[00:00:01]
TWO O'CLOCK.[1. CALL TO ORDER]
LET ME PLEASE EXTEND ONCE AGAIN.WELCOME TO EVERYONE WHO'S JOINING US FOR THE MONDAY, OCTOBER 5TH MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE.
UM, I WILL CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER AND I WILL BEGIN IT WITH THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
THOSE OF YOU WHO WISH TO JOIN IN, PLEASE STAND PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY.
UM, SARAH LET'S CONFIRM THAT, UH, PUBLIC
[3. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN PUBLISHED, POSTED, AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT]
NOTIFICATION OF THIS MEDIA PUBLISHED AND POSTED AND DISTRIBUTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE SOUTH CAROLINA PRE-INTERVIEW INFORMATION ACT.I'D LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE
[4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING, PLEASE FROM ALL MS. CHAIRMAN.AND I WILL MOVE THIS FORWARD WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THIS MOTION HEARING? NONE.
I WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER TWO, THE NEXT ITEM, WHICH WOULD BE THE APPROVAL OF THE
[5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM AUGUST 31, 2020]
MINUTES FROM AUGUST 31ST.MAY I HAVE A MOTION FOR THAT PLEASE? I MOTION THAT WE APPROVE IT.
I'LL UM, THIS ALONG, UH, WITHOUT EXCEPTION, ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO THIS MOTION HEARING? NONE.
WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM.
[6. A RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE $398,000 FROM THE COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS]
WITH A RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE $398,000 FROM THE COMMUNITY SERVICES GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS TO THE GROUPS THAT HAVE MADE APPLICATION FOR SUCH.I UNDERSTAND FROM THE BACKGROUND MATERIAL THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 40 ORGANIZATIONS THAT APPLIED AND HAD REQUESTED, UH, ABOUT $750,000.
AND OUR FUNDING ALLOTMENT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS 398,000, UH, WHO WILL BE MAKING THIS PRESENTATION TREAD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING AND I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND GUESTS AND FOLKS AT HOME.
UH, SIR, THE FIRST SLIDE THAT YOU CAN START TALKING AND THEN IT'LL SHOW UP.
UH, SO WHILE WE'RE WAITING THAT I'LL JUST INTRODUCE MYSELF AGAIN.
I'M THE HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR A, FOR THE COUNTY COUNTER.
AND I'LL BE OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WE ARE FOR THE COMMUNITY BEFORE THIS YEAR.
FRED, LET ME JUST STOP YOU FOR A SECOND.
IS IT ME OR IS THERE A PROBLEM WITH FRED AUDIO PROBLEM WITH FRED'S AUDIO? OKAY.
UH, SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SUGGEST YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO CURE IT, BUT WE'RE GETTING EVERY THIRD WORD.
UH, I GUESS I'LL TRY TALKING MORE SLOWLY.
WELL, THAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING.
SO WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR THE SLIDES TO COME UP, UH, THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1974.
OUR PURPOSE IS TO SUPPORT ALL RESIDENTS BY LEADING HUMAN SERVICE POLICY INTERVENTION, INNOVATION, INSPIR, INSPIRING COLLABORATIVE SURGEONS AND FACILITATING PARTNERSHIPS TO IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE.
WE DO THIS THROUGH THE TWO PRIMARY MEANS ONE IS THE HUMAN SERVICES ALLIANCE, WHICH IS A NETWORK OF ABOUT 120 DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, A GREAT, I CAN SEE NOW THE POWERPOINT'S COMING UP.
SARAH, IF YOU COULD MOVE TWO MORE, ONE MORE.
UH, AND SO THAT MAKES UP THE HUMAN SERVICES ALLIANCE NETWORK.
LIKE I SAID, 120 ORGANIZATIONS, THEY CROSSED ALL SECTORS.
SO WE HAVE FOR PROFIT, NONPROFIT, GOVERNMENT, FAITH, HEALTH, EDUCATION, MILITARY, UH, PRETTY MUCH EVERY SECTOR IN OUR COMMUNITY IS REPRESENTED AS MEMBERS IN THE ALLIANCE.
WE'VE ORGANIZED OURSELVES INTO AN ORGANIZATIONAL FRAMEWORK THAT WE CALL TOGETHER FOR BEAVER COUNTY THAT ALLOWS ALL OF THOSE VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO KIND OF HITCH THEIR WAGON TO THE SAME TRAIN THAT WE CAN ALL SEE HOW WE'RE PULLING TOGETHER IN THE SAME DIRECTION,
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FIVE PRIMARY AREAS THAT WE FOCUS ON EDUCATION ECONOMY, SOCIAL WELLBEING, HEALTH, AND THE ENVIRONMENT.AND THIS FRAMEWORK GIVES US THE ABILITY SO THAT EACH OF THE MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE CAN TARGET THE SPECIFIC FOCUS AREA THAT THEY HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT.
THE PURPOSE OF OUR GRANT IS TO PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN ACTIVITIES THAT IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL BUFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS.
THIS IS BEING DONE, UH, ORIGINALLY AT THE REQUEST OF COUNTY COUNCIL, SEVERAL YEARS BACK TO VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY.
NEXT SLIDE ELIGIBILITY FOR THE GRANTS PROGRAM IS LISTED THERE.
UH, YOU MUST SERVE BUFORD COUNTY RESIDENTS.
YOU MUST BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THE TOGETHER FROM YOU FOR COUNTY PROJECT.
THAT IS A WAY OF KIND OF KEEPING EVERYBODY FOCUSED AND ENSURING THAT WE'RE ALL WORKING IN COORDINATION WITH EACH OTHER AND NOT WORKING AT CROSS PURPOSES.
BEFORE WE STARTED THE ALLIANCE, ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WE HAD IN OUR COMMUNITY WAS THAT SO MANY ORGANIZATIONS WERE OPERATING IN SILOS AND THEY WEREN'T AWARE OR COORDINATED WITH ANY OF THE OTHER EFFORTS THAT WERE GOING ON IN THE COMMUNITY.
UH, THE LAST IS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE REGISTERED AS A PARTNER, AND THAT'S A SIMPLE PROCESS.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF SIGNING UP AND KEEPING IN CONTACT WITH WHAT THE ALLIANCE IS DOING SO THAT YOU'RE AWARE OF THE VARIOUS INITIATIVES AND EFFORTS THAT ARE BEING PUT TOGETHER.
SO OUR PROCESS FOR REVIEWING THE APPLICATIONS AS INDICATED 39 APPLICATIONS THIS YEAR, THESE REQUESTS $105,208, 60% OF INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR'S APPLICATIONS.
AND THESE AS IS, AS HAS BEEN OUR CUSTOM, THESE GRANTS ARE EVALUATED BY A DIVERSE VOLUNTEER PANEL OF COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS THAT GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY INDEPENDENTLY TO SCORE EACH APPLICATION INDIVIDUALLY AND USE IT ON ITS OWN MERIT, USING A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.
THIS BRINGS US TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS YEAR.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO DOWN EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY, ALTHOUGH I'LL CERTAINLY ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYONE MIGHT HAVE ON THE ITEM ON THIS SLIDE THAT MIGHT ATTRACT ATTENTION OR WOULD BE A QUESTION IS THE ALLIANCE MATCH FUNDING.
