DeKalb County, Illinois
	Minutes of the COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH BOARD September 24, 2001

Board Members Present: Mary Petruchius, Norm Gilbert, Bob Krogman, Denny Sands, Opal Zitka, Pat Terry and Sue Franz

Board Members Absent: Regina Parker and Maureen Russell

Other Persons Present: Staff: Jerry Lane and Sue Halbrader

The Community Mental Health Board meeting was called to order at 7:38 p.m. by President Mary Petruchius

 

There were no changes or additions to the agenda.

 

Mr. Bob Putz from the Consumer Advocacy Council of DeKalb County and new member Pat Terry were present. Informal introductions were made around the table.

 

Mr. Gilbert moved to approve the April minutes; Seconded by Mr. Krogman. The motion carried unanimously.

 

C Mr. Lane welcomed Pat Terry as a member of the Board. He said although the office had not received the paperwork as of this date, he was present at the last County Board meeting and heard her nomination accepted. Ms. Terry stated that she had received the papers.

C Mr. Lane announced that his status has been changed to that of Grandfather, with the birth of his first granddaughter, Abigail Grace Covert, at 8:24 p.m. Sunday, September 23, 2001, to his oldest daughter and son-in-law.

C Mr. Lane mentioned that Board members may wish to express their opinions on redistricting to their state senators and representatives, since remapping the districts is now in progress.

C Mr. Lane reported that Ben Gordon Center continues to have difficulty staffing crisis hotline volunteers. They are looking into a new method of handling calls. More information will be shared later.

C Mr. Lane said a mental health center in the northwest region has produced statistics showing that BGC’s workforce has the least turnover of any area MH agency and that DeKalb County has the lowest number of admissions to Singer Center in Rockford. Although we have expressed concerns about staff turnover and wait lists, BGC must be doing something right.

C Mr. Lane stated that funding for social services looks bleak at all levels, local to national. The Governor stated further budget reductions will be necessary due to the stagnating economy, the effects of terrorist attacks and exaggerated revenue projections. Given that government funding is less than adequate, and private donations are down, this is not good news. United Way announced that they cut donations across the board by 30%. Bleak as the scene appears, we will have a better perspective in December.

C Mr. Lane announced that he received a letter from staff at BGC about the lack of transportation outside of the city of DeKalb, none on weekends and none during very late or early hours. He will follow up, particularly on hours, as the Board grants funds specifically for covering those hours.

C Mrs. Franz circulated a pamphlet from ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens) regarding what to do if you are stopped by a police officer or arrested.

C Mr. Sands said he heard Mr. Lane’s outstanding address to the County Board last week, talking about the mental health impact of World Trade Center disaster and the county crisis teams.

C Mr. Lane further explained that the county crisis teams are on stand-by, and two members were contacted by NOVA, asking if they could participate in debriefings when the body recovery is completed. This office is keeping in touch with local fire departments and other emergency response personnel. At this time people are still in response mode and will stay that way until the initial work is completed. Meanwhile, the staff is considering holding a community forum for information and an opportunity to express people’s feelings.

 

FINANCE REPORTS

Mrs. Zitka moved to acceptance the August agency claims as submitted, seconded by Mr. Gilbert. On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Zitka moved acceptance of the August office claims as submitted, seconded by Mrs. Franz. On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Zitka moved to acceptance the September agency claims as submitted, seconded by Mr. Gilbert. On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.

Mrs. Zitka moved acceptance of the August office claims as submitted, seconded by Mrs. Franz. On a roll call vote, the motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Lane reported that the recommended budget was sent to the County Board without any reported problems. It is expected to pass as submitted.

Mr. Lane distributed copies of the annual report, reminding Board members that it reflects conditions of about a year and a half ago. The Mental Health Board is in the black, with 86% of our funds going to support agencies. Based on experience of demand in the system and federal studies we are doing well in meeting the mental health needs of county residents. The Mental Health Board is one of the top four funding sources for county mental health programs.

