DEKALB COUNTY COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD

FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES

       February 11, 2008               

Approved

Committee Members Present:  Robert Krogman, Charles Rose                                        

Other Persons Present:  Doug Fraley

Office staff:  Elizabeth Carney, Kathy Ostdick

I.  CALL TO ORDER

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Krogman at 6:35 p.m.

II.  AGENDA

The agenda was approved by consensus.

III.  MINUTES

Due to a lack of quorum, the minutes of the January 2008 meeting were reviewed, but not approved.

IV.  DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Ms. Carney reported that we are in the audit period and a member of the county’s auditing team from Sikich in Aurora made an on-site evaluation visit.  During the visit he, Ms. Carney and Ms. Ostdick reviewed the allocations process.  As accounting standards have been tightened these visits will be a more regular part of the audit process.  He will send a narrative report with his findings to the Board office.   He did note that he found the office to be run efficiently and was pleased to see the thoroughness of internal financial reports. 

The majority of the Funding Applications have been received.  Ms. Carney discussed the Funding process.  She will bring a summary of the applications to the March Finance Committee meeting for discussion. 

Ms. Carney informed the Committee that she has been attempting to meet with Mr. Flora of the Ben Gordon Center regarding outstanding questions about Medicaid services billing and questions about financial reporting on their applications.  As her requests for a meeting sent via email and phone message did not result in the scheduling of a timely meeting, she sent her request via letter.  The Committee members thought the Board President making a contact would be helpful. 

V.  COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT RFP

The deadline for the return of proposals is this week.  Ms. Carney reported that the Board office has received only one proposal thus far, from Health Systems Research.  Copies of the proposal have been mailed to all Board members.  Joel Cowen, of HSR, will attend the February Board meeting to present their proposal and answer any questions that the Board members may have. 

The Northern Illinois University Regional Development Institute indicated their interest in submitting a proposal that would complement the RFP but would not be designed to meet its requirements.  The

Institute would like to work with the Board in evaluating the functioning of the county’s mental health system.   They have not submitted a proposal to date.  Ms. Carney reminded the Committee that only

proposals that meet the requirements of the RFP will be considered when the Board awards the contract.  If the Institute submits a complementary plan at a later date, Ms. Carney will bring it to

the Board.  

VI.  OUTCOMES TRAINING PROPOSAL

Ms. Carney discussed the attached proposal.  The Board had requested that Ms. Carney identify outcome training for agencies so that they would be prepared when the Board implements outcomes reporting for funded programs.  Sharon Mills, Director, Applied Social Research Unit, Illinois State University, has outcomes training for several United Way groups in the area and comes highly recommended.  Several agencies are already gathering this type of data for other funders.  It is the Board office goal to make outcomes reporting a meaningful activity for agencies that they can use

to report outcomes to other funders as well as to the Board.   

VII.  MENTAL ILLNESS AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE TASKFORCE

Ms. Carney reported that she met with Lt. Klein from the DeKalb County Jail and Mr. Flora from the Ben Gordon Center to discuss the continuum of care of inmates with mental health and substance abuse issues.  The tentative plan is as follows:

      a.  The Jail staff will identify persons who will be released soon and are in need of follow-up

           services and call the Gordon Center to request services.

      b.  A Gordon Center staff will visit the Jail to do an assessment and establish a relationship with

           the person.  The staff person will also make an appointment at the Center for the inmate at

           this time.  The goal of this procedure is to encourage follow-up by the inmates so that they

           can receive appropriate services and hopefully reduce recidivism. 

      c.  For persons who are incarcerated for a period that is so short that it will not allow time to

           schedule a Gordon Center staff person at the Jail, they will be given a pamphlet about the

           Center and will be encouraged by Jail staff to contact the Center.  

Ms. Carney reminded the Committee members that the cost of the jail-based services being provided through the Sheriff’s Office is considerably less than the cost through the Gordon Center, and that the Board had earlier earmarked the difference in funds for out-patient follow-up services.   She noted

that both Lt. Klein and Mr. Flora were very pleased with prospect of improving the standard of care for

the inmates and Mr. Flora had noted that he is looking forward to presenting a proposal.

Mr. Fraley asked if there was any news on the legal issue that has been before the Board.  Ms. Carney noted that the issue is drawing to a close, but there has not yet been a final determination.

VIII.  DATE OF NEXT MEETING

The date of the next meeting is March 10, 2008. 

X.  ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

_____________________________                                      _________________________

Robert Krogman, Committee Member                                          Kathy Ostdick, Recording Secretary

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