SO THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT WE SET ASIDE BECAUSE THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, THERE ARE OFTEN OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO BE ABLE TO MATCH OUTSIDE DOLLARS, UH, FOR A GRANT OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO WE KEEP THOSE FUNDS SET ASIDE AND USE THEM SPARINGLY, BUT WE USE THEM WHENEVER THE OPPORTUNITY COMES UP, UH, TO BE ABLE TO DRAW IN ADDITIONAL FUNDS INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
THE OTHER THING THAT YOU'LL NOTE THERE IS THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL TOGETHER FOR BUFORD COUNTY COALITIONS.
UH, AGAIN, I'VE DESCRIBED TO YOU WHAT THOSE COALITIONS ARE.
THOSE ARE THE WORK GROUPS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON THOSE FIVE PRIMARY AREAS OR FOCUS AREAS.
UH, SO THE NEXT GROUP, UH, THE ONLY ONE THERE THAT IS A TOGETHER FOR BUFORD COUNTY COALITION IS THE MILITARY AND VETERAN SERVICES ALLIANCE.
AND, AND TOWARDS THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A TOUCH ON WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH.
THIS SLIDE HAS AGAIN A ONE EXCEPTION, AND THAT IS THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF THE COASTAL EMPIRE.
THIS IS AN AGREEMENT THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BY COUNTY COUNCIL.
UM, SEVERAL YEARS BACK, UH, THIS ORGANIZATION PROVIDES DENTAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME CHILDREN IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IS THE ONLY, UH, SERVICE OF ITS KIND AND SERVES A SIGNIFICANT POPULATION OF BUFORD COUNTY CHILDREN.
THE OTHER ENTRY ON HERE THAT MIGHT DRAW ATTENTION IS THE TOGETHER FOR BUFORD COUNTY ADMINISTRATION.
AGAIN, WE SET ASIDE A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUNDS SO THAT WHEN WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FUNDS, TO BUILD A COLLABORATIVE OR TO SUPPORT ONE OF THE COLLABORATIVE WORKS THAT KIND OF COMES UP ALONG THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
WE HAVE A SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY SET ASIDE THAT WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THEM.
AND THE LAST SECTION, UH, THE RECOMMENDATION FROM FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THIS YEAR, THE ONE THAT I'LL DRAW ATTENTION TO IS THE VOLUNTARY INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
IT IS THE IRS PROGRAMS LARGEST ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAM IN THE NATION, UH, FOR A SMALL $15,000 CONTRIBUTION.
[00:10:01]
OF THAT NETWORK AND COALITION IS OVER $4.4 MILLION IMPACT IN OUR COMMUNITY.THOSE ARE DOLLARS THAT GO DIRECTLY INTO THE POCKETS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES.
AND THEY DO THIS BY DEVELOPING A COHORT OF VOLUNTEER TAX PREPARERS WHO ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE FREE TAX SERVICES TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.
THAT'S PRIMARILY PEOPLE WHO ARE OF LOW INCOME, LOW TO MODERATE INCOME, UH, SENIORS, OVER 60 PEOPLE WHO DON'T SPEAK THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE OR OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE OTHERWISE DISABLED.
SOME EXAMPLES OF THE KIND OF WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE IN THE PAST.
WELL, AGAIN, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE THE RIGHT SLIDE UP, RIGHT? NOPE.
SARAH, CAN YOU ADVANCE IT ONE TIME? SARAH, ARE YOU THERE? SORRY, FRED, BUT GHOSTS ARE IN THE MACHINERY, NOT A PROBLEM.
HEY FRED, WHILE WE'RE WAITING FOR HER, IF YOU COULD CIRCLE BACK AT SOME POINT AND JUST TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE ALLIANCE MATCH FUNDING AND THE T FOR BC FUND, I'D LIKE TO JUST GET A LITTLE, A BETTER DESCRIPTION AND UNDERSTANDING OF EXACTLY WHAT THAT DOES.
AND IF THERE ARE FURTHER APPLICATIONS THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER THROUGH THE ALLIANCE BOARD.
SO NO, THOSE ARE FUNDS THAT ARE USED AT THE DISCRETION OF MY DEPARTMENT.
THEY ARE WHEN OPPORTUNITIES BECOME AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY, TYPICALLY THEY'RE OH, UNDER $5,000 THAT WE DO THEM.
IT'S WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY BECOMES AVAILABLE TO MATCH FUNDING FROM AN OUTSIDE FUNDER, THAT CAN BE FROM THE FEDERAL, FROM THE STATE, UH, IT COULD BE FROM A PRIVATE FOUNDATION, UM, WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE THE WORK THAT THE ALLIANCE IS TRYING TO DO AROUND THE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
UM, USUALLY IT DIRECTLY IMPACTS ONE OF THE TOGETHER FOR BUFORD COUNTY COALITIONS.
THAT'S THE T FOR BC THAT YOU SEE MENTIONED THERE.
AND, UH, AND SO THAT'S PRIMARILY HOW WE USE THOSE FUNDS.
SO I'LL GIVE YOU THE EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE COMPLETED ACTIVITIES.
SO THIS IS KIND OF A, TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE FUNDS THAT ARE DISTRIBUTED.
EVERY GRANT RECEIVER HAS TO PROVIDE US WITH TWO REPORTS, AN INTERIM REPORT, AND A FINAL REPORT.
THOSE REPORTS TELL US EXACTLY HOW THEY SPENT THE FUNDS AND WHAT THE IMPACT WAS IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO JUST A SAMPLING OF, SOME OF THE FUNDING WENT OUT FROM LAST YEAR, UH, THROUGH OUR ACCESS HEALTH TOGETHER FOR BUFORD'S ACCESS HEALTH, LOW COUNTRY.
WE HAD 1,291 LOW INCOME PATIENTS THAT RECEIVED A FREE CLINIC AND PARTNER PROVIDERS DOING SERVICES FOR THEM.
SO THEY WILL WORK WITH, UH, AREA PHYSICIANS WHO WILL PROVIDE PRO BONO SERVICES AND THEY PROVIDE THE CASE MANAGEMENT TO KIND OF WORK THROUGH ANY OF THE, UH, WHAT WE REFERRED TO AS SOCIAL INDICATORS OF HEALTH.
SO THINGS THAT AREN'T SPECIFICALLY HEALTH-RELATED, BUT THEY HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOUR HEALTH.
THAT MIGHT BE THAT YOU CAN'T AFFORD YOUR PRESCRIPTIONS, UM, THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD TO GO TO, UH, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, BUT YOU HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION IN ORDER TO GET THERE.
SO THOSE ARE KINDS OF SERVICES THAT CAN BE COORDINATED THROUGH THE ACCESS HEALTH NETWORK.
AND AGAIN, THAT IS A NETWORK MADE UP OF ALL OF THE FREE CLINICS, UH, ALL THE HOSPITALS IN OUR AREA, AND THEY'RE ALL ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES.
OVER 2000 FOOD INSECURE INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED AT 26 AGENCIES ACROSS BUFORD COUNTY, AS A RESULT OF LAST YEAR'S FUNDING, 957 EXITING AND RETIRING MARINES RECEIVED LOCAL CAREER TRANSITION INFORMATION.
