicago for detox These programs «on't keep the individuals very long. and
they cannot take people immediately They %will take anyone %%ho «alks through the door. If the
client is unfunded. Haymarket %%ill not take them. Mr. Nlonteomery said that there are no specific
detox programs in Evanston. T: ere art three places in CP.\I's catchment area that CPNI can refer
for treatment. Lake County Alcohol Treatment Center will take people from Evanston, as long as
they are homeless. This is only an eight -day program. The other programs are Gateway in Lake
Villa. and ADD in Elgin. fir. %lontgomery said that in order to get homeless people into
inpatient treatment programs. the admission criteria state that the person has to be clean or sober
for fourteen da-, s The %%ailing list is al��as s more than fourteen days so if they are staving at the
shelter they ha,. e to Stay clean
Mr. Ferns asked. on average. ho%% man,. people they see per month %rho need detox? Dr.
Brumfield said that there are approximately two or three Evanston residents per month. She
expressed concern. ho-,%e%er. a' out referring them to programs that only offer 24-hour detox. and
questioned their .alue. She said «ould not refer to a program like that. because a person who is
trul% alcohol dep trident ma% rLgUire seen to ten day s Some of the Chicago sites only serve at a
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place to sober up. Dr. Brumfield added that there are resources in the commuria% for any
medical emergent} that is life threatening. She said both hospitals would accept clients wherr
severe withdrawal will be life threatening, and the individual needs to be hospitalized. She
added, however. that severe .vithdraw•al is not that common but it is life threatening. Dr.
Brumfield offered that it was probably better for an individual to stay in their overt community
until the treatment resources %%ere available. She added that the CPM shelter does a good job to
maintain people before they can be admitted to treatment.
Mr. Rowitz said he noticed that CPNI's demographics shoved a large number of African -
Americans who participate in the substance abuse program. He asked whether this was a general
trend in all of CPNI's programs:' 41r. Montgomery commented that African -Americans were
always a higher percentage of the CPNI service population than individuals who were Caucasian
or Hispanic. He said, however, that, based upon their numbers, a higher percentage of
Caucasians served in the shelter were involved with substance abuse.
Ms. Wiebe asked about the Addendum from CPNI's Quarterly Narrative Report. Mr. Myers said
the information referred to the psychiatric services being provided by Evanston Hospital at the
shelter. Those services have been provided with funds from CP.\I's Emergency Shelter Grant.
He said the report indicated that a considerable amount of additional psychiatric time was
provided at no charge. The amount of service was about 50% greater than had been provided for
in the contract ti%lth the hospital
NIr. Myers said he knew the `IHB was going to be discussing the Homeless Continuum of Care.
He said that CPNI was going to be submitting a proposal under that document for transitional
housing for families. He indicated that it would be for seven units. This would be a new
program. CPNI ahead,. has three units for familti transitional housing in Evanston. The current
program is for up to mche months. The proposed program will be up to twenty-four months.
The first twelve months will be for stabilization. the second twel%e months will be for working
with the families to dc,.elop greater skills in li%ing independentl,. Mr. Myers said CPNI is trying
to develop a service to respond to the increasing calls and referrals that have been received by
CPNI from very Young mothers. especially those who have not completed high school. fir.
Myers said they could be looking for scattered sites rather than clustering the apartment units
together. They. want to help the families become integrated with and connected to the
communit} that «here the% reside. He added that CP%I has been having discussions with Family
Focus because oCtheir tnCUs on young mothers. Mr. `1\ers said CP%I «ould be open to leasing
these apartments not onl% in anston but in other cornntunities as well.
Ms. %lehen asked about the agent} 's physical plant and problems with administrative space. Mr.
Nl%ers said the Lake Street Church is growing and ma% need the administrative office space
where the: current CPNI office is. The-, are still %Norkinz with the church to resolve this. CPM
will probabl} have a Rase tOr this coming year. but an%thinL! after that is questionable. The
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space for Hilda's Place will not be affected.
In response to Ms. W'iebe's question. Nir. Myers said he has appreciated the %IHB's support and
the NIHB agency Liaison's interest in the organization. The NiHB thanked the representatives
from CPM for their presentation.
IV. AGE`CY ACCOU TABILITY
%
Nis. Cofresi-Sii.erstein said she was available for an additional liaison assignment after Rice
Community Counseling Services closed its doors. Nir. Saver said he would assign her to
Childcare tiemuork of Evanston.
Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services. Nis. Wiebe reported that a spec at meeting of the
Senior Advisor; Committee was held. She reported that Mr. Terry was present to discuss the
Levv Center. Concems were raised about have additional social services and programming
available.
Evanston Hospital. Mr. Sayer read a communication from his. Helt-Gavin about her meeting
with the staff in Evanston Hospital's Department of Psychiatry (Department). She and Mr. Saver
met with Dr. Fred Miller. ne«I} appointed Chair. Dr. Lynn Barnett and Dr. Liz Brumfield.
There were setizral issues discussed. The most important one was the relationship between the
b1HB and the Department. At the time of the meeting. Dr. Miller and his staff had not been fully
apprised about a n% agreemeri : between the Hospital and the City. There was a lack of
information about the hospital's financial commitments about the outpatient psychiatric services.
There was a lack of information about what aLreements had been made for the MHB to
continue to monitor the Department's services and activities. fir. Sayer commented that. at the
same time. both Dr. Barnett and Dr. Brumfield expressed an interest in maintaining an ongoing
relationship and continuing to be accountable to the communit'. for the services beine provided.
Ms. Helt-Gavin'; report indicated that there was considerable discussion about the future of the
hospital's children and adolescent psychiatric services. Dr. Miller indicated that the hospital is
looking to reclaim hospital space for more beds. They are considering moving all programs that
do not require a hospital location into community settings. This is a result of the hospital buying
a number of practices. The Department of Psychiatry is anticipating that there Lill be a number
oftheir programs that kill be moving into space in communit% locations. This Ltiill be at the
hospitals sate[k:e locations. as .ell as in additional office spaces in Evanston. That might
increase the accessibility of the services. his. Helt-Garin reported that there are a number of
possible configurations being discussed. with no concrete plans in place as of yet.
Ms. Cofresi-Sil%erstein said GIs. Helt-Ga%in's teport indicated that the staff %%as concerned about
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the future of Crisis Intervention, Mr. Sa%-er said it was his impression that expressed concern
because it is the program that is most dependent upon %.fHB funds. and receives the most MHB
money. While the president of the hospital had indicated that Evanston Hospital %Mould continue
to maintain the sen•ices. what this was going to mean internally had not yet been communicated
to the Department of Psychiatn .
Mr. Sayer said that Mr. Terry had more detailed information about the Children =id Adolescent
services I C&A i.
Mr. Tern- said he became involved with the issue several weeks earlier. Alderman Feldman
called him and said that one of his constituents. who is a staff person at Evanston Hospital,
expressed very strong concern about the C&A day school program being moved from Evanston
Hospital to a location in the Glenview area. She was concerned that this would have a negative
impact, and that Evanston was going to be losing a valuable service. She expressed concem
there were going to be some negative consequences. At Alderman Feldman's request Mr. Terry
set up a meeting for himself and the Alderman with Ray Grady. President of Evanston Hospital.
and Dr. Miller Chair of the Department of Psychiatry. Both Mr. Grady and Dr. Miller indicated
that there would be no reduction of services as a result of these plans. NIr. Tern reported that
Mr. Grady went to great lengths to discuss recent difficulties the hospital had in trying to expand
their structure. fir. Grady said they received a `.en. strong message that the City and the
neighborhood would not support any additional physical expansion at that site. The hospital is
interested in gro%ring their C& A services. but it is impossible to expand any services within the
walls of the hospital at this point. This is a dilemma if they want to grow any program, so they
are turning to space in Glem iew.
Mr. Tern said. at the time of his meeting with Dr_ Miller there did seem to be any concerns
about the hospital's financial support for the Department of Psychiatry's programs. This
occurred after the meeting with %is. Helt-Gavin. Mr. Ternsaid the hospital's array of services
that the MHB would want to monitor is going to dramatically change. The location of these
services is +aoin<z to than+ue also. This is leavins a treat unknown about how the MHB would
monitor the services e%en if the NIHB would continue to fund them.
The 4IHB discussed questions that arose in Ms. Helt-Gavin's memo related to the MHB's status
and its ability to monitor. Nlr. Berns said that the %iHB would not be able to address all the
issues in Ms; HeIE-Ga%in's report. He said he thought it was now important. as the City finalizes
its agreement with Evanston Hospital. that the MHB get direction back from Human Services as
to what role the% expect the %IHB to pla} in monitorinLand insuring that the hospital is
delivering the same see ices.
Miscellaneous
Mr. Sa%er reminded the NIE1E3 about the Ruing Well Conference on Thursday. May 20 at the
king Hume. He said that Alexander Brown indicated the conference is enrolled to capacity.
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Mr. Saver he spoke with Kate Grund. who ►►as still consulting ►with Rice Community Counselling
See► ices. She reported that Rice was being successful in getting some of their long term cases
picked up ►en• quickly b% St. Francis Hospital Comprehensive Mental Health Center and
MetropolitanFamily Ser. ices.
In response to Mr. Saver's question. Nis. Stumme retuned that `1HB's c,►ntract with Childcare
Net►►ork of Evanston has already been providing, care for children in daycare centers. She said
her agenc} has already received a number of referrals.
V. SUBSTANCE ABUSE ROUNDTABLE
Mr. Kurzman reported that the Substance Abuse Round Table was well received. He said Louise
Bro►►n. Health Department Director spoke favorably of the partnership between the MHB and
the Health Care Advisory Board. Mr. Kurzman added that the feedback from the participants
was -. ery favorable and positive. He said a number of the attendees expressed gratitude to the
MHB for hosting, the event.
I'Vir. Kurzman said there were t-t separate priority issues that were identified in the small group
process. He indicated that the results of the nominal croup process resulted in a top priority of
primary prevention. The second priority identified «as augmenting existing programsladvocacy
for existing services. There was a tie for third place was outpatient treatment services and -
sen tees for dual diagnosis (mental illness'substance abuse). 'vlr. Kurzman pointed out that
various aspects of the dual diagnosis issue had been included in four of the 14 priorities. which
Would make one think that it ►►as a higher priority than outpatient treatment. with which it was
tied.
Mr. Kurznian said several options ►►ere identified as possible steps to follow up on the Round
Table. He said the options that were identified varied in the amount of Board activity that would
be required. hlr. Kurzman pointed out that any of the options could be used in combination with
the others in developing a plan for using the information that was obtained. In addition. there
were eight people who identified themselves on the feedback forms as being ►willine to work on
an ad,, isor► subcommittee or task force to consider the data. Ivfr. Saver said that Nlr. Kurzman
had airead% started ►►orking on the report from the Round Table. It ►►ill be distributed broadly to
;roues and orizanizations in the %:ornmunit►.
Ms. Wiebe commented that it ►►as important that the information was being shared with the
lamer communit► . She said she thought a sub -committee of the MHB. Health Care Advisory
Board members and interested roundtable participants would be a useful way to organize the
Ibllo%%-up. Nis Wiebe said she thought the Round Table went very well. and she complimented
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`[r. Rowitz for facilitating the event. Nlr. Ro%%itz said he thought the process could also be used
with other priorit• areas for the NIHB. Mr. Kerns asked Mr. Rowitz to continue his work on tb--
issue. He asked him to begin the development of a sub -committee to develop follo%%-up plan diir
implementation of. He suggested that he also check with the Health Department about
participation of representati%es from the Health Care Advisory Board.