 

Mr. Robert Putz, President of the Consumer Advocacy Council of DeKalb County, reported on the National Association of the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Convention held in Washington, D.C. on July 11, 2001. Mr. Putz and Nina Segata attended the three day conference and returned with a thirteen page report on the presentations they covered in behalf of the local group. The presentations ranged from medical reports on brain structure (stress can alter the hypocampus and depression can change serotonin receptors) to recovery programs to parity, new treatments and the role of educators to ways in which persons with mental illness come to terms with their conditions.

 

None

 

With the addition of Patricia Terry, the newest member of the Board, all positions on the Board are now filled. Ms. Petruchius asked members to review the committee structure and decide whether or not to retain or change it, and to determine one’s own area of interest so that committee structure may be discussed next month.

Mr. Lane circulated outlines of suggested police and emergency response personnel training to Board members. Staff is planning a training program for police officers and one for fire fighters, in addition to facilitating establishment of a DeKalb County Protocol modeled on Kane County’s. The Protocol addresses systemic needs within the county, bringing together all the agencies and organizations that would have anything to do with persons with mental illness; the training is for law enforcement, county wide, having to do with how to treat persons with mental illness. Denny Sands reserved space at the NIU Law School for January 4^th and 7^th, 2002, (a Friday and a Monday) for training, which police chiefs will make mandatory.

Mr. Lane asked the Board if they would approve circulating the tentative program outline among fire fighters and emergency personnel. The Board approved unanimously.

As for the DeKalb County Protocol, we want to schedule a forum including Kane County people who will be able to attend, as well as numerous prominent people within the judicial system of DeKalb County. Scheduling this meeting for late February or early March means we must begin to promote it very soon.

Mr. Lane reported that Board staff has met with Chris Gough of the Family Service Agency and Jerry Smith of the DeKalb County Foundation to discuss establishing a joint training consortium. Sponsoring high quality training and workshops locally will save the costs of travel, food and lodging out of town and make sharing the expense of nationally known presenters within reach for everyone. This is another way in which the Board may be able to stretch tax dollars to do the most good for the greatest number. Another meeting is scheduled within the week to finalize luncheon meeting plans for October to pursue this idea.

New Business

The performance evaluation forms that were inadvertently omitted from the packet that was mailed were distributed to members. Ms. Petruchius asked that the forms be returned to her no later than one week prior to our October Board meeting.

Mr. Lane requested that the Board move on buying two new computer systems for the office as the existing equipment is wearing out; the high end estimate on the purchase is $6,000.

Mr. Krogman moved that the proposed amount be approved; second by Mrs. Franz. On a roll call vote the motion passed unanimously.

Mr. Lane presented three special projects as submitted by funded agencies to the Board. First, Family Service Agency requested $5,509 for office furnishings, as the new Executive Director does not feel that employees should furnish their offices with things from their homes.

Mrs. Zitka moved and Mr. Sands seconded that the amount be given to FSA. The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Second, Ben Gordon Center, having submitted all the quotes, asks for $27,000 to repave, not resurface, their parking lot.

Mr. Gilbert moved and Mrs. Franz seconded that $27,000 be given to BGC for the parking lot. The motion passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Third on the agenda was support for the crisis team. At the time of the Board meeting this request had become moot. However, in light of the terrorist attack on the east coast on September 11, a discussion about the Board’s willingness to pay for the costs of a crisis team member going to a future crisis site may need to be addressed.

After some discussion, it was decided to table a decision on this matter until more information is available.

Mr. Lane asked the Board to consider increasing the amount that staff has the authority to spend without Board approval. The Board asked to see something in writing, and tabled consideration until the October meeting, when increasing the limit from $300 to $1,000 will be considered.

Currently, the Executive Committee can act to allocate funds in an emergency, but there is no established dollar level. A crisis may mean that we cannot wait until people are present at the next meeting. Except for capital expenditures, agency grants, special projects, or office capital expenses, the staff manages the budget. The Board needs to set a policy in a dollar amount for emergency allocation.

Last, but not least, the Board needs to examine the details of releasing staff for disaster duty. We have bereavement, National Guard, and jury duty; in addition policy for disaster duty needs to be established.

Mr. Sands moved and Mrs. Franz seconded a motion to adjourn. The Motion passed unanimously.

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