THIS IS AGAIN, PART OF THE WORK THAT'S BEING DONE THROUGH MAPS OF THE MILITARY AND VETERAN SERVICES ALLIANCE.
AGAIN, ONE OF OUR TOGETHER FOR BUFORD COUNTY COALITIONS AND LASTLY 319 CHILDREN RECEIVED VICTIM ADVOCACY AND AN EVIDENCE BASED MODEL CALLED TRAUMA FOCUSED THERAPY, WHICH IS A VERY SPECIFIC TARGETED TYPE OF TREATMENT FOR SEXUAL ABUSE.
NEXT SLIDE, EXAMPLES OF THINGS THAT WE ANTICIPATE HAPPENING AS A RESULT OF THIS YEAR'S FUNDING, WE WILL BE IMPLEMENTING DISTANCE LEARNING FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. THAT'LL BE OPERATED THROUGH A VARIETY OF LOCATIONS AROUND THE COUNTY.
WE'LL BE SUPPORTING THE GROWING
[00:15:01]
DEMAND FOR BASIC NEEDS RESULTING FROM COVID-19.MOST OF OUR ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE MEMBERS OF THE ALLIANCE THAT PROVIDE FOOD, CLOTHING, AND SHELTER ARE MEMBERS OF WHAT WE CALL THE COMMUNITY SERVICES ORGANIZATION.
ANOTHER ONE OF OUR TOGETHER FOR BUFORD COUNTY GROUPS.
AND THEY HAVE SEEN A DRASTIC INCREASE INCREASE IN THE NEED FOR ASSISTANCE TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IMPACTED AND WILL BE IN ENHANCING MEDICAL SERVICES FOR LOW INCOME UNINSURED RESIDENTS, AGAIN, THROUGH OUR ACCESS HEALTH NETWORK AND PROVIDING OUTREACH AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO LOW INCOME AT RISK CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.
ANY QUESTIONS? UH, I HAVE A QUESTION, FRED, IF NOW THAT THE APPLICATION PROCESS HAS CLOSED, DO YOU WANT TO TRAIN ANYMORE SUBMISSIONS IN THE COMING YEAR IN PARTICULAR TO THE NEW PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE FUNDING FOR DISTANCE LEARNING OR IS THAT CLOSED AS WELL? THE GRANTS OPERATE ONCE A YEAR AND ONCE COUNCIL ALLOCATES THE FUNDS AND LETS US KNOW THAT THOSE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE, WE BEGIN THAT GRANTS PROCESS.
IT TAKES ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF TO GO THROUGH THE ENTIRE PROCESS FROM START TO FINISH.
AND SO ONCE THAT IS, UH, THE TIME IS CLOSED FOR THAT, WE DON'T TAKE ANY GRANT APPLICATIONS AFTER THAT POINT.
UH, I THINK THIS YEAR HAD CLOSED AT THE END OF JULY AND THEN THE REVIEW PROCESS AND HAVE THE, UH, PANEL BEGIN REVIEWING EACH INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION.
DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? YEAH, I WAS JUST A, THIS DISTANCE LEARNING IS A NEW, UH, INITIATIVE IN THE COUNTY.
I THINK I'M IN A NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
I'M JUST HOPING THAT EVERYONE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE, BUT WE MAY HAVE ANOTHER PROGRAM, UH, SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT YOU'RE SHEPHERDING THROUGH HERE THAT MAY BE ABLE TO BE UTILIZED IN THAT REGARD.
SO, UH, UH, UH, I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THAT.
SO ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR FRED TO ON THIS TOPIC? YES.
IF I COULD REAL QUICKLY, UM, MR. LINER, COULD YOU EXPAND ON YOUR DISTANT LEARNING, UM, APPLICANTS RIGHT NOW AND WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND SORT OF GET A FEEL FOR, UM, WHAT CURRENTLY VERSUS WHAT MAY BE COMING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE? OKAY.
I CAN TELL YOU WHAT LIMITED INFORMATION I HAVE.
I DON'T READ THE INDIVIDUAL PROPOSALS.
THAT'S A WAY FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO STAY ON BIASED AND GUIDE THE, THE REVIEWERS WHO ACTUALLY READ EACH APPLICATION.
BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THROUGH MY INVOLVEMENT THROUGH THE ALLIANCE WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, THAT THERE HAVE BEEN, I WANT TO SAY THE LAST TIME I SPOKE, THERE WERE ABOUT 350 DIFFERENT SITES THAT WERE BEING PULLED TOGETHER BY DIFFERENT CHURCH GROUPS, AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS, NONPROFITS IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEY'VE BEEN, UH, KIND OF FUNNELED TO THE NEW SCHOOL DISTRICT SO THAT THEY CAN BE ON THEIR WEBSITE SO THAT WHEN FAMILIES ARE LOOKING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE DISTANCE LEARNING HAPPENING AND AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION, THAT THEY CAN GO THERE AND GET THAT INFORMATION.
I DO KNOW THAT THE DISTRICT IS PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT SUPPORT IS, UM, NOT ONLY THINGS LIKE TECHNOLOGY AND THE SOFTWARE, BUT ALSO THINGS LIKE SOCIAL WORKERS AND BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT SPECIALISTS, FRED, WHERE WOULD THEY BE GETTING THEIR FUNDING FOR THESE, UH, FOR THESE OPERATIONS, IF THERE'S, AS YOU SAY, OVER 300 OF THEM, HOW ARE THEY IS THE BOARD OF EDUCATION PAYING FOR THESE, UM, DISTANCE LEARNING LOCATIONS? FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, EACH OF THE ORGANIZATIONS HAVE SIMPLY MODIFIED THEIR OWN BUDGETS AND HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES, JUST USING THEIR NORMAL BUDGET.
UM, MOST OF THEM ARE, ARE PLACES THAT TYPICALLY HAD AN ONSITE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM.
SO IT'S PRETTY SIMPLE TO KIND OF JUST MODIFY THAT, UH, FROM A AFTERSCHOOL RECREATIONAL KIND OF A PROGRAM TO AN AFTERSCHOOL TUTORING OR ANY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE DISTRICT IS PROVIDING THE TECHNOLOGY AND THE SOFTWARE AND SO FORTH.
UM, YEAH, WITH THE SCHOOL SCHEDULE.
I THINK THAT A LOT OF IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE AN ALL DAY SITUATION RATHER THAN JUST AFTER SCHOOL, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE NO AFTERSCHOOL.
I THINK IT'S SOMETIMES FROM EIGHT TO FIVE.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING IF THEY HAVE ADEQUATE SUPPORT TO RUN THESE PROGRAMS. IT SEEMS TO BE QUITE A FEW OF THEM.
I'M ACTUALLY QUITE SURPRISED THAT THE NUMBER, AND I'M HOPING THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THIS WITHIN THE, UM, BUDGETS THEY HAVE AVAILABLE.
BUT I WAS JUST WONDERING IF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION WAS PROVIDING IN ADDITION TO SOCIAL WORKERS AND FOOD FOR NUTRITION AND SUPPLIES AND OTHER THINGS, IF THEY ACTUALLY NEEDED A CASH INFUSION, UM, FOR ANY OF THIS, BUT YOU WOULDN'T KNOW THAT, I GUESS, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T COME THROUGH YOU.