V1. ALLOCATION O1 MENTAL HEALTH RESERVE
Nts. Wiebe reported that the Funding Sub -Committee c%as comprised of herself. Nis. Reynolds;.
and Mr. Kems. She said the Sub -Committee considered a number of areas that could be funded
with the $57.000 from the unallocated reserve. The Sub -Committee looked seriously at childre a's
mental health needs, because it is still not clear whether it is going to be adequately covered a:ficr
Rice closes. The Sub -Committee also discussed services for people with a dual diagnosis. yes..
Wiebe said the Sub -Committee also considered that the MHB does not often have 557,000 as 3
single sum to allocate. The members wanted to fr%, to keep the funds together in one area in
order to ha%e a greater impact. The Sub -Committee also took into considered what could be
accomplished in the time a%a.':able
yls. Wiebe reported that the Funding Sub -Committee %vas recommending that it allocate 557,NO
to the area of dual diagnosis sen ices t f SA). She said there were several pages in the MHB
packet about the issue. Ms. Webb said that the Sub -Committee would get information from
agencies about what they are presently doing with this population, and what else is needed in the
community. A request for proposals %%ill be sent out to agencies in the community.
%fr. Roxvitz said it would tale: the Sub -Committee time to analyze the information and come tq
«ith recommendations. Ile sa;d Ile %%as concerned about «hether this could be in the time
available. He also asked %%he::ter the %IHB «anted to fund a priority in order to get the process
underua}. 1.01le kno%%ing tha::.::xt bear the NIIIB's priorities could shift. It �-%ould be difficul:
for any agenc% to undertake a neu project, and then have the ,NIHB cut back on the funds six
months later. Mr. Sayer said that "as also one of his concerns. He said if the %fHB agreed with
the Sub -Committee's proposal he «as recommending that the NIHB agree that the agency fun&d
in the RFP also be funded for the next fiscal year. He said agencies «ould be very reluctant to
take can a project that late in ! IHB's fiscal tar without also kno%ying that there was going to be
some longer commitment.
.fr. Ro«itz said lie %%ould like io see the competition be opened for grants ben%een S25.000-
557.000. Nlr. Ro«itz said %ou could get 1%%o yery good S25.000 proposals. They might be easer
to maintain in the future than a single grant of 557.000. Alternativel}. if the NIHB got one grans
that it «as enthusiastic about for S;7.000. the NIHB could select that. Ms. Wiebe said that she
thouuht the NIIIB .lid %%ell «i'.lt ii Children's dental Health Senices grant. She said she thous —hi
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the NIHB got a creative pairing of agencies in a combined proposal. %I- Ro%%itz said he thought
that the MHB should welcome partnership grants. fir. Rov%itz moved and GIs. Cofresi-
Silverstein seconded a motion that the NIHB allocate the reserve fund of 557,000 to a nrw
priority of dual diagnosis Imental illness/substance abuse). and issue an RFP for grants its
the amount of 525.000-57.000. In response to Ms. NIchen's question. Mr. Saver clarified that
there %%ill have to be a lot of research done to develop the RFP. He sa;_'the R.FP would be
brought before the Board before it is distributed. And, based the disco: sion. he said partnership
grants would be encouraged. and that the agencies will be told that the %IHB's allocation woWd
be for the current year as %yell as FY2000-'001, dependent upon final a,tion on the City Budget.
Motion approved unanimously (6 aye -- 0 no).
Mr. Kerns said he and Ms. Wiebe would report on this decision to the Human Services
Committee to let them know "hat the %lHB is planning.
VI1. REVISION OF LONG TER -NI CARE ORDINANCE
Mr. Terry referred to a memo in the NIHB's packet regarding the revis n of the Long Term Care
Ordinance (LTCO). He said .alderman Feldman made a reference of this issue to both the NM
and the Commission on Agin_. He «anted the NIHB to have the opporuniv. to have input.
Mr. Terry said when the City Council approved the FY99-000 City Budget them eliminated two
licensing positions in the Health Department. They made a basic policy decision that the State of
Illinois would do the annual sur�ev and licensure of nursing homes. The Evanston nursing
homes will still have a local license. but State personnel will do the inspections and surveys that
are done annually. There is a 96 page LTCO that needs to be amended to reflect this new
relationship. A number of re% ie�% processes are under%%ay. The impetus for this came from the
not -for -profit nursing homes in the community. They have already gone through the LTCO and
have submitted their recommendations. The Evanston Health Department staff is looking at this.
as %%ell as the Long Term Care Committee of the Commission on Agin._. ylr Term asked how
did the NIHB want to provide input to the process' Of particular concern is whether the NIHB
wants to have any specific input in the part of the LTCO that relates to intermediate care
facilities for the mentally ill.
.its. Mehen questioned the cutting back of inspections by the Evanston. Health Department
(EI-ID). Mr. Term explained ;hat the State enforces oniti its State lays ghat cc,. er these facilities.
If there ;s a local ordinance, the questions to be dealt with are: %%hat should te fn it: what can be
enforced; and. and what will the enforcement mechanisms be" tits. Nlehen dis,:ussed concerns
she had from her revie%% of earlier Long Term Care Annual reports.
�Ir. Ferns said he thou�al1t the MHB should be•involved in the process He ailed Ms. Nlehen tr,
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serve as the Chair of the LTC Commit:te for the purpose of =w ic%%ing the LTCO and providing
responses. Mr. Kerns said he %%as also going to ask ),Is. Sm•,h and GIs. Hell-Ga%in to serve on
the committee.
VilI. RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME LICE\SLrG ORDI\:4-tiCE
Mr. Saver said the NIHB packet included the most recent reti�sions to the Residential Care Home
Licensine Ordinance. There was also a packet of recommendations related to the revisions that
was submitted by Housing Options. The Human Services Committee is still debating the
revisions that were developed by Ms. Brenniman of the Lau Department,
tier- Terry reported that, within the past week, an issue arose regarding an atonal application of
these n pes of laws related to residential care homes. In both the Zoning Ordinance and the
Licensing Ordinance is a distancing requirement between rmdential care homes. The City has
been aware for some time that Anixter Center has been interested in building a small group home
for eight children with developmental disabilities. The agent: had been in contact with the City,
review• ed the zoning issues, and informed the City about their plans. Recentl.. the agency pulled
a building permit and broke ground. Neighbors began to call .he City with concems because
Rimland Services has a small group li• tng arrangement for in, :j% iduals with autism only 3 10 feet
from the site for Anixter Center. The City was not made avare of Rimland's home. Mr. Terry
said that while small residential care homes are permitted uses under the Zoning Ordinance. but
there still is a distancing requirement of 900 feet. One of the r•o homes is apparently in
violation of the distancing requirement. The question is .whit:: of the mo homes is in violation.
He said that it could be argued that Rintland was there first. b,,: Rimland ne%er informed the City
that thew had a home at the location that fell under the definitic—n of Residential Care Home.
Anixter. on the other hand. has been ver% up front about .%hat -7e• are doing and notified the
City teem the beginning.
Mr. Terry indicated that, as of this week. Zoning staff mad a pti�Iicy decision is that Rimland will
be notified they are in violation of the distancing requirement m the Zoning Ordinance, and will
be asked to cease operations. fir. Term said he did not think t;.at the agency .was going to take
this direction eery lightly. In response to Ms. Mehen's question_ Mr. Terry said the neighbors
"ant the Zonina Ordinance enforced.
Mr. Saver said that Rimland See ices has tour.wonten •with aur:sm li%inu in the home. All of the
..omen are supported with CILA funding from DHS. In response to vls. Cofresi-Silverstein, `tr.
Saver said that if Rimland %%ere to mo. a one of the ladies to amother living arrangement there
.would only be three people in the home. At that point the hom-- would fall under the Zoning
Ordinance definition of"famil•" and nO longer be considered a Residential Care Home.
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IX. NOMINATING COMMITTEE FOR 1"9-2000 t**IHB OFFICERS
Mr. Kerns said that the Nominating Committee's report for 1999 - 2000'vtHB Officers would be
deferred until the June meeting. He said his. Helt-Gavin, %%bo was out of town. and its. Cofresi-
Silverstein had some additional work to complete. The actual nominations and elections w-ffl be
conducted at the June meeting.
X. EVANSTO` HOMELESS CONTINUUM OF CARE
Mr. Saver reported that the draft of the Evanston Homeless Continuum of Care (Continuum) was
included in the X1HB packet. He said that when Housing Options came to the MHB in
December. 1998. they spoke about their proposal for refunding being rejected as a result of
deficiencies in the community's Continuum. Subsequently. the agency was able to resubmit
their proposal and it was funded.
.1r. Saver said there was still a need to update and revise the Continuum for proposals being
submitted for HUD's next round of funding for homeless services. CP`1 and Housing Options
paid a consultant to expand the Continuum in line with HUD's guidelines. The work was done
in conjunction with the Homeless Task Force. which %tr. Terry has been chairing. New
procedures and processes for planning. for identifying need. and for evaluating funding proposals
were developed for use in future rounds of funding. Mr. Saver said the Homeless Task Force is
reviewine the draft one more time. The final document will be sent to the Human Services
Committee for re%iew. The funding, proposals associated with the Continuum. from Housing
Options and CPM. will be sent to the Housing Commission for review and certification that they
compl% .%ith the City's Consolidated Plan.
\I. STAFF REPORT
Rimland Semices. ytr. Saber reported that Rimland has another home on Custer. He said the
agency Director. Pam Watson. notified him that someone shot out windows in the home. She
also indicated that people in the area have been pulling down fence planking around the home.
dumping junk and garbage n Rimland's %ard. and intimidating their staff. 'Vtr. Saver said he
suggested that the NIs. Watson. speak .%ith Chief Kaminski and the local aldermen. The Police
put a special hatch on the home and captured a %outh %%ho had been tiring at the house. There is
already a court date. In response to a question. ,Mr. Saver indicated that he did not know if this
was being considered as a hate crime. at this point.
.July 4th Parade. Mr. Saver read a letter from'the 10ental Health Association of Evanston
May 13. 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes
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extending an invitation to the Mental Health Board to participate in the July 4th Parade %Oth a
number of other mental health advocacy groups. They are trying to get a number of agencies that
have interest in mental health to cam banners about support for mental health issues, and health
insurance parity for mental health. Mr. SNa.•er said he was impriessed at the strong response the
group got from the crowd in last year's parade. There were also individuals from Albany Care
and Greenwood Care who joined the parade entry. htr. Kerns said this %%as an open invitation to
any 11v1HB members who would like to participate, and encouraged those who were interested to
participate.
Mental Health Association of Evanston. Mr. Saver said the Liargueritte Adelman was
nominated to be the President of the Mental Health Association for the coming year. Mr. Terry
said that staff has been informed that the Mental Health Association of Evanston is planning a
change in their name. It will not have a specific Evanston identification. He said this was
reflective of a change in the organization's focus.
Meeting adjourned at 9:45 PAL
Respectfully submitted.
Il - , 81111:�i��
May 13, 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes Page 12
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•
ow
EN':%..STO*,N7 CIE; —rAL H&-kLTH BOARD
DECISIONS OF 31EEM G
THU'RSD 3Y, �L-kY 15. 1999
1. Agreed to allocate the reserve fund of S57,000 to a new priority of dual diagnosis
(mental illness/substance abuse), and issue an RFP for grants for S25,000-57,000.