I, LIKE I SAID, JUST BECAUSE OF MY INVOLVEMENT THROUGH THE ALLIANCE AND WORKING WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THAT REGARD, UH, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAY ON TOP OF HOW THINGS HAVE BEEN MOVING.
I ASKED THE QUESTION IN ONE OF OUR RECENT MEETINGS, IF THE DISTRICT COULD GIVE
[00:20:01]
ME A SENSE OF WHAT KIND OF NEED THERE IS.IN OTHER WORDS, THEY DID A SURVEY OF PARENTS TO ASK, WILL YOU BE WANTING YOUR CHILD TO HAVE A ONSITE FACE TO FACE, OR WILL YOU BE WANTING YOUR CHILD TO HAVE A VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT? UM, AND MY THINKING WAS THAT IF WE COULD GET A SENSE OF HOW MANY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT ARE LOOKING FOR THE DISTANCE LEARNING, THAT THAT MIGHT HELP TO GUIDE OUR DECISIONS.
BUT THE RESPONSE I GOT WAS THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY VOLATILE NUMBER THAT IT'S CONSTANTLY CHANGING.
UH, FOLKS WILL GET IN AND SAY THAT THEY WANT ONE.
AND THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, THEY'LL CHANGE THEIR MINDS AND DECIDE THEY WANT THE OTHER AFTER A LITTLE WHILE DECIDE THAT'S NOT WORKING SO WELL.
AND SO THEY'LL WANT TO SWITCH BACK.
AND SO IT'S, IT'S A KIND OF A CHANGING NUMBER ALL THE TIME.
AND THE DISTRICT HAS REALLY, UH, I THINK THEY'RE REALLY CHALLENGED.
THEY'RE DOING A GREAT TRYING TO STAY ON TOP OF HOW THOSE CHANGES ARE HAPPENING AND TRYING TO MAKE AS BEST USE AS THEY CAN FROM THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.
YEAH, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON THAT.
AND WE'VE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH, UH, WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT AND WITH MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN GIVING US AN IDEA OF WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH.
AND I THINK WHAT WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO IS CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THAT RELATIONSHIP GOING FORWARD BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN UNCHARTED TERRITORY HERE.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO TRY AND PARTNER WITH THEM AND DO THE VERY BEST WE CAN TO SUPPORT THEIR EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY UNTIL WE MOVE TO SOLVING THIS BIOLOGY AND THE ECONOMY REOPENS AND THINGS GET BACK TO SOME KIND OF NEAR NORMAL.
FRED, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS JUST A MINUTE, MR. PASSAVANT, MR. GLOVER HAS A FOLLOWUP.
UM, AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THROUGH YOUR PROCESS, FRED, THAT REMOTE AREAS ARE IDENTIFIED.
AND I THINK THE CONCERN THAT EVEN PAUL RAISED AT OUR LAST MEETING WAS CERTAIN AREAS, PARTICULARLY RURAL COMMUNITIES MAY NOT HAVE THE KIND OF SERVICES THAT MAYBE NOW BY ALL THE AGENCIES.
AND I THINK MR. GLOVER, YOUR, YOUR COMMENTS ARE ON, UH, ON POINT.
AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AS A BODY TO REVISIT THIS WITH THE OTHER PROGRAM THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, UH, PROVIDING FUNDING, FLORIDA ASSIST COMMUNITIES THAT NEED ASSISTANCE THAT, UM, MAY NEVER HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE AND ARE STRUGGLING TO HELP THE, UH, KIDS WHO ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP IN THESE DESPERATE TIMES.
SO I DON'T THINK THIS CONVERSATION IS ENDING JUST THE PAST MONTH.
DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION, FRED, IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE GRANT RECOMMENDATIONS, AS FAR AS THE FOLLOW FOLLOWING? UH, I'M MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT THE APPLICANTS MAY HAVE APPLIED IN THE PAST.
SO IF WE COULD GET SOME IDEA OF THE AWARDS THAT ARE BEING RECOMMENDED, ARE THEY, UH, AWARDED TO GROUPS THAT HAVE APPLIED IN THE PAST? AND WHAT WOULD THAT LIST LOOK LIKE? AND NUMBER TWO, IF THEY'VE APPLIED IN THE PAST, DO THEY AUTOMATICALLY GET THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY'RE SEEKING BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE SOUGHT THAT IN THE PAST.
SO IF YOU COULD PROVIDE SOME INFORMATION ALONG THOSE LINES, IT WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
NO, THEY DO NOT DO ANYTHING BASED ON WHAT THEY GOT IN THE PAST.
THEY DO NEED TO COMPLETE A FINAL REPORT.
IF THEY GOT FUNDING IN THE PAST, THEY HAVE TO GIVE US A FINAL REPORT TO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW THOSE LAST YEAR'S FUNDS WERE EXPENDED.
WE HAD SEVERAL NEW ORGANIZATIONS WHO CAME FORWARD THIS YEAR THAT HAD NEVER GOTTEN EVALUATED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL FOR THIS YEAR.
THERE IS NO STANDING THAT YOU AUTOMATICALLY FROM HAVING BEEN FUNDED IN THE PAST.
DID I COVER ALL OF YOUR QUESTIONS OR WAS THERE ANOTHER YES, NO, YOU HAVE A THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BUT IF YOU COULD GIVE US SOME SORT OF BREAKDOWN OF ALL OF THOSE THAT APPLIED, WHO MAY BE THE NEW ONES THIS YEAR, I MEAN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ THEM OUT NOW, IF YOU COULD JUST SEND IT AFTER THE FACT TO GIVE US SOME IDEA OF WHO'S NEW TO THE PROCESS, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL.
WE DO A EXCEL SPREADSHEET THAT HAS A LIST OF ALL OF THEM.
I'LL SIMPLY CREATE THAT SAME SPREADSHEET WITH LAST YEAR'S FUNDING RIGHT NEXT TO THIS YEAR'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
AND YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE EXACTLY THE LIST OF BOTH OF THEM.
THAT WILL BE A VERY HELPFUL, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM ANYONE? SO THEN OUR NEXT STEP, FRED WILL BE TO HAVE A VOTE HERE BASED UPON A MOTION TO MOVE THIS MATTER TO A COUNTY COUNCIL FOR THE SOUL BODY TO CONSIDER.
MAY I ASK TO HAVE SOMEONE ENTERTAIN THAT MOTION FOR ME WITH REGARD TO MOVING THIS TO COUNTY COUNCIL AT THE NEXT FULL COUNCIL MEETING FOR THEM TO REVIEW AND CONSIDER
[00:25:03]
SO MOVED.THANK YOU, MR. COVERT, MAY I HAVE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND THAT I WILL MOVE THIS, UH, FORWARD, UH, WITHOUT EXCEPTION.
ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS TO MOVING THIS TO COUNCIL FOR REVIEW, CONSIDERATION AND ACTION HEARING? NONE.
AND MR. LATER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PROVIDING ALL THIS INFORMATION.
UH, WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE, UM, UM, ACCOUNTABILITY THAT YOU'VE BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM BECAUSE WE, UH, WE BELIEVE THAT THAT'S AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT PART OF ANY OF THE GRANT, UH, PROCESSES THAT WE HAVE HERE IN THE COUNTY.