May 13, 1999 MH9 Meeting Minutes
Page -
Wrtutes recorded - not yet approved
E'%*A. STOti N1EN -T.-*iI. HE.AL.TH BO.UW
MEETItiG -IL`UTES
THURSDAY. ISI ARCH 11. 1999
Members Present: Lonnie Wiebe. Louis Rowim Ellen Reynolds, Marsha Ntelxn.
Michael Kerns
Presiding: Michael Kerns
Staff: Harvey Saver, loan Baron
Community
Representatives: Sandi Johnson (North Shore Senior Center); Peter Illing
(ti?Sl%i)
Michael Kems, Chair. called the meeting to order at 7:40 p.m.
1. INTRODUCTIONS AND COMMUNITY COMMENTS
The members of the audience introduced themselves and were welcomed by the Board.
[I. APPROVAL OF MINUTES JAIN ARY 21, 1999
Mr. Rowitx moved and tits. Mehen seconded a motion to approve the January 21, 1999
Minutes. Motion approved unanimously.
III. REVIEW NOTES OF FEBRUARY 11. 1999 ,NIHB MEETING
The %.IHB reviewed the notes of the February 11. 1999 meeting. \-fr. Saver indicated that there
had not been a quorum so there were no official minutes to approve.
IV. AGENCY REVIEW: NTSW
Peter tiling, Executive Director of NTS1N'. joined the tiIHB. Mr. Ilting distributed ".Votes on the
Future of NT.S;V " (enclosed as an attachment). He reviewed this information and discussed the
future direction for the agency. and the mental health environment in which it is working.
%tr. Saver said he had read that Thresholds was, encouraging all of its affiliates to look at ways of
Match 11. 11999 MHB Meeting Minutes Page 1
74
Minutes recorded • not yet approved
dealing with the dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance abuse. He asked whether vTSi74`
was considering that" Mr. Illing said Thresholds has a goal of having one-third of its emplayem
to become certified with a CADC in addictions counseling. He said he did not believe that this
%%us a need at First Step. and hem -as not planning to focus on that as a direction for the program.
at this point. In response to ifs. NN`iebe. wir. Illing said NTS W has one person in training for
certification in addictions counseling, but there was no formal plan to create a program around
this staff person.
Mr. Rowitz asked to «hat extent is the agency dealing %ith the dual diagnosis of mental illness
and developmental disabilit,, t DD k^ Mr. Illing said both First Step and the `TSW Industries
ha% e a number of individuals who meet that definition. They have been successful -vith these
individuals in both programs. However. First Step is curriculum based. Several of the
individuals with DD will not have the reading skills if they are too low functioning. At the
workshop. the structure of µork and regular attendance have benefited individuals %vith
developmental disabilities. \fr. riling said that they do worry about a dependence factor in
workshops, but the individuals seem to enjoy the work and are earning a paycheck, and they are
there.
Ms. Wiebe asked about the needs of persons with mental illness. in addition to job training' She
also asked what First Step does for their clients on weekends" NIr. Illing said that they have not
paid a lot of attention to the off -hour, of their members. They have not established social goals.
but they can do more. The Evanston Local Area Nenvork authorized the reprogramming of some
funds for Trilog} to de%elop a program to deal with "after hours" and social needs. This «ill
provide funds for Trilogy to hire a worker who %%ill work with Trilog}'s clients and with clients
being served under the Connect0 8 initiative for ps-,chosocial rehabilitation. Services and
supports will be provided for individuals at the times t,.-hen most programs are closed.
Mr. Illing said there haze been some recent innovations for NTS\V. Member Recognition Day is
a program imported from Thresholds. On the anniversary date of the program. the staff will .
throe a part% «here the nlernbers are the honorees, and vtttl receive certziicates of recognition
and for their accomplishments. In response to Ms. %Viebe. Mr. Illing said NTSW's members
would have access to Trilogy's services. NTSW is a part of the Connect98 Initiative. and
Trilogy is the lead agency'. Trilogy t%ill be hiring a half time worker who will help members tee
social opportunities in � arious comrnunit% settings on both evenings and %+eekends. \fr. Illing
said he has also directed stag# to explore services through the special recreation districts. Nfr.
Ro%,,Itz said it seemed like a __,cued-portunity to develop partnerships �%Ith community group} in
the communit% that might sponsor some social activities
Mr. Ferns asked. with retard Connect98. about the expectations for increased cooperation and
coordination amonu St. Francis Hospital. Evanston hospital. Trilog%. and NTS\V. Mr. Illing
said the auencies have agreed to problem solve{ogether around individuals with difficult
March 11, 1999 MHt9 Meeting Minutes Page 2
Minutes recorded , not yet approved
problems. particularly those individuals that more than one agency is working %.ith. Fhe praotity
population is individuals in INIDs. like Albany Care and Greenwood Care. It is .also an
opportunity to better understand each other's se:rvrices. Mr. Illing said that all fvux atge ncies we
receiving the funding and it is a one year commitment which the Office of .lental Health is
every year. Nlr. Illing commented that. in order to continue to rt-ceiye the binding, there are a
number of meetings required to coordinate the activities.
Mr. Rowitz asked, knowing where things were currently. what should the dental Health Board
be looking at in the next five tears'' Mr. Iliing commented that the State has increasingly teen
pushing people with mental illness who have committed crimes into the criminal justice and
prison system. He also pointed out that Governor Ryan's report on the proposed budget did not
mention mental health or mental illness. He contrasted this with the emphasis placed upon
education. He said. in prior years. social services and mental health were mentioned with
education, but the focus seems to have changed. Mr. filing offered his opinion that publicly
funded mental health is in decline in Illinois. He said Dr. Tom Simpatico. the Network Nfawger
for the area in which Evanston resides, is conducting a project frith Cook County jail system.
Thev are trvine to determine whether there is some tivav to effectively share information and
jointly plan for individuals who are in both the mental health and criminal justice system. He
said it would be helpful for clinics to know when their clients run into legal problems. Mr. filing
said in the past month 516 individuals who were incarcerated in the Cook County jail system had
earlier contact with the mental health system. NIr. filing said NTS W is writing a proposal to do a
stud% and determine to what extent this is an issue in their service area.
In response to %lr.RoL%itz. Mr. Illing said that Connect98 is driven by psychosocial rehabilitation
(f SR) principles. This places a great emphasis upon a recovery model and aspects of individual
empowerment. Mr. Illing said individuals who have a chronic mental illness would be in the
system a lone time. ,Many of the programs that have been used in the State's mental health
system were oriented towards maintenance. rather than progress to next steps. The focus in PSR
is to use the input. ideas. and directions of the actual consumers to {wide the fog ,,.ation of
programs.
Ms. Wiebe said she thought there were some problems of accessibility at First Step. NTSW has
three separate physical sites. She asked about NTSW's plans to become fully ADA compliant.
NIr. filing said that the agency %vas :FDA compliant. They have dealt ith the issues of
accessibility using elevators. ramps. and lifts. In addition. they have accessible bathrooms and
specialized ls%stems to pro%ide for individuals with ph%sisal limitations.
Nis. Mehen said. with regard to additional, after-hours activities for individuals with mental
illness. that the city park across from Albany Care does not seem to be fully utilized. She asked
whether that area could be utilized for healthy recreation and these activities be %,.oven into a
program? Mr. Illing thanked Nis. Nlehen for the suggestion and said that this follows along the
March 11, 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes
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lines of empowering experiences that they hope to create for their program members through
Connect98. %Ir. Rowitz suggested that there might be some way for an inter-aeencv baseball
league to come together for softball games for consumers.
The ),IHB thanked INlr. filing for his presentation.
V. AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY
AGE,%C1- LlAiso,%, REPORTS
St. Francis Hospital. '%Ir. Rowitz reported this was his second visit to St. Francis Hospital and
he toured all the mental health programs. Mr. Rowitz said Joe Kestnbaum talked with him
about the recent issues that came about in the MHB's Budget. He said there are numerous
differences between the situation at Evanston Hospital and at St. Francis Hospital. St. Francis
Hospital's resources are significantly less. '%lr. Kestnbaum said the mental health programs at St.
Francis Hospital could not survive without external funding. Vlr. Rowitz said Mr, Kestnbaum
also indicated that Resurrection is reluctant to duplicate services and programs from one of their
sites to another. though there might be a great distance between the program rites. Mr. Ro«itz
said he thought St. Francis vas doing a lot of outreach in the t:ammunity. For their programs to
continue to gro«. Mr. Kestnbaum and his smffwill need to go out and find additional financial
support tram outside the hospital. Mr. Rowitz said Ndr. Kestnbaum suggested that the VIHB
should loot: at children's mental health services in the same way they are going to be focusing
upon substance abuse.
CPNI—Connections for the Homeless. his. Mehen reported that she had a tour of the agent%.
She said she was impressed %%ith the medical facilities. and with the overall c eanliness of the
shelter. She added that she attended the most recent CPVI Board meeting.
�Ir. 5a►er said he spoke %%ith his. llclt-pia-,in regarding her liaison report. She said she had been
in contact «ith Dr. Lynn Barnett, from Evanston Hospital's Department of Ps-.chiatry, regarding
the changes made by City Council in the MHB's funding for their programs. Ms. Helt-Gavin
said the Department of Psychiatry is interested in continuing to be responsi%e to the MHB, and to
pro% ide accountabilit% information to the NIHB. although they are no longer fended by the 441-18.
ifs. Helt-Gavin said she .mould be setting up a meeting with the Department of Psychiatr}' to
discuss an ongoing, relationship.
In response to a question. %fr. Saver said he ►ould follow up %with Alban} Case and Greenwood
Cart to make sure the Mental Health Board members were recei%ing the facilities' monthly
ne%%sletter.
March 11, 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes Page 4
Minutes recorded - not yet approved
QLARTERLv REPORT NARRATIVE FORMAT
Mr. Kerns referred to information in the packet and asked ++hether the current Quarterly
Narrative Reporting Format still meets the needs of the Mental Health Btmrd. Ms. Mciten said
she thought the form. itself. was adequate. She said. ho++rver. that agencies need to be remiraded
of the importance of filling it out completely. She said she appreciated some of the longer
narratives because they made is easier to understand what issues the agencies ++ere dealing ++izhL
and ++hat was changing in their client population. \fr. Sa+er said ore of the responsibilities oC
the agenc+ Liaison was to monitor their agency's reports and pr.I%ide feedback to the agencc of
there were problems. Mr. Kerns said the agency Liaison should continue to communicate to
their agencies about any problems with the information being submitted to the MHB. There was
a consensus to continue to use the same Quarterly Narrative Reporting Format with the FY99-
2000 purchase of sen•ice agreements.
V. CO'.WMITTEE REPORT ON SUBSTANCE ABUSE ROUND TABLE
Mr. Ro++itz reported that the Subcommittee that is planning the Substance Abuse Round Table
met. He said he was working %with Harvey Saver, Carla Bush (E+anston Health Department). and
Joel Kurzman. He said the Health Department +vas invited to participate as a partner in the
process. They «ill consider the information from this process separately in the development of
the IPLA` (Illinois Project for Local assessment of Needs). IPLAN is the Health Department's
planning document. developed eery five years to address the community's public health needs.
The+ haw already identified substance abuse as one of the top communit% public health
priorities.
Mr. Rowitz said the Subcommittee established the goal of determining ++hat ++ere the priorities
for substance abuse issues in E+anston. The plan is to invite representati+es from community
and neighborhood groups. churches, schools. agencies. and interested indi+iduals to participate.
Thev will be asked to identif% and discuss ►+hat they perceive to be the major substance abuse
issues in Evanston that are rela:ed to public health and mental health. From that. the participants
will work in small groups to develop the relative priorities for these issues. Nlr. Rowitz said they
would be using a structured process that he has used pre%iously. He added that he %vould be the
facilitator for the session. There ++as a consensus by the MHB to use the meeting model
proposed by the Subcommittee for the Substance Abuse Round Table. Ms. Wiebe commented
that she thought it ++as a good collaborati+e effort to in ite the Health Department to be a partner
in the Round Table.
%fr. Ro++itz indicated that there were a number of conflicts with the original date of the event_
Mr. Kerns said it %%as originall% intended to be instead of the April \11413 Meeting. Mr. Rowitz
said there were a number of ke+ people ++ho ++ould be unavailable to attend the event that
March 11. 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes Page 5
Minutes recorded - not yet approved
evening. The NIHB agreed to have the Round Table on Thursdax . April 13. from
Mr. Saver reported that staff was developing a mailing list to s:!Id out 111%,:alions to the Rcpu.-k:
Table. He asked IvIHB members to submit am additional names oforgani: itions or ind1x119u2l-4
that should be included in the Round Table. fir. Ro►%itz said he thought it ..as important"
information about the Round Table to all the members of the Human Services Committee. Mr.
Saver said the invitations would be sent out approximately three weeks before the date of the
C% ent.
VI. UPDATE OIN CITY BUDGET
Ms. Wiebe provided an update on the City's Budget Process. She reported that the MHB had
two budget items that were considered at the February IS meeting of the Human Services
Committee (HSC). In attendance with her at the meeting were Susan Stroh. Mary Helt-Gao-im
and Lou Ro%%itz.
The first issue discussed %vas the MHB's recommendation about fundinu for the RFP for
Children's Mental Health Services. She said Ms. Stroh made the presentation about the
proposed funding. Ms. Wiebe said the HSC accepted the MHB's recommendation to fund
Childcare Network of Evanston to provide counseling sen•ices for children in childcare centers.
Ms. Wiebe reported that the HSC was interested in hearing about ho.% the program develops.
who is being served. and the degree of success being reported by the families who are seen.
The second issue considered was the elimination of the MHB's proposed funding for Evanston
Hospital's Department of Ps.chiatn. The MHB initially discussed the issue at the Februar%
MHB meeting. 'rhe Board subsequentl\ sent a memo to the HSC protestin, the funding
reduction being considered by the City Council. Ms. Wiebe said it became clear. in her
discussion %%ith Aldermen. that Evanston Hospital negotiated an agreement that they would
maintain the outpatient ps%chiatric scan ices at the same ser . ice cisrrerfly funded by the
MHB. The Hospital agreed to do this without the S75.000 in funding from the NIHB. in
exchange for concessions from the City in another area.
Ms. Wiebe said. subsequent to the M116's first communication about the proposed funding cut
and the MHB"s Februarn l 1 Meeting. there was a lot of acti-, it. on the ti%eekend prior to the
Februar, 1: IISC %leeting. She said she follo«ed up with Alderman Feldman and several otht:r
Aldermen to point out that a funding reduction to Evanston Hospital «as also going: to cut the
\IFIB's Budget to a level that was approximatel..vhat it had been in Fti"�9-80. GIs. Wiebe said
the :aldermen received a memo prior to the HSC Meeting that painted this out. The Alderren
responded %.ith concern to this issue and were able to maintain S-57.000 of the original ame-lant in
the %11-16's Budget. IISC recommended this tp the City Council and it %%as included in the
Board's FN'09-2000 13udt=rt. GIs. Wicbe said that this meant that mental health services were
March 11. 1999 MHO Meeting Minutes rage 9
Minutes recorded . not yet approved
able to be maintained at Evanston Hospital. and the NIIIB had an additional S57,000 it x(ald
allocate for additional mental health services in :he coinm::7it� .
Ms. Wicbe reported that the members of the Human Ser%izes Committee %%orked hart for the
%-IHB She particularly thought that Alderman Feldman and Alderman Rainey %%ere respaasive
to the %IHB's concerns. She said one problem she encountered was that the Aldermen indicated
they had not received contact directly from an% NIHB members. other than her, about their
concerns regarding this issue. She said the relationship be:%,,een Human Services Cotnmince and
the NIHB has needed some help for some time. She said she %as optimurc that there %%auld be
room for more dialogue between the two groups. his. WI-C'ne said there «ere several issuc.s that
would need to be discussed that came out of the recent e,ents related to funding
recommendations.
Ms. Wiebe said that she received positive comments about the NIHB's memos from some
members of the HSC. indicating that was the way the groups could work effectively %%ith each
other. She said she thought the HSC appreciated the information that was provided in the
memos. However. they were also concemed that the NIHB members call their Aldermen
directl%. in order that even Alderman had the opportunist :o ask the Board about their concerns.
%is. Wiebe recommended that the NIFIB send letters to Alderman Feldman and to the Human
Ser%ices Committee thanking them for their support in the recent budget discussions. Mr.
Rowitz moved and N[s. ,N[ehen seconded a motion to send letters to Alderman Feldman for
his leadership, and to Alderman Rainey and the Human Services Committee for their
support during the February 15 Human Services Committee meeting to maintain funding
for mental health services. Motion approved unanimously (5 aye - 0 no).
GIs. %x iebe said the NIFIB Mould need to be accountable ir. allocatino the S57.000 that «as
returned to the XI IB's Budget. \lr. Saver said the NIHB ,, ould ha%e to bring the allocations
betiirr the HSC. and to the City Council for appn��al. NI,- Ro%%itz pointed that NIHB received
mo .-rnlic.itions tier the Chtldren's Mental Healy' fundin; -:tiati\e. but Naas only able to `.and
one. He asked %N hether it %%ould be possible to r:consider ':-, other proposal as one option for
this funding. Nis. Wiebe said she thought it was up to ,he ` IHB, at this point. to decide v hat to
do with the funds. Mr. Saver said if the MHB might want to receive input from the origin ai
proposal selection committee. before reconsidering the secrmd proposal. In response to Mr_
Berns' Lluestion, Mr. Sa\er said during the discussion at Fi--'-C about the funds, the Alderrn,=
indicated that the% «anted to re-,ie« the NIFIB's recommrn-4ations after the\ established their
priorities I'Or the S;7.11i111. He ;.iid he thought the Board « -_,id be able to deliberate and re -port to
IISC in either \la% or June. Mr. Kerns indicated he a %%ork group to be responsiblf for
developing options and reporting to the NIHB at the \la,. meeting. Fie appointed till. Wie^ie as
chair of the work group. Nis. Re%nolds %olunteered to %%ork on the issue. Mr. Kerns said he
%%ould also participate.
March 11, 1999 MH8 Meeting Minutes Page 7
Minutes recorded • not yet approved
V11I. RESIDENTIAL CARE HOivIE LICENSING
Ms. Wiebe said the revisions to the Residential Care Home Licensine Ordinance were considered
at the March I Human Services Committee meeting. She referred to the material included in the
packet from Kathy Brenniman. City Attorney. She said the HSC members agreed the majority of
the proposed changes to. She indicated that there were still a fey changes in language to be
agreed upon, but they are relatively small. She added that Housing Options is making some
recommendations related to some concerns they have.
Nts. Wiebe and Mr. Kerns both commented that a significant amount of progress had been irn,- e
in the licensing ordinance. Mr. Kerns pointed out that there were several of the'vIHB*s earlier
recommendations about changes in the licensing ordinance that were incorporated in the current
draft ordinance.
VIll. STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION FACILITIES
Mr. Saver provided an update about the State's standards for Residential Rehabilitation Facilities.
This new definition is being proposed in the State's Nursing Home Act for guidelines and
standards specific to facilities serving persons with mental illness. Staff in the Illinois
Department of Public Health is proposing the changes. AIr. Safer indicated that there have been
txvo hearings on the staff proposals. He and Nancv Flowers. Long -Term Care Ombudsmast.
attended the Chicago hearing. He said he had the written comments that Mere submitted by both
advocac% and trade associations related to the proposals. He indicated that people should contact
him if the% were interested in receiving copies. Mr. Saver said he belie, ed that the recent
proposals for the Nil facilities were an outgrowth of activity that was initiated by DMHDD
several vears ago.
Mr. Kerns commented on the impact of the City of B anston's Budget on the monitoring of the
long term care facilities. He said he thought the MHB might have to pla% a ditierent role in
monitoring the annual survey process at Albany Care and Greenwood Care if the State was doing
more monitorine, \,tr. Saver said Jay Tem- is sending a letter to the MHB and the Commission
on :aging askinv both to participate in re%iewing the LTC Ordinance as it is bung revised.
IX. STAFF REPORT
"fr. Saver said there %vas Loin,_ to be a legislative summit a ith Evanston's State legislative
delegation on Sunday. Ala% 1-1 at the Evanston Public Librarn from :q - 5.=0 p.m. He said a
parents group �%Ithin District =64 imited the four legislators to discuss the le2islati�el\, mandated
March 11. 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes Pag! S
Minutes recorded - not yet approved
issues that are affecting educational system in the community.
Mr. Saver said he was asked to meet with the Transition Team at Park School. They are
reporting that the parents at their school are ha-ving increasing difficulty finding residential
placements for their children. Mr. Saver said that part of the problem is being exacerbated
because the State is under a moratorium for any federally funded programs under Medicaici The
only placements that are being allowed are those where there is an extreme emergency.
Mr. Saver said he has been providing materials and resources for a social worker who is working
with the first grade classes at Orrington School. She is working with the teachers on providing
information about dealing with violence, related mental health issues. and civility. Mr. Saver
said he thought the N,[HB might be interested because the school was interested in the materials
that that MHB developed for the Family Education Initiative, in conjunction with MHAE.
4feeting adjourned at 9:35 P.M.
Respectfully submitted.
Joan M. Barott
March 11. 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes Page 9
r. r
N T S W
NOTES ON THE Fli f•URE OF NTS%V
Good Evening. I have been asked to address the course of NTSW and the
_ ..;.eneral Mental Health environment we operate in. The following
presents areas of definite, probable and possible directions for NTSW.
After quickly moving through the list I can expand my comments as
requested.
i6asn
I . Technology : NTSWwill be adopting the Psycheserve electronic
record system in the 9-18 month time frame. This will require capitol
' investments and training resources. Definite.
Facilities:
a NTSW «ill be renovating the Great Opportunities :adult Day
Services site this spring and summer. 80'o of the ftindina for this
project is in place. Definite.
b The facility for First Step poses challenges with accessibility and
attractiveness. These areas have been identified as needing study. A
formal study of this area has not been planned.
3. Connect 98. First Step has received new monies to expand and
;r convert its service array to Psvchosocial Rehabilitation principles. As
a result «e are increasing the numbers in the program. offering new
ser\, ices to the I�1D's (Grzem,ood and .�Iban%) and purchasing new
ciriculums The Connect 98 monies also come ti;-ith an expectation of
increased cooperation and coordination of services with Trilogy,
E, anston Hospital and St. Francis Hospital. Definite.
4. Finances: a. In fiscal year 98 NTSW posted an 886,000 deficit. Some
' of this «vas % me -offs of prior year's receivables and deferred
encumbrances We are current1v at + 1,136 for the Fiscal Year and are
monitorinu finances closer to assttre break-even this .ear Definite.
b Partial Hospitalization Seri ices were terminated at First Step as not
viable. We are seeking site approval from the Office of Rehabilitation
Services to prop ide vocational rehabilitation on site. VR is not funded
through Connect 98 and has been an historic service of First Step.