[7. DISCUSSION - DSN DEPARTMENT UPDATE]
ON THE AGENDA ARE SOME DISCUSSION ITEMS AND I'VE REQUESTED THAT THE, UH, DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS DEPARTMENT GIVE US AN UPDATE OF THEIR ACTIVITIES, UH, THAT THEY'VE BEEN ENGAGING IN FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR SO.AND WHAT THEY EXPECT TO HAVE HAPPENED GOING FORWARD TO THE REMAINDER OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM FOR A WHILE.
AND SECONDLY, I'VE ASKED THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE TO DO THE SAME THING.
I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING SOME OF THE BOARD MEETINGS FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE.
AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE REPORTS FROM THE DIRECTOR ON ALL THE DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT THEY'RE ENGAGING IN.
UM, IN SPITE OF THE FACT, THE RESTRICTIONS THAT ARE IMPOSED BECAUSE OF COVID-19.
SO MAY I TURN THIS OVER TO THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS DEPARTMENT AND WELCOMED THEM TO THIS MEETING AND ASK THEM TO BEGIN THE BRIEFING AND UPDATE OF THEIR ACTIVITIES.
DO WE HAVE, UH, I KNOW WE HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE DISABILITIES AND SPECIAL NEEDS.
COULD YOU UNMUTE YOUR MICROPHONE SO THAT WE CAN HEAR YOU? YOU HEAR ME NOW? UH, VAGUELY AND WEEKLY.
COULD YOU GIVE THAT ANOTHER RUN? YES.
IT'S NOT 10 BY 10, BUT IT'LL DO THANK YOU.
WHAT I SAID WAS I'M BILL LOFT AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OF IDSA.
AND WHAT I'VE DONE IS I'VE INVITED SOME DIRECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
I WANT THEM TO SEE, I WANTED THEM TO SEE HOW ALL THE HARD WORK YOU GUYS DO ALL THE TIME.
SO I GET THEM TO SIT DOWN WHAT I'VE DONE.
SARAH, CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED, THEN I'LL RESPOND TO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS.
CAN YOU DO, YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PLAY IT WITH SCOTT, YOUR MATRIX, SLIDE OFF BILL, PUT IT ON A SLIDE AND PRAY.
IT DOES JUST HAVE AN AUDIO COMPONENT.
WE'RE HAVING A, I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING.
SO HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE WITH THE AUDIO DELIVERY CHERA CAN YOU HEAR ME ON THAT? I DON'T THINK SHE CAN HEAR ME, BRENDA.
CAN YOU HEAR ME ON THAT? HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
TO WORKING ON IT, WE SEE THE SLIDES, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE AUDIO COMPONENTS.
THEY BILL IN THE ABSENCE OF AN AUDIO COMPONENT, YOU MAY HAVE TO BE THE AUDIO COMPONENT AS YOU GO THROUGH THESE SLIDES.
IT LOOKS AFTER YOU GOT TO START OVER AGAIN.
WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY AUDIO YET, BILL.
YEAH, THAT'S A VERY CLEAR, BUT THERE'S NO AUDIO COMING.
THE MISSION OF THE DSN ABUSER COUNTY'S DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL NEEDS IS TO PROVIDE QUALITY SERVICES AND TO SUPPORT OUR CONSUMERS AND TO FACILITATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO LIVE PRODUCTIVELY AND INCLUSIVELY IN THE COMMUNITY.
[00:30:01]
HEY, BRANDON, YOU CAN ADVANCE THAT BRENNA SHERRY.YOU CAN ADVANCE THAT IF YOU HAVE CONTROL OF THIS THING RIGHT THERE FOR DOMINIC, PETER, AND I DON'T HAVE ACCESS.
AND LET ME TRY TO SHARE MY CONTENT AND SEE IF I CAN, WE'VE GOT THE NEXT SLIDE UP.
WE CAN READ IT, BUT YOU CAN JUST SUMMARIZE IT.
I DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY FOR YOU TO READ WHAT THAT DOES.
IS IT SUMMARIZED ABOUT 700, 800 INDIVIDUALS? OUR, OUR SERVICES PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH DOWN SYNDROME, UH, AS A NUMBER OF OTHER DISABILITIES.
UM, SO IN ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS COME INTO OUR, WHETHER THEY'RE IN OUR EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM OR OUR OUR DAY PROGRAM, BUT THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WE PROVIDE SERVICES TO.
THEY'RE ON THE SLIDE AT THIS POINT.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND IS OUR SERVICES IS BASED ON INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.
I'VE HAD, I'VE TALKED TO BRIAN, UH, ONE TIME AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT PEOPLE WANTING TO PROVIDE SERVICES, HAVE SERVICES, BUT THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE WAIVER PROCESS, THE STATE DETERMINES EVALUATES THE NEEDS OF THE INDIVIDUALS.
WE SERVE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SAME PROCESS AND THEN THEY DETERMINED THEY NEED, AND THAT THE WAIVER AND AMOUNT OF SERVICES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AND ALL OF THAT IS DONE WITH THE DALI, UH, WITH THE STATE GOVERNMENT, ALSO THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS BECAUSE ALL OF OUR CONSUMERS ARE MEDICAID RECIPIENTS.
ONE OF THE, ONE OF THE COMPONENTS THAT MEDICAID EXPECT US TO DO IS ALSO MAKE SURE THAT CONSUMERS UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR RIGHTS ARE.
AND SOME OF THOSE ARE SOME OF THE RIGHTS THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE LICENSE, HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO MARRY THAT THOSE ARE SOME OF THE RIGHTS THAT THE CONSUMERS THAT WE HAVE IN UNDER CARE HAVE THE RIGHTS TO HAVE.
AND EACH OF THEM, EACH OF THE RIGHTS ARE GOING TO BE INCREASING UNDER THE NEW FEDERAL, UM, A NEW FEDERAL MANDATE THAT WE HAVE, AND IT'S CALLED THE FINAL RULE.
AND THAT'S A FEDERAL, THAT'S A FEDERAL MANDATE.
AND MOST OF OUR, MOST OF OUR CONSUMERS, ALL OF OUR CONSUMERS DEAL UNDER THE PERSON CENTERED.
AND WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT, WHAT THAT MEANS TO US IS THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE DO WITH EACH INDIVIDUAL, WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS MAKE SURE THAT THE NEEDS ARE BUILT AROUND THE INDIVIDUALS, INDIVIDUALS, PERSONAL NEED.
AND EACH INDIVIDUAL IS DIFFERENT.
OF THE INDIVIDUALS WE SERVE, WHAT WE DO IS EVERY YEAR WE DEVELOP A PLAN AND THAT PLAN WILL LOOK AT WHAT THE NEEDS ARE WITH THE SERVICES THAT THEY HAVE TO HAVE AND MONITOR THOSE SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
AND EVERY YEAR WE HAVE TO UPDATE THAT PLAN.
THEY GET US THE SAME THING AS YOU CAN GO TO THE NEXT SLIDE.
WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WOULD, WHAT WE'VE DONE HERE IS WE JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU A PICTURE OF, THIS IS THE PICTURE OF OUR NEW BUILDINGS.
IN FACT, WE APPRECIATE YOU GUYS COMING IN AND VISIT OUR BUILDINGS.