Probable
c. The funding from most of the income streams at NTSW does not
include cost of living, adjustments and generally is placed at risk: each
vear. This is a reality NTSW as an entity is not likely to have much
Minutes recorded • not yet approved
issues that are affecting educational system in the community.
Mr. Saver said he was asked to meet with the Transition Team at Park School. They are
reporting that the parents at their school are having increasing difficulty finding residential
placements for their children. Mr. Saver said that pan of the problem is being exacerbated
because the State is under a moratorium for any federally funded programs under Medicaid. The
only placements that are being allowed are those where there is an extreme emergency.
Ntr. Saver said he has been providing materials and resources for a social worker who is working
with the first grade classes at Orrington School. She is working with the teachers on providing
information about dealing with violence, related mental health issues, and civility. Mr. Saver
said he thought the I IHB might be interested because the school was interested in the materials
that that MHB developed for the Family Education Initiative. in conjunction with MHAE.
Meeting adjourned at 9:35 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan M. Barott
March 11, 1999 MHB Meeting Minutes Page 9
Minutes recorded - not yet approved
EV NSTON MENTAL HEALTH BOARD
DECISIONS OF NL IBETI-NG
THURSDAY. MARCH 11. 1999
1 . Agreed to send letters to Alderman Feldman for his leadership. and to Alderman
Rainey and the Hunan Services Committee for their supgant during the Febmary 15
Human Services Committee meeting, to maintain f=ding for mental health
services.
March 11. 19" MHB Meeting Minutes Page 10
N T S W
-- :MOTES ON THE FL"TURE OF WSW
Good Evening. I have been asked to address the course of NTSW and the
_ Vneral Mental Health environment we operate in The following
presents areas of definite, probable and possible directions for NTSW.
After quickly moving through the list I can expand my comments as
,rS .., p„«,a, requested.
I . TechnoIogy: NTSW will be adopting the Psycheserve electronic
record system in the 9- 18 month time frame. This will require capitol
investments and trainins resources. Definite.
Facilities-
a. NTS%k' «ill be renoyatina the Great Opportunities .adult Dad"
Services site this spring and summer 800o of the funding for this
project is in place. Definite.
"` _' b. The facility- for First Step poses challenges %N-ith accessibility and
_- attractiveness. These areas have been identified as needing study. A
formal study of this area has not been planned.
I Connect 98. First Step has received new monies to expand and
convert its sen'ice array" to Psvchosocial Rehabilitation principles. As
a result ue are increasing the numbers in the program. offering new
sen ices to the I%, D*s (Greenwood and Alban%-) and purchasing new
ctriculums The Connect 98 monies also come wvith an expectation of
increased cooperation and coordination ofsenices with Trilogy,
E,,anston Hospital and St. Francis Hospital. Definite
4. Finances: a. In fiscal year 98 NTSW posted an 586.000 deficit. Some
' of this was .rite -offs of prior year's receivables and deferred
encumbrances We are currently at —1.l316 for the Fiscal Year and are
monitonnu, finances closely to assure breakeven this %ear Definite.
b Partial Hospitalization Services -,%re tenninated at First Step as not
%,table. We are seeking, site approval from the Office of Rehabilitation
Services to provide vocational rehabilitation on site VR is not funded
through Connect 98 and has been an historic sentce of First Step.
Probable
c. The funding► from most of the income streams at \TSW does not
I nclude cost of 11%ina adjustments and nenerall,� is placed at risk each
vear. This is a reality NTSW as an entity is not likely to have much
YAK
1 , TSW
--- control over. We have recreated the Development Office at ``IS,W to
resume soliciting foundation and corporations These nvo areas
however merit continued attention of public bodies
_5. Staff Compensation, HistoricallN N S X's compensation has lagged
_ the industry. The Board is committed to matching the compensation
offered bV Thresholds our affiliate In the last `ear ,�; a have improved
health benefits. added a TSA and _ave a 20o raise on 21 99 This coal
will require new moneys and e%en tighter fiscal controls. Probable.
office., 6. Service Utilization. Each Program of NTS\k' has unused capacity. We
have set the ambitious goal to admit one new person to each program
each %week li 1 99 through 6/30r99 VVe are on target to meet this Goal.
Probable.
7 Prevention of Hospitalization. NTSW is impressed by the emerging
evidence that pnsons jails and la« enforcement detention is replacing
psychiatric hospitalization as the primary institutional service for the
" severely and persistently mentalI-, Ill. IXe are currently whiting a
proposal to conduct a Communitv Study of this phenomenon. Possible
S. Socialization: The second service goal we have set is to improve
- NTSW's response to the social needs of our members We ha%•e
created Member Recognition Da% "s at each location. obtained '`fun
money" for each program Members Council, held an Art Festival and
%4•iIl participate in a Choir Fest, exploring camping for each program,
and installing broader psychosoctal responsibilities into each program
Definite.
9 Health We ha%e a cadre of sensor -%orkers at NTSti',• Industnes %Ve
would like to find funding for a nurse. This .vill meet current needs
and help prepare us for the general demographic shift to older
' members. Possible.
10. Residential. 'V;: .%ould like to stud,. the residential needs of our
membership and explore NTSW becoming a residential provider
I I Nlana�,ed Care. Illinois has not adopted fornial inana;,zd care for it's
mentally Ill. It is likely coming. They have ho%vever begun Installing
managed care principles by intensif�•ing deflection and discharge
efforis at tite state hospital, gateke.ping all residential openings,
asking for predications of Length of Stay in each program admission.
These informal managed systems are burdensome and -%orrisonle
because of their lack of formal sanction and ackno« led2ement and
lack of clear criteria.
46
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EA'A`5Ti 0.N N1E\T AL HEALTH BOARD
tiOTES OF MEETING
THL7RSDAY. FEBRUARY 11. 1999
Members Present: Lonnie Wiebe. Louis Rowitz. \9ary Helt-Garin, Marsha i ,tchen
Presiding: Lonnie Wiebe
Staff: Jay Term. Han-ec Saver. Joan Barott. Joel Kurzman
Community
Representatives: Alexander Brown (North Shore Senior Center); Delores Holmes, Diane
Hibbler. Dr. Suzette Speight. Rev. John Norwood, Samuel Hunter. Vivian
McMillen (Family Focus); Margueritte Adelman, Robert Hirsch (Mentaf
Health Association of Evanston)
Lonnie Wiebe, Vice Chair. convened the group at 7:40 p.m. She indicated that there was not a quorum
present. As a result. no official business could be conducted.
I. INTRODUCTIONS AND COMMIvNITY COMMENTS
The members of the audience introduced themselves and were welcomed by the Board.
H. AGENCY REVIEW: FAMILY FOCUS
Ms. Wiebe welcomed the representatives of Family Focus, and stated that when the dental Health Board
clarified their priorities this year. it resulted in a reduction in the allocation to Family Focus. She said this
was a source of concern to some .%11113 mcmher5. because of the valuable service that Family, Focus had
provided over the years. Nls. 11 tube s ud last year the still Ili started meeting to review agencies separate
from the funding process. The purpo-qc %vas to keep in close touch with the agencies. Family Focus was the
first agency put on the schedule this year because the Board was aware that the agency was concerned %sith
where they fit into the A11-IB's priorities.
Nis. Wiebe welcomed Delores Homzs. Director of Family Focus Evanston. 1vls. Holmes said the local
agency is comprised of Family Focus Our Place and the Family Focus Dempster -Dodge Community
Center, run in conjunction with District #65. Family Focus Our Place has two basic programs. prevention
services for kids in grades 4 - 1?, and Pregnant and Parenting Teens. Holmes said during the agency's
funding hearings she has tried to share information with the MHB about the projects in each of these
programs.
Ms. Holmes introduced Dr. Suzette Speight. Chair of the agency's Program Committee. Dr. Speight said
she was a professor at Loyola University and a licensed clinical psychologist. She said she has been a board
member of Family Focus since 1991, and has volunteered at Family Focus one day a week as a
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psychologist since I995. Dr. Spc:ght said the issues she dlsctisSed at the 1 BP hex-Ings In 19y4 3r,d 1996
.till are relevant toda%. She saIJ .: is her impression that what Famd% F ,tiuN does t, to line and v,:r,rsistent
with the current priorities of the Miff3. Dr. Speight said. as a %oluntcer. she prat ties ps? chotl e~::Y?' and
case consultation tier troubled kid; and their families at I atntls F o-cus added that it has hem :-fT-icult
to find some of those services an-o&here else for Fanttlr Uocus's rxrpu?ation. Dr. Speight said ern some
cases she has had to work with k:� s',tho are suicidal. perhaps one chrlu L%er% other month. Si e ;.mod she
helps to manage the crisis and _e: the faniil% and kids in .t staltlr i)r Spei hl said she rfhought
that Family focus could make Lte*od use a full time clinical ps%cholovist
Dr. Speight said she has been seetnu kids that clearl% do not ha%e problems that rise it, the le%el Of reeding
inpatient services or medication. But they do haze mental health pmblen)s that are causing disr_,7Uon in
their functioning; in schools. relationships. families. and neighborhoods These are things that effccl kids'
ability to stay motivated in school. have goals. Let good grades. and make good. health% decismms. Dr.
Speight said she thought these «ere all things that fit under the \11113's "At Risk- priorit? ca:eeon'.
Ms. Wiebe said she thought partof the problem might be it difference between the terminology neing used
by Family Focus and the NIHB's terminology. She said sonic of the prevention services Family Focus
describes and provides are not al,.sa%s labeled mental health.
Ms. Helt-Gavin asked about the t%;vs of people Family Voeus is taking care of'' She said there are other
agencies that also deal with layers of treatment and prevention. i]r. Speight responded that people get to
see her after tile% have Lone through a number of initial levels or steps of intervention. Usually the group
leader that is seeing the kids ever. day is the first to identify when there is a problem. The group leader
would speak with their supervisor. or bring up issues during a weekly staffing about clients. The% would
also attempt to connect people with appropriate services. Sometimes the three therapists who spend time
at Family Focus from The Famil% Institute might Let involved. GIs. Holmes said all the staff are trained
to identifv issues. There is an NIS'W on staffwho can do short -terns imervention. The agency would refer
out if necessary because Family Focus staff are not trained to do therapy. The dollars recei%ed foam the
\11113 I
hove been tr��-d Io ra,' parr . f'lhr � �iar� ofthe -,ovi:d worker sn the iuorwv v.i n1d ,0\%-t,. C hn-• is n
\1SW on tilt stall. Nis. Ilohne, added thcll l-anlIly l=ottts has always reported to the '01113 aboun the
Pregnant and Parenting "Teen Pro -gam. She said had the agency known in advance about the Nl"B'S shift
in priorities. they would have changed their program funding request for dollars to support the priman-
prevention programs.
Ms. Lich -Gavin asked Ms. I lolmes if she would define some of the problems that Family Focus Sees in
terms of mental health categories. and clarify what the agency's focus is upon with primary preven-6on"
Dr. Speight said the agency focuses upon mental health issues, rather than issues related to mental illness.