ABOUT EIGHT YEARS OLD, I NEVER YEARS AGO, COUNTY COUNCIL GAVE US PERMISSION TO PURCHASE 10 ACRES.
AND WE BUILT, WE BUILT THAT WONDERFUL BUILDING THERE.
WE HAVE A STAFF OF 128 INDIVIDUALS.
AND WHAT'D YOU HAVE, THERE IS A LIST OF TRAINING THAT EACH EMPLOYEE HAS TO GO THROUGH IN ORDER TO BE EMPLOYED.
HERE THEY GO THROUGH CPR TRAINING, THEY GO THROUGH MED TRAINING.
THEY GO THROUGH DEFENSIVE DRIVING, UH, ABUSE AND NEGLECT MAT TRAINING.
THIS IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR FUNDING SITUATION, LIKE I SAID, ALL OF OUR, ALL OF OUR CONSUMERS ARE MEDICAID ARE, ARE MEDICAID
[00:35:01]
RECIPIENTS.UM, WE HAVE A CONTRACT WITH THE STATE.
I LIVE ACROSS THE STATE AND, UH, WITH, THROUGH THE MEDICAID MONEY, YOU KNOW, THAT ONE FOR EACH DOLLAR, FOR EACH DOLLAR THAT THE STATE GIVES MEDICAID, UH, HHS COMPLIMENTS OR MEET THREE.
SO IT'S THREE, A $1 THE STATE AND $3 FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT, OKAY.
ONE OF, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ASKED IS WHAT KIND OF MONITOR OVERSIGHT DO WE GET FROM, FROM, FROM, FROM THE STATE? WHAT WE DO IS EVERY 18 MONTHS TO A YEAR, THE STATE CONTRACTS WITH SOMEONE TO PROVIDE, TO PROVIDE A COMING IN AND MONITOR WHAT THE SERVICES WERE DOING LAST YEAR, WE GOT A 97%, UH, AND WE'VE CONSISTENTLY DONE VERY, VERY WELL WITH THAT.
UH, D HACK HAS MONITORED OUR DAY PROGRAM, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE COMPLIANT AND BABY THAT COMES IN AND MONITOR OUR, OUR, OUR CHILDREN PROGRAMS. AND LIKE I SAID, WE, WE, RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE ABOUT, UM, 180 CHILDREN THAT WE PROVIDE SERVICES FOR THIS MOVIE.
OUR CASE MANAGERS ARE NOW OUR CASE MANAGERS AND OUR EARLY INTERVENTIONISTS ARE WORKING, UH, WORKING AT HOME, THEY'RE WORKING ON AND THAT'S GOING QUITE WELL.
UM, IN FACT, THE PRODUCTIVITY HAS GONE WELL, AND I'M REALLY, I'M REALLY IMPRESSED AND PLEASED WITH THE KIND OF RESPONSES FROM THE FAMILY
WE WERE REALLY, WE WORKED REAL HARD TO GIVE THIS SLIDE, GIVE THIS SHOW BECAUSE WE HAD MUSIC AND EVERYTHING TO KIND OF JUST, I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
THAT TELLS YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WAIVER PROCESS.
AND IT'S NOT ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO GET THE WAIVER AGAIN, GET A WAIVER RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S ABOUT A THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS WAITING FOR A WAIVER TO GET SERVICES FROM, FROM IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
HOW MANY IN OUR COUNTY, UH, ON YOUR WAIT LIST, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
I'M NOT A 900 INDIVIDUALS FROM BUFORD COUNTY AWAITING TO RECEIVE A WAIVER.
AND YOU HAVE ABOUT THE 600 THAT YOU GET THAT CURRENTLY ARE IN THE PROGRAM.
WE KNOW WE PROTECT, WE TOUCH LIVES WITH WHAT WE DO IS THE CASE MANAGER.
SOME OF IT, SOME OF OUR CONSUMERS DO NOT COME TO THE DAY PROGRAM, OR THEY'RE NOT IN THE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM.
BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS PROVIDE SERVICES FROM THEM BECAUSE THEY MAY BE RECEIVING SERVICES FROM THEIR HOMES.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE TRY TO ASSESS THEM IS THAT THEY GET ON THEIR WAITING LIST TO, UH, TO RECEIVE SERVICES, TO RECEIVE A WAIVER.
THE BETTER IT IS BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A LONG WAITING LISTS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE SERVICES.
SO YOU CAN BE ON THE, YOU COULD BE ON THE WAIT LIST FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS BEFORE YOU RECEIVE A WAIVER.
AND THAT'S, THAT'S PRETTY FRUSTRATING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS TO HAVE SERVICES NEXT.
THEN WHAT THAT IS, AGAIN, THAT'S JUST A NUMBER THAT WE GIVE OUT FAMILY MEMBERS TO TELL THEM TO GO AHEAD AND APPLY FOR SERVICES.
WE WILL DIRECT THEM AND TELL THEM HOW TO GO ABOUT APPLYING FOR SERVICES, BUT THEY HAVE TO CONTACT THE FAMILY AS THE COP CAN CONTACT THE STATE THEMSELVES IN ORDER TO DO BREAKFAST.
I WAS JUST TALKING TO SHEREE I'M SURE IS OUR CASE MANAGER, SUPERVISOR OF AN EARLY INTERVENTION SUPERVISOR.
AND THAT NUMBER WITH CHILDREN FLUCTUATES.
I'M REALLY IMPRESSED THOUGH, WITH THE PROGRAMS WE PROVIDE CHILDREN, UH, LAST WEEK, IT WAS ABOUT 180, 189 CHILDREN'S WE SERVE AGAIN, IT'S FROM, FROM HILTON HEAD TO FLIP OUT AND WE PROVIDE ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
MOST OF OUR REFERRALS COME FROM TEACHERS OR PEDIATRICIANS.
IF A CHILD IS NOT MEETING THEIR, UH, MEETING, UH, A LEVEL OF CARE THAT THEY THINK THEY SHOULD BE, WHETHER IT'S TOURNEY, REACHING THROUGH CRAWLING, WHAT WE DO IS WE PROVIDE WRAPAROUND SERVICES.
WE CONTRACT WITH, WITH US, UH, INDIVIDUALS TO GO AROUND AND GO THERE AND
[00:40:01]
PROVIDE THE SERVICES, THE WHOLE FAMILY.WE ALSO, OUR EIS ALSO WORK WITH OUR FAMILY CLOSELY.
UM, TO BE PART OF THAT PROGRAM, THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE ACCEPTED IN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM, CORRECT? YES.
THIS IS JUST SOME PICTURES OF SOME OF THE KIDS WITH OUR, UH, OUR, OUR EIS ARE IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE FAMILIES HAVE HAD, HAVE BEEN REALLY WELCOMING AND ENCOURAGING STAFF TO COME IN.
AND IN ADDITION TO THE TELEHEALTH THAT WE'RE PROVIDING RESIDENTIAL SERVICES, WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, WE'D HAVE WITH THE OPENING DEPOSIT, YOU HAVE TO HAVE 11 HOMES, FOUR BEDROOM HOME.
WE WENT LAST FRIDAY, WE WENT BY AND TOOK A LOOK AT BALTIC.
UH, YOU MAY HAVE, YOU MAY HAVE REMEMBERED THIS WAY.
THERE WAS SOME, SOME CONCERNS ABOUT, UM, AND, UH, THE AREA IT'S BEEN GREAT.
A NUMBER OF ENABLERS DROVE BY AND WAVE TO US.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE AND I'M, I'M, I'M DONE UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL BE COMPLETED AND IN A MONTH OR SO GREAT.
IT SAYS WE HAVE 10, BUT WE HAVE WE'LL HAVE 11.
WE ARE, WE ALSO HAVE SEVEN INDIVIDUALS THAT LIVE IN APARTMENTS AND WE PROVIDE 24 HOUR SERVICE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS TOO.
THIS IS JUST A PICTURE OF SOME OF OUR HOMES.
THE CENTER, YOU GO A FAT THAT'S.
LET'S JUST INDIVIDUALS, CONSUMERS ENDURING.
THOSE, UH, DEANN CENTER AND WHY DALE IS THREE OF HOGS THAT YOU, IF YOU REMEMBER, YOU GAVE US MONEY TO REPLACE PORT RAUL, OR THEY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT PORT ROLE RIGHT NOW IS THERE'S A CONTRACT ON PORT ROLE FOR $760,000.
I'M DONE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A, A, A DAYCARE CENTER, A DAYCARE CENTER, UH, THAT MONEY WILL COME BACK TO THE COUNTY AT $760,000 WILL COME BACK TO THE COUNTY.
UH, AND I TELL YOU GUYS, MAINE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN MANAGING THIS PROCESS.
SO IT'S WORKED OUT REALLY WELL.
OUR DAY PROGRAM IS SET UP WHERE WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS, AND THEN THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH MEDICAID EXPECTATION.
IT HAS TO BE A TRAINING PROGRAM.
OUR PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE THE THOMAS A TRAINING TO HELP INDIVIDUALS TO BE AS INDEPENDENT AS POSSIBLE.
SO WHEN THEY COME TO OUR DAY PROGRAM, AND BY THE WAY, 64% OF OUR INDIVIDUALS WHO COME TO THE DAY PROGRAM OR OUTWORKING, IF YOU GO TO THE SUPERMARKET, IF YOU GO TO PUBLIX, CHANCES ARE YOU'RE GOING TO RUN INTO ONE OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS.
THEY'RE WORKING AT PALS AND WORK OUT AT THE AIR STATION.
AND THEY'RE DOING REALLY WELL, JUST PICTURES OF SOME OF THAT, SOME OF THE TRAINING ROOMS, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING WORK CREWS AND WHAT, WHAT WE HAVE IS WE HAVE A, UH, WE HAVE A DOG THERAPY PROGRAM AND THAT A DOG THERAPY PROGRAM, ANOTHER PROGRAM, WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS GET AS MANY, UH, ACTIVITIES AS POSSIBLE.
AS YOU CAN SEE THAT THEY'RE PLAYING TENNIS.
WE ALSO HAVE A YOGA PROGRAM AND THAT'S WORKED OUT REALLY WELL TO, WE HAVE A SUMMER, A SUMMER CAMP, CAMP, TREASURE, CHEST, UH, THAT'S USUALLY INDIVIDUALS WHO CAN'T TAKE, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF REGULAR CHAMPION PROGRAM.
SO IT'S ABOUT FOUR, A FOUR WEEKS PROGRAM.
AND LIKE I SAID, IT SERVES ABOUT 30 INDIVIDUALS DOING THAT.
[00:45:06]
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES WE DO AT CAMP.WHAT THE, WHAT THE, WHAT THE STATE DOES IS THE STATE GIVES US A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY.
AND WHAT WE CAN DO IS USE THAT MONEY TO HELP FAMILIES THROUGH, UH, ANY, ANY SPECIAL THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO HAVE.
UH, AND SO WHAT WE DO IS IF THEY'RE NON-WAIVER, THEN THEY CAN ALSO APPLY FOR SOME, SOME SUPPORT FROM US.
THOSE ARE THE INDIVIDUALS WAITING ON, ON THE WAIT LIST.
UM, AND IN ORDER FOR US TO DO OUR JOB, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO CONNECT AND WORK WITH, UH, WITH A NUMBER OF AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY, UH, COZY, CLOSE OUT THE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION, UM, YEAH, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE DETENTION CENTER, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF WORDS THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH WHAT, WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE TO CONTINUE TO WORK OFF.
WE WERE DOWN ABOUT 30 STAFF MEMBERS.
SO WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO RECRUIT ACTIVELY RECRUIT AND TALK ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY TO REACH INTO THE COMMUNITY, GET PEOPLE TO APPLY FOR JOBS.
YET, AGAIN, RESIDENTIAL IS BUILT AROUND THE WHOLE IDEA OF HAVING THOSE INDIVIDUALS BECOME AS EDUCATED AS POSSIBLE.
WE'VE GOT TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
AND SAME WAY WITH CASE MANAGEMENT IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE BUY.
OKAY, LET'S SEE GUYS, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE TIP OF THE SLIDESHOW, BUT I DO WANT TO TELL YOU SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE FEW THINGS THAT WE'VE, THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING, UH, IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH THIS POPULATION, WHICH WE TALKED, I TOLD YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT REPLACING PORT RAUL CHURCH.
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THAT.
UH, W WE'RE REALLY GOOD WITH THAT.
AND THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS WE'VE LOST TWO INDIVIDUALS TO DEATH.
ONE, ONE INDIVIDUAL, UM, DATA'S RIDDLED WITH COVID, COVID A CRISIS SITUATION VIRUS, AND THE OTHER ONE, THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL YOUNG LADY, DOC, UH, NOT NATURAL CAUSES, BUT, BUT SHE, SHE HAD SOME MENTAL, SHE HAD SOME BRAIN DAMAGE STUFF GOING ON THERE.
UM, WHAT WE HAVE OUR SHORTAGE OF STAFF IS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH, WITH, WITH US, UH, JUST BECAUSE WE NEED PEOPLE.
WE NEED PEOPLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES, THE STAFF, UH, THE FACT THAT WE'VE ENSURED THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF HAS HELPED OUT.
EVERYBODY HAS REALLY REACHED OUT AND REALLY SUPPORTED TO STAFF.
EVERY, EVERY MINISTRATIVE, UH, PERSONNEL HAS GONE OUT AND GONE INTO THE HOMES AND HELPED OUT, WHICH I REALLY APPRECIATE OUR, OUR NURSE IS IN THE HOME EVERY DAY, PROVIDING MEDICAL NEEDS AND EDUCATING AND TRAINING CONSUMERS AND STAFF ON THE BEST WAY TO RESPOND.
UM, THE ONLY, THE ONLY OTHER SIGNIFICANT CHANGE THAT THAT'S NOT THERE IS COME JANUARY, COME JANUARY ONE, WHERE ALL OUR SERVICES GOING TO BE DIRECTED ON FEE FOR SERVICE.
THAT MEANS THAT WE ONLY GET PAID.
WELL, WE GET PAID FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.
THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT CHANGE, AND THAT'S A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THAT'S, UH, AN ESTATE ISSUE, UH, TWO INDIVIDUALS AND THE ATTENDING THAT THEY PROGRAM, WE WILL ONLY GET PAID FOR THE SERVICES WE PROVIDED THERE.