Their prevention efforts are targeted at problems in daily living, family problems. abuse, Tamil% violence.
violence in the neighborhood. gangs. prenatal substance abuse and Banes. 1v1s. Wiebe commented that
when the 4IHB changed its priorities it was probably going to affect the way that agencies report 20 the
NIHB.
titr. Roxvitz said that Family Focus spoke about primary prevention and secondary prevention. «hkh is
treatment. He said Dr. Speight's description made it sounds as if Family Focus was concentrating on
February 11, 1999 Mental Health Board Meeting Notes - Unofficial Page 2
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secondary rather than primar% nevention. He asked how the :atienc% w;as distinguishing tvtImeen the
treatment model they are using_ a_�d primary prevention acin ities to pre%ent thew pn�blents:' Dr . pcight
said she thought Family Focus di -es more primary prevention, even though some of the children ha,; to some
preexisting problems. Family Focus tries to prevent those problems fwni _eating higher. She --�a3d she
thought the auenc, needed to be zble to provide more secondary prevention s.r%i"s, and mere m-Tnediai
services. Dr. Speight said she ti-.,ught the lout! range goals and planning for Farnll% FOCUS shoul3 be to
acid additional treatment servickt..
Ms. Holmes said Family Focus ^as many kids who are "at risk." They also have mane kids are at
"higher risk." Ms. Holmes discussed some of Family focus's priman, prevention activities. She said kids
may come in and use some ser%;ic--s. and know that the aeenev makes available some other positi,. c kinds
of supports that they might not he getting in their own environment.
Rev. John Norwood indicated that he was a member of the Family Focus Board. He said that a great
number of black churches in Evjznston serve the same population of children. These kids have significant
problems that the churches are una'Ne to deal with. They are unable to provide many of the ser%ices which
Family Focus pro,. ides. FamiN Focus becomes a major referral source for many congregations in the
African -American community.
Ms. Nlehen said she thought the material that had been previously been submitted by Family Focus was
well written and very clear. She added that she was very impressed by the large number of individuals that
Family Focus is able to ser\ a on their limited budget.
N,,lr. Rowitz said he thought Re-, `onvood raised an important issue. He asked if he was talking about an
integrated system, one that identifies where the churches works best, and where Family Focus is able to
work best? Rev. Nor -wood said the churches increasingly find themselves unprepared to work with many
social issues. He said the faith cormunity has to partner with the agencies in order to be successful. The
churches are not trained personrL-l. nor do they, have the resources. When the churches can't "fix"
,;4micillinu 0-y ofts-v turn it, Famri-, Foci: to heir put thine; inrmlicr \lr. Rr,,617 a,.I-ed what ,voiild the
faith Community need to put together an approach that would place the churches in a better position
relative to the needs of the community regarding these issues:' Rev. Norwood responded "ikloney And
people!"
,1}s. Wiebe asked about the evaluz-tion projects mentioned in Family Focus's written information_ tits.
Holmes reported that the results were in from the Ounce of Prevention study. She said the study for the
Pregnant and Parenting Teen program was almost ready to be implemented. Mr. Saver asked that the
results from the {dunce of Preventi��n study be submitted to the �I}l}3.
Dr. Speight said a small evaluation was conducted on the Working N orders Program. They studied 30
kids who had the lowest academic tzades and reading scores. in conjunction with tutors from Americans
to Read at Northwestern University. each kid was provided with tutoring four days a week, for :0 minutes
a day. Through an intensive program there were some significant increases. The results showed that 53%
increased one grade level or more in reading skill in the eight weeks of the program: 30°0 stayed w-here
they were. 48% increased their comprehension. This was a small study done ►►ith the school.
February 11, 1999 Mental Health Board Meeting Notes . Unofficial Page 3
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tics. Holmes said Family Focus chose their performance outcome measures objecrives for the year because
they were measurable, and they reflect what is most important in their programs. Family Focus works to
keep kids in school. and to make sure that teens are not getting pregnant. If they dk•. we are trying co ensure
that they do not have a repeat pregnancy. She said the agency felt very good about what they measured.
Ms. Wiebe said she agreed that those were important outcomes that Family Focus has always provided.
(Mr. Terry joined the meeting at 8:10 p.m.)
Nls. I lolmes said Family Focus did not consider have a number of new issues to report. She said that she
thought they had been telling the NIHB about their most important concerns for a number of years:
violence. and the effect of drugs on children when their parents are abusing substances. Nis. Holmes
reported that they have been seeing diti'erences in the behavior of girls. They are becoming more %iolent.
and some are beginning to use weapons. Generally. they are seeing more fighting and aggression in their
female population. Family Focus is going to be working with Y.O.U. and the Youth Services Bureau to
develop an approach to help these girls begin to deal with anger and use conflict resolution skills They
want to help the girls to redirect their anger in a positive way.
Nis. Holmes said she «as pleased with the NIHB's liaison process. She said she thought the liaison who
had been assigned to the agency had learned what the agency %vas all about. Nis. Holmes said she was glad
they were finding out who Family Focus was as an agency.
Nis. 1X'iebe thanked Family Focus for participating and said she thought it had been an important
discussion.
IV. AGENCY ACCOUNTABILITY
AGENCY LIAISON REPORTS
Aging; Well: Chniccs anti Mytb%. Ms. Wichc reported the initial ntihlicity fnr the conference had been
sent out. A copy was provided in the MI-IB packet. She said Evanston/Skokie % alley Senior Services
reported that responses were coming in. There %will be additional publicity forthcoming. Mr. Saver
reported that there would be a column about the conference in the new issue of "Highlights" that is
distributed by the Recreation Department.
Connections for the Homeless. his. When reported that she Mould be touring Hilda's Place on February
18. and attending the agency's Board Meeting that evening.
QUARTERLY REPORT NARRATIVE FORMAT
Nis. Wiebe said without a quorum a vote could not be taken on changes in the Quarterly Reporting Format.
Mr. Saver said the issue %vas being presented because Board members had raised some questions about
information being provided in quarterly reports. He said that he wanted to give the MHB the opportunity
to either change the form or the directions about its use prior to material being sent out with FY99-2000
contracts. Ms. Wiebe said the issue would be dealt with as an agenda item at the March l I meeting.
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• EVALUATION OF THE AGENCY REVIEW PROCESS
\Is. \Viebe asked if tbrmat for the Intcnsi�e Re\ ic\\ .gas %%hat the M1111 \\as looking for %\ hen it
established the process" Mr. Ro«lu said he thought the \11113 «anied mare emphasis lupolt "herc the
aLenc% %\as going and \%hat it «.luld be doing in the tuttire. lie :.aid he thought the budget ht=ings
provided sufficient information al:N7%ut \\ltat the aaenc\ is currentl% doing. He .aid he did not get -_n-ough
sense of«hat x a_s ne« or enieruln issues at VanIlk 1:ocus. Ms. ,aid that tnight ha\e been a -esult
of the %\ay the reyic%\ %vas conducte.M that evening. SItc said in futurx aeenc% re\ ie%%s the MI III should be
more conscious of focusing on the future. Mr. Ro\\itz said he thought the reviews provided the ".fHB an
opportunity to partiall% assess %%hether their priorities are the correct ones, and whether there are new
priorities that they should be focusing upon. Ms. Wiebe agreed, and said that the i1VIHB should tx--,c the
reviews as an opportunity to assess communit% needs.
V. SUBSTANCE ABUSE ROUND TABLE PLANNING
y[s. \\'iebe stated the planning for the Substance Abuse ROUND TABLE needs to get undetu-ay. She said
there needed to be tow or three Board members to work with staff to plan the event. She appointed Mr.
Rowitz to work on a subcomminee. Ibis. «'iebe said she would also speak with Mr. Kerns and Ms.
Reynolds, who was Liaison to PEER Services. to work on the planning. Ms. Mehen asked that the
Subcommittee report to the W(B at the March meeting about the proposed plans.
VI. RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME LICENSING
NIr. Terry reported that the Human Services Committee would be reviewing recommendations from the
Corporate Counsel about changes to the Residential Care Home Licensing Ordinance (RCHLO). Ms.
Wiebe asked h1HB members to review the materials provided in the December packet with the
recommended revisions. She asked the hIFIB members to read the packet and provide feedback to Nfr.
Kerns so that the NIHB's comments could be drafted and adopted.
�Ws. Helt-Gavin said she attended the last I hQuan Services Committee meeting. Alderman Moran had
asked the Cite Attorney. Kathy Br_nniman, to provide a memo outlining the legalities of certain points
in the RCL110 as the recisions are being proposed. Nis. Helt-Gavin said she thought the NIHB should
provide input. She added that it is a very serious Ordinance and the MHB should have some input before
the HSC votes on the revisions. \.1s. Felt -Gavin said she was a«are that a position paper from several
agencies, including the dental Health Association of Evanston and Housing Options, was sent to Ms.
Brenniman in response to proposed changes. Mr. Saver reported he had received a copy of the memo that
morning. and,.yould send out a copy to Board members immediately. Ms. Helt-Gavin said she thought the
MHB would have concerns about the recommendations that were different from other groups. VIs. \E iebe
said she thought it was important that the MHB participate in the public discussion. and encouraged N41 B
members to funnel their comments to Mr. Kerns before the next meeting.
Vlll. STANDARDS FOR RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION FACILITIES
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The discussion %as postponed until the Man•ii niooilni, nt.-rder it, be able to dt zt"s in the
debate about the Citt's F)'99- 000 Budget,
'III. CITY FY99-1000 BUDGET
Mr. Terr\ provided an over\ie\\ of the process titin de\ciuping the Cit%'s I'YQQ-2000 Budzel. He
said the Cit\ Manager proposed an 8.5% prolva% ta\ tnctr:L;e in his reconimendattans to the Cite Council.
�Ir. Terry said the Finance Director reported that. in the currant fiscal \ear, the (: tt\ finances \\ere in bad
,hape. and its cash reserves \\ere unacceptably low In ,addition, the Mayor has \o\\ed on man- occasions
to Veto an\ budget that contains a property tax incr-case. As a result, the Cit\ Council is trying to reconcile
all of these issues in trying to adopt a budget for the coming fiscal year, Mr. Tarn said City star; have
already pro% ided more than 120 budget memos in response to requests for information from Aldzn-men.
\fr. Terry reported on several critical issues that %%ere being considered in the Budget. Fie indicated that
the entire Health Department was under review. and that he had to write a budget memo about why this
was not a duplication of the services from the County and State. Mr. Terry said there was also a new
position proposed in the budget for an Inclusion Specialist to de\ clop the City 's plans to comae into
compliance \vith the :americans \\ith Disabilities ,-act.
Mr. Terry said he was anticipating changes in the Budget for the monitoring of long tend care facilities,
and in the Lone Term Care Ordinance fLTCOI. He reported that the N1HB was active in drafting
significant portions of the LTCQ. and specifically the portions related to facilities for persons %vith mental
illness or developmental disabilities, Nlr. Terry said based upon discussions with several facilities, the
.aldermen were considering changes in the Long Term Care licensing unit of the Health Department. He
said he was anticipating a reduction of two staff positions in the licensing unit. and a re\\rite of the LTCQ.
\fr. Terry said he thought there \would be a compromise position, whereby the City t\ould continue to do
m some firof licensing, anti rely more upon the State licensing review for those facilities or floors in
kiclliiie� \\here ik_' Mate does i a con,�in,,u inspection The City %,� idd rc%,ie%k the St-!,e'4 rcpnrte:� nrirt of
issuing a local Itccnse. ,Nir. 1 erry said it reference had been made to the \41113 by Alderman Fcidinan to be
involved \with the re\trite of the LTCQ.
Mr. 'retry reported that the City Manager also proposed a budget reduction for consideration in the.\IHB's
budget. The proposal was to reduce the ,NII-113's funding to both Evanston Hospital and St. Francis
Hospital. He said it was his understanding that this was strictly a consideration of financial issues. and did
not look at the impact upon programs. This reduction was amended. As it currently stands, the proposed
item would eliminate the NII-113's aliocation of $76.000 to Evanston Hospital's Department of Psychiatry.
Mr. Tem, said he %%as directed b\ a member of the City Council and the City 'Manager to engage in a
discussion with the President of Evanston Hospital relative the impact of the reduction of the funds. He
said these negotiations are ongoing. However, the position of Evanston Hospital is that they are in a
position to continue all of the mental health services at their current level, even without the City's funding.
fir. Terry pointed out that this would be a significant cut in the Ml IB's budget. He said Evanston Hospital
would be lookinu for other considerations from the City to continue the mental health services at the same
level, and these have absolutely nothing to do with the MI-113.
February 11, 1999 Mental Health Board Meeting Notes - Unofficial Page 6
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Unofficial rrcord • tack of quorum
Mr. Ro%%itz sat.i ifthis proposed tut L.ks through, %, ltat happens tfthe Ov. still has trouble r►rxt ti=:ra1 year
and the\ cut anoilter S7i.000. Ile expressed coneem about ho\% to elI%Itrz that the N11111 ren►aim, viable?
Mr. Terr% commented he belie\es that the \111B. along \sith other Ot\ Boards and Coniniission ,. needs
to have a discu_:,Ion with members of the C"it\ Council He added that it \\as concei,able that thcrz might
be more reductions fiortheornin_.
Ms. Helt-Ga-vin Said she thou0.:ht that '�76.000 ota of the Cit•'s buduct of `I million %\ould ric-i make
that much of a difference to the Cit.. She said that if the Aldermen states that the \1111i canr.,.�t fund
an,,thinp at E%anston Hospital. hoc will the Citn be able to assure that the `ime serices are pr:n•ided?
She also expressed concern about what the impact .\ould be upon the \iHB's mission. She said _ihe was
concemed if the Cite is saying that the \11113 cannot fund any programs at E\anston Hospital, esgizcially
if ilicy are offering the best programs?
Mr. Terre questioned the level of actual \IHB scrutiny of the hospital programs under the t!�xisting
contractual relationships. Ms. Wiebe responded that she was confident the MHB has improwed all
agencies' accountability. including Evanston Hospital.
Mr. Rowitz said the% should be congratulated if the Aldermen were able to negotiate with E : anston
Hospital to continue to support the same level of sen ices without funding from the NNIFIB. Ho%%el er. he
said he thought that the 576,000 allocation should come back to the \IHB to spend as they determine the
priorities. He said he was concerned about how dramatic the reduction -,\ould be upon the Board's ^udeet.
He said he was. concerned that the \IHB had not been included in the discussion about this issue and its
potential impact. 1 ie also expressed concern that the Human Services Committee should be willing to meet
with the NIFIB to discuss and negotiate with the \IHB about ghat a reasonable budget reduction «ould be.
given all of the other possibilities there were for cost savings. Ms. Helt-Gavin said she thought the purpose
of the mental health funds in the City Budget were to respond to needs. and not as a basis to determine how
much the \IHB can save.
Ms. Wiche sai,.i Ohc thoti<<ht that. kin until nrn�, the City had trade it vcn diilicul, fthe V1111 to
participate. 11ic aaid she had spoked with Alderman Wynne, and Alderman Feldman, and that a memo
laying out the issues and concerns had been requested. Ms. Wiebe said there %%as very little time for the
%IIJB to respond because the Cite Council was going to be voting on the Budget in tour days, on February
15. \,fr. Terry said there was a Human Services Committee on Februar 15 at which the MYIB could raise
their concerns. Ms. ,Mchen asked whether the Cite Council was in a position to cut S76.000 out of the
\IHB's budget, if that was %khat they decided? Mr. Terry said it was his understanding that the Ccty has
always taken the position that, under Illinois Home Rule, the Cite Council decisions supersede the
recommendations of City bodies like the Library. Recreation. and the Mental Health Boards.
The \IHB revie«ed the draft memo to be sent to the Aldermen about the proposed consideration of cuts
to the MHB's budget. There was a consensus that the memo identified the major concerns. Ms. Wiebe
asked Board members to phone in any changes to the office by the next morning, because the merr-,o ,.vas
going to be faxed to Aldermen by 10:00 a.m.
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IY. STAFF REPORT
Mr. Saver distributed a packet to the MHB that was being sent to the HSC regarding th-- Boaard's
recommendations for funding mental health services for children. He said that this would be = a;;enda
item at the February IS Human Services Committee meeting. Mr. Saver said that the HSC would have to
review and approve the Hoard's funding recommendation for it to be included in the FY99-20OND Budget.
Ms. Wiebe said site Mould contact his. Stnih to make the Board's presentation abou the
recommendations.
Mr. Saver said in September, 1998. Ms. Helt-Gavin raised a concern about an individwl %%th a
developmental disability and an I.Q. of 51 who was on death row. At that time the NIHB advo"az_rd %,dth
the Governor's office to stay the execution. The Board sent correspondence stating, "We feel it as a mime
in itself to consider capital punishment for a person who is cognitively impaired to such a deg r,—c _ _ . We
believe that Illinois should pass a law barring execution of such individuals, as many other states have
done." Mr. Saver reported that the individual was Anthony Porter, whose case was recently in the media
when he was exonerated of charges and released from prison due to new evidence.
Ms. Mehen distributed an article on the homeless which was in "Time liagazine."
The meeting; broke up at 9:30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Joan M. Barott
February 11, 1999 Mental Health Board Wleetfng Notes - Unofficial Page a
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Minutes recorded - not yet approvwd
E'V ANSTOti NIE.NTAL HEALTH BOARD
INIEETING I;LINL'TE5
THURSDAY. JAINUARY 21, I4gq
Members Present: Michael Kerns, Lonnie Wiebe, Louis Rowim Mary Heft Gavin, Susan Stroh,
Marsha Mehen. Paula Cofresi Silverstein
Presiding: Lklichael Kerns
Staff: Harvey Saver. Joan Barott, Joel Kurcman
Community
Representatives: AIexander Brown (Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services); Barbara Gfosny,
Cate Grund (Rice Community Counseling Services ): Dorothy Lloyd Still
(Housing Options): Chas Baer (Childcare Network of Evanston); Sandra
Stumme (Metropolitan Family Services)
Michael Kerns. Chair. called the meeting to order at 7.40 p.m.
L INTRODUCTIONS AND COMMUNITY COMMENTS
The members of the audience introduced themselves and were welcomed by the Board.
Dorothy Llovd-Still. Executive Director of Housing Options. requested the opportunity to spear►_ She
said her agency has current funding from HUD for support services for Ganey House and Claim House.
The grant expires at the end of August 1999. She said thev had expected rene«-al funding from HUD
for $250,000 a year, for three years. INls. Lloyd -Still said Housing Options had recently been notified
by HUD that their application for renewal funding had been denied. She said HL`D indicated d= the
denial was based upon deficiencies in Evanston's Homeless Continuum of Care that was submined as
a part of the agency's HUD application.
\Is Lloyd -Still said she had discussed %%ith Ja% Terry and David Myers. from Connections for the
Homeless, how the plan might be revised to bring the document up to HUD's standards. Ms. Lloyd -
Still asked the NIHB to consider getting involved in rew iting the Continuum of Care Plan. She said
Housing Options had been gi%en an extended deadline and an opportunity to resubmit their application
as a rene%al grant applicant. They will be receiving the application instructions soon_ If they are
successful on their reapplication. they would receive funding beginning in October or November 1999.
Nis. Stroh asked if HUD had specified v.here the gaps and deficiencies %vere' Ms. Lloyd -Still said she.
Mr. Tern- and Mr. Myers participated in a conference call with staff from the Washineton office of
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HUD to going over the deficiencies cited. She said the Continuum of Care µ-as five points short of the
necessary score.
Mr. Saver said he had spoken with Mr. Terry about the issue. He said , (r. Terry discussed the
Continuum of Care with the MHB in the past. Ivfr. Saver said he invited Nis. Lloyd -Still to bring the
matter before the MHB. He said this would be a new area of involvement for the MHB. The question
the tiiHB would need to answer was whether this was a priority, and how this would affect the
allocation of staff resources to other items in their 1999 Work Plan. Mr. Saver said if the MHB was
interested in knowing more about the issue. that a Board member meet v ith Housing Options and CPM
to discuss what should be in the Continuum of Care, and %%hat type of plan could be developed for
writing a revised plan. He said that Mr. Terry would also be a part of the planning meeting. Mr. Kerns
asked Ms. Stroh, as Liaison to Housing Options, to meet with the agency- representatives and bring the
information to the February Board meeting. Mr. Kerns said he would also try to be a part of that
meeting.
11. APPROVAL OF MINUTES DECEMBER 10, 1998
Mr. NIehen moved and GIs. Stroh seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the December 10,
I998 !,IHB Meeting. Motion approved unanimously (G aye - 0 no).
II1. ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR RFP FOR CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES
Nis. Stroh said she and his. Cofresi-Silverstein met as a Sub -Committee with staff to review the
proposals submitted for the RFP for Children's Mental Health Services. She said two proposals were
submitted, one from St. Francis Hospital Comprehensive Mental Health Center. and a collaborative
proposal from Childcare Network of Evanston (CNE) and Metropolitan Family Services CNIFS)• She
said she thought both proposals offered a number of positive paints.
Ms. Stroh reported that the Sub -Committee is recommending the CNE/IFS collaborative proposal to
the 41HB for funding. She referred to the Sub -Committee's transmittal memo to the Board and said
they %%ere impressed with the decree of specificity in the proposal. It provided a thorough blueprint of
what services were going to be provided with a lot of vision. Ms. Stroh said they were also impressed
with the background and training of the staff who were identified to work of the project. She said the
CNE MFS proposal also considered many of the factors that the NiHB thought were important. Ms..
Stroh said she was impressed with the continuum of services that were going to be provided for
different levels of severity of problems. She said the Sub -Committee %y35 also impressed With the plan
to provide respite care for families with children with the most severe problems.
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Ms. Stroh said the CNEA, IFS proposal was more in line with what the MUB had intended than the St_
Francis proposal. She said it was difficult to distinguish what the St. Francis pmposai was otTerir3g
from what they have always described to the NiHB as their services. however, she aid the Sub-
Cormtninee was very impressed with St. Francis's proposal for providing education for families. She
also said the Sub -Committee appreciated their being willing to be more aggressive in serving more
people out of their clinic and in community settings. \1s. Stroh complimented \fr. Kurzman. the
NiHB's Social Work Intern. for his work in developing the RFP. She said he did a vem- good job in
researching and developing the background for the proposal tier the \11113.
In response to a question from Nis. Wiebe, Sandra Stuntme, Director of %IFS. said the age range of
children to be served in the centers and nurseries would 2'12-6 years of age. Ms. Wiebe said she was
concerned about how to reach the children who were younger. Nis. Stroh said School District #65 has a
new program that will work with the 0-3 population. Chris Baer. Project Director from CNE, said some
of the centers identified in the proposal also have a toddler program. and those individuals would also
be eligible for services. Nis. Wiebe said she was aware that the amount of money that is available is not
enough to cover all of the needs that are going to be identified. so she was pleased to be able to provide
some services for the 2'/ -6 year olds and their families. She said she was concerned that there would
be some outreach to families with toddlers. and hoped that work in the future could emphasize more
ser. ices for the younger population. She said she thought St. Francis might be helpful with that in their
broader population.
Nis. I'Z iebe said she wanted to commend St. Francis for the educational groups they proposed in their
proposal. She said she wanted to encourage them to consider how these groups might be offered in the
future.
(\ls. Cofrest-Silverstein joined the meeting at 8:00 p.m.)
Nis. Stumme responded to %Is. Nlehen's questions for information about MFS's Consumer Credit
Counseling Program. Nis. Stumme added that they would be providing educational programs for
parents under the REP. In response to Ms. Nlehen she said she would be willing to see if there were
parents being served who needed budget counseling.
Nis. Helt-Gavin commended the Sub -Committee and said she thought Ms. Stroh and Nis. Cofresi-
Silkerstein did a thorough job in their analysts of the proposals.
Nis. \Viebe moved And Nis. Helt-Gavin seconded a motion to recommend the collaborative
proposal from Childcare Nethvork of Evanston and Metropolitan Family Services for funding far
children's mental health services. Motion approved unanimously (7 aye - 0 no).
Nir. Saver said a letter would be sent to the City Council indicating what the NIHB was recommending
in their FY99-2000 budget for the $26,000 set aside for children's mental health services. He said a
separate letter would be sent to Dr. Peter Nierman. Director of the State's C&A Metro Network.
indicating the kf HB's recommendations for the State's funding for the RFP.
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Nis. Stroh recognized Barbara Glosny and Cate Grund who were in the audience. from Rice
Community Counseling Services. She said she appreciated all of the assistance they provided to Mr.
Kurzman in providing information for the REP. IMs. Stroh added that the MHB appreciated all of their
kind and thoughtful efforts for the care of children in Evanston, and that they would be missed.
IV. AGENCY MONTHLY REVIEW PROCESS
Mr. Saver reviewed the staff recommendations for implementing the tiIHB's objective about
reviewing agencies. He said there would be six separate meetings with agencies, starting in February.
The meetings would be scheduled through the middle of the summer. taking the Board right up to the
Fall agency budget hearings. Mr. Saver said that based upon the NtHB's directives at the December
meeting, he had already scheduled Family Focus for the February meeting. He said he selected that
agency because he knew that there were a number of concerns they had about the their future
relationship with the MHB. Mr. Saver asked the MHB to review the proposed hearing calendar and
decide whether there were any changes they wanted to propose. He said his memo to the Board also
raised a number of questions about what the focus of the agency review sessions was going to be.
Mr. Saszr said that he «as recommending that the April review of agencies be tied to the Board's
objective to convene a round table discussion about substance abuse issues. He said that would
provide an opportunity to also focus upon the programs at PEER Services and St. Francis Hospital's
Addiction Recovery Center. He said if the Board adopted the recommendation the round table
discussion would have to be separate from a Board Meeting.
\is. «'iebe said she liked the %vay the calendar linked the schedule of agency reviews to other Board
objectives. She reyu:sted that some time be found to include Evanston'Skokie Valley Senior Services
on the schedule. The %fHB agreed to revise the schedule and include Evanston Skokie Valley Senior
Services on the schedule for June.
Mr. Kerns asked the M14B to consider the format for the agency review meetings. He said he thought
the Board should avoid replicating a budget hearing. or something that would require a lot of written
work to prepare for. tits. %Viebe said she liked that recommendation to have the Agency Liaison work
with the agency beforehand to focus upon issues for the review. tits. Helt- Gavin said she thought the
meeting %%ith Famil-, Focus should leave time to discuss how the agency's programs tit with the
MHB's priorities. Ms. Stroh said the review should be limited to 30 minutes at the beginning of each
meeting. This gill lease time for other issues on the Board's agenda.
)tr. Kerns said he .%ould like the process to enable the Board to get better information about each
agency's performance outcome objectives because that information is no longer included in the funding
proposals. He added that the review should also focus upon the actual populations being served, where
gaps in services are being seen and +%high groups are not being served as well. Ivis. Stroh said each
agency should be provided tive minutes to provide an introduction. After that the agencies would be
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pro• ided a list of questions and issues to be prepared for.
*is.'-lehen said one issue the N,[HB should discuss is the agencies' quarterly narrative reports. She
commented that there were some reports that were excellent and Kane that did not address the issues,
were handwritten and difficult to read. I'vls. Wiebe said it might be ►%vrthwhile to discuss the Board's
and the agencies' expectations about the quarterly report during the agency reviews. Mr. Keats said
Ms. Mehen's comments .were well taken. He said the N1HB %%ould like the agencies to know that the
Board .was reviev.-ing their reports and expected them to be clear and provide useful information- Ms.
Wiebe said it c%Puld be useful to know whether the Qusrterl% Narrative Reports were meaningful to the
agencies in communicating their message.
Nfr. Rowitz said from his own experience with funders he thought quarterly reports were always
something to get through and cumbersome. He said made some suggestions for how to snake the
reporting process a more positive experience. He said one way might be to make the process easier.
He suggested that the agencies be provided a computerized format for the reporting form, or be assisted
with submitting; their reports electronically. He said he thought the 41HB could provide some
leadership to the agencies in dealing with the electronic age. Mr. Saver said previously he has put
-;Ome forms tin computer disk for the agencies to use to submitting their budget proposals during the
fundins: process lie said there has always been a problem .with program compatibility. depending
upon the softuarc the agencies had access to. He added that the C'ity's computer system was not yet at
a point ..here it could communicate electronically with the agencies.
%1r. Rowitz said the Board should ask the agencies to share their future plans. changes they are
anticipating in their programs and plans for expanding or phasing out services. Mr Kerns said the
Board should build upon the agencies' most rescent funding proposals and quartertly reports during the
rr. ie%%. NIs. Wiebe said questions should address ..hat trends the agency is seeing. NIs. Nlehen said
she %vas interested in the issues of staff turnover and staff stability . Ms. Helt-Gavin said. based upon
the Board's input. she %%ould Mork with staff to develop the format for the first agency review with
Family Focus. NIr. Saver said the Board could evaluate the format and the trigger questions at the
February meeting and make changes at that time
The Board revie•+ed and approved the agency revie%. schedule as it was revised. There was a
consensus that the review in April would be in lieu of a Board meeting. and would focus upon
substance abuse issues.
V. AGE\Cl ACCOU TABILITN
Human Services Committee. Nis. Wiebe reported that the Human Services Committee meeting had
residential care home licensing on the agenda. She said the meeting %vas Tuesday. January 26.
Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services. Nis. Wiebe reported that she attended the Advisory
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Council of the Evanston office. She said the Board is a eery- energetic group and they are moving
quickly, and they wanted a letter to the Cite. and Chamber of Commerce on the problems of the
elderly. Mary Nimrod, Director of Wellness Program from the Y came and spoke about a new
program for seniors, called Prime Time. which refers to the time of life and the time of day. They are
seeking new members for the Advisory Council and seeking private funding for seniors in Evanston.
Nis. Wiebe is eager for them to speak to the NtHB. NSSC is expanding with occupying the adjacent
store. scheduled for March. 1999.
U. CONTRACT POLICYGUIDELINES
Mr. Saver explained that the .�IHB looks at the Contract Policy Guidelines every year, and either
amends them or adopts them for use with the Purchase of Service Agreements. tilr. Saver said every
other year they are also submitted to the Corporation Counsel for review. He said this was done last
year. and there were a number of technical and grammatic changes that were made. Mr. Rowitz moved
and his. Helt-Gavin seconded a motion to adopt the Contract Policy Guidelines for use with
Purchase of Service Agreements for EY1999-2000. motion approved unanimously (7 aye - 0 no).
VI[. RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME LICENSING
Nfr. Saver said the Corporation Counsel's recommendations for revising the City"s ordinance for
licensing residential care homes would be reviewed by the Human Services Committee (HSC). Mr.
Sayer said the NIHB had been yery actively involved with this issue up until five years ago. He said
the NIHB's draft recommendations for revising the licensing ordinance were developed in 1993. They
ivere included in the Board packet. These were developed at the request of the Human Services
Committee. Mr. Saver said that. as a result of some legal issues. the '.vIHB requested further
clarification and direction from HSC. Mr. Saver said at the time there were a number of organizations
that were monitoring and commenting on the licensing issue. e.g.. NIHAE. Housing Options. Her said
the at some point the \11113 should determine %%hether the% still Supported the changes in the
documents, and whether they wanted to take a stand on the issue -vvith FISC.
In response to a question. Nlr. Saver said during his tenure with the Cite there had been no applications
tiled for a license tsar a residential care home. During that period there «ere. perhaps. eight -ten groups
that requested a licensing packet. None %%ere resumed. %fr. Sa,.er said he thought that was because the
standards in the Licensing Ordinance %were wen_ rigorous. and %%ould make it cen difficult or expensive
to operate a residential care home in F%ansion
Ms. Wiebe said she would be at the FISC meeting and would begin to monitor the issue for the Board.
'III. UPDATE ON AGING "ELL CONFERENCE
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LvIs. Wiebe Said she and Mr. Saver have been regularly attending the planning nt��etittgs tier the .wing
Well: Choices and .tlyrhs conference, for which the %vIHB is a cosponsor. The conference %%ill be an
Thursday. flay 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 _':00 noon at the ]tins Home. She said there has already been a
tremendous amount of planning that has gone into the conference. She indicated that there %gas gcxng to
be a keynote speaker and five breakout sessions for the participants. Mayor Morton %%ill intn-tduc_ the
conference. Ms. Wiebe said the conference is being held during the United Nations designated
International Year of Older Persons: May is also the month designated to celebrate programs and
issues for older persons. Lis. Wiebe said there are large number of agencies from Evanston who are
collaborating with this.
[X. STAFF REPORT
Mr. Saver reported that there is a group of parents at ETHS who are organizing a Family University.
Mr. Saver said one similar to this was conducted last year in New Tier Township. The Family
University will be on Saturday. March 20. There will be a number of workshops and presentations for
parents. including preparing for your kids' high school years and substance abuse prevention. Mr.
Saver said some members of the Evanston Substance abuse Prevention Council %will be participating.
and possibly helping to lead some of the seminars. 'vlr. Saver said he will distribute the flyers to the
NIHB when they are printed.
htr. Saver said Governor Ryan has been appointing his new staff and department directors. He said the
list of names he has seen so far have been people who have already been in government for some time.
Floward Peters will remain as the Director of Department of Human Services, Ann PatIa will be the
Director of Public Aid. and Jess %leDonald :will remain at DCFS.
Mr. Saver said he was informed that Evanston Hospital's new Adolescent Program will be located in
Glenview. He said it was his understanding that the decision was made based upon findings in the
hospital's Community Wellness Survey That needs assessment identif ed the Glen% ie%+ as an area
with the greatest need for services. Mr. Sa,.er said he did not know what %would become of the C&A
services currently being provided at the hospital's Evanston campus.
1,leeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted.
Joan \4. Barott
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EVANSTON MENTAL HEALTH BOARD
DECISIONS OF MEETING
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1999
l . Agreed to recommend the collaborative proposal from Childcare Network of Evanston and
Metropolitan Family Services for children's mental health funding.
2. Adopted the Contract Policy Guidelines for use with Purchase of Service Agreements for
FY 1999-2000.
January 21, 1999 MHO Meeting Minutes Page a