SO WE'RE PROBABLY THINKING THAT'S GOING TO BE A $250,000 CHANGE AND IN OUR BUDGET, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO MAKE SOME ADJUSTMENTS THERE.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT WORKING WELL, BECAUSE WE WORKED HARD ON TRYING TO PROVIDE, UM, UH, SHOW A SLIDE SHOW.
AND WE THOUGHT WE, WE THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE, BUT I APOLOGIZE FOR IT NOT WORKING THE WAY IT WORKED OUT.
WE, UH, HAPPY WITH YOUR COMMENTS AND WE WERE ABLE TO READ WHAT YOU PRESENTED, IF YOU WOULD BE KIND ENOUGH TO JUST GET A COPY OVER TO SARAH, A HARD COPY, OR MAYBE
[00:50:01]
WE CAN PRINT RIGHT FROM THIS.UH, I'D LIKE TO KEEP A COPY OF IT.
YOUR PRESENTATION WAS IMPRESSIVE.
THE SERVICES YOU PROVIDE ARE IMPRESSIVE.
THE FACILITIES THAT YOU HAVE ARE OUTSTANDING.
UM, I, I HAVE TO SAY OVERALL, THE WORK YOU'RE DOING, IT'S REALLY, UM, OUTSTANDING.
AND I THINK YOU AND YOUR STAFF SHOULD BE CONGRATULATED, PARTICULARLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT BOSTIK CIRCLE IS MOVING IN A POSITIVE WAY IN THAT YOU CAN EXPECT THAT THE CONSTRUCTION WILL BE DONE IN ABOUT A MONTH.
THAT'S VERY ENCOURAGING, BUT ALL OF THOSE PROPERTIES LOOK ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIC.
SO CONGRATULATIONS ON, ON THE APPEARANCE OF THEM AND THE MAINTENANCE OF THEM, BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY, UH, IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF HOW PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT THE CONDITIONS THAT THEY HAVE AND WHERE THEY'RE LIVING.
AND, UH, I'M SURE IT GIVES HIM A GREAT DEAL OF SATISFACTION TO SEE THAT THEY'RE SO WELL TAKEN CARE OF.
I HAD A QUESTION, MR. CHAIRMAN, I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS, ALEX, UM, YOU SAID THE FEE FOR SERVICE IS GONNA HURT YOUR HEART, YOUR BUDGET BY ABOUT 250,000.
CAN YOU GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT, HOW THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE AND IS THAT, UM, AND THAT YOU'RE SHORT 30 PEOPLE, IS THAT CORRECT? 30 STAFF.
THE HHS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAVE SAYING PREVIOUSLY, WHAT THEY WOULD DO IS GIVE US, THEY WOULD GIVE US MONEY BEFORE WE PROVIDED SERVICES.
STARTING JANUARY ONE, WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO IS ONLY COMPENSATE.
THEY ONLY GONNA PAY US FOR THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING.
AND SO, SO ATTENDANCE IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S GOING TO BE, IT'S GOING TO BE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT HOW WE DELIVER THE DELIVERY SERVICE.
SO THAT CHANGE IS JUST A PART OF THE CHANGE.
THAT'S GONNA COME FROM THE SERVICE DELIVERY.
UH, WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS, UH, WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE JOB JOB SITUATION.
NOW, UH, WE REACHED OUT TO THE HISPANIC POPULATION.
IN FACT, THEY'RE GONNA DO IN NOVEMBER, THEY'RE GONNA PROVIDE AN ARTICLE IN THEIR MAGAZINES ABOUT EAST LA.
SO TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE SERVICES WE'RE PROVIDING.
SO YEAH, IT'S GOT TO BE AN ISSUE.
IT'S A CHALLENGE, BUT I THINK WE'RE GOING TO DO WELL WITH IT.
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I DO WANT TO SAY IS I REALLY WISH YOU, THE COUNTY COUNCIL REALLY APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANCE OF SUPPORTING US.
UH, EVERY TIME I, EVERY TIME I GO AND MY STAFF GO GO TO COLUMBIA AND WE TALK ABOUT PEOPLE REALLY RESPECT AND APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM COTTON COUNCIL.
AND I KNOW THAT SOMETIMES THAT THAT CAN BE DIFFICULT.
AND I KNOW SOMETIMES PEOPLE QUESTION WHETHER OR NOT THE SERVICES SHOULD BE PROVIDED THE WAY THEY'RE PROVIDED.
BUT I TELL YOU, IF YOU ONLY, IF YOU GUYS COULD ONLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHEN, WHEN WE PROVIDE THE SERVICES, HOW MANY PEOPLE REALLY RESPECT BUFORD COUNTY FOR BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES THAT WE GET.
I COMPLIMENT YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO HELPING US DO OUR JOBS.
UM, ANYTHING FURTHER WITH REGARD TO QUESTIONS FOR BILL KAY, THEN I EXTEND MY THANKS ONCE AGAIN, BILL FOR YOU TAKING YOUR TIME TO PUT THAT TERRIFIC PRESENTATION TOGETHER, I'M SORRY, THE AUDIO SALE, BUT YOUR AUDIO CERTAINLY WAS SUFFICIENT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND THE GOOD WORK YOU'RE DOING, AND WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT YOUR POWERPOINT GETS DISTRIBUTED.
SO THANKS AGAIN, BILL AND MY CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND WILL THE MEMBERS OF YOUR TEAM THERE.
THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, MR.
IT WAS A COMMENT MORE ADAM, ONE DAY AND MY GRATITUDE TO YOU AS WELL, BILL YOU AND YOUR WHOLE STAFF FOR WHAT YOU DO FOR THE PEOPLE WHO I REPRESENT IN MY DISTRICT.
AND I'M VERY PROUD THAT THE ESSENCE, THE DSN FACILITY IS IN DISTRICT FIVE AND WE ALSO HAVE A NEW HOUSE COMING OUT AND IT'S ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED, BOSTIC CIRCLE PROPERTY COMING ONLINE SOON.
I'M WONDERING WHAT YOUR MOVE IN DATE IS BILL FOR THE NEW HOUSE ON BOSTON CIRCLE.
YEAH, I TALKED TO, I TALKED TO, UH, MARK YES.
AND HE SAID, IT'D PROBABLY BE A MONTH OR TWO FOR THEM TO FIND WHY SOME, SOME SMALL THINGS.
SO SURELY AFTER THAT, WHAT WANDA HAS TO DO IS CONTACT THE STATE AND THAT THEY HAVE TO COME DOWN AND LICENSE IT.
SO THAT'S ABOUT A MONTH, MONTH AND A HALF PROCESS.
WE'RE PROBABLY TALKING, UM, DECEMBER PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT DECEMBER.
LET'S COORDINATE BECAUSE WE'D REALLY LIKE TO HAVE A WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARTY AT SOME POINT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN AND HAVE EVERYBODY KNOW EVERYBODY ELSE, SINCE WE'RE ALL LIVING IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD, WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW THAT WE APPRECIATE THEM.
AND BRIAN, WHAT WE WILL DO IS MAKE SURE THAT WE GIVE YOU BEFORE WE DO IT.
GIVE, GIVE YOU THE NAME AND GIVE YOU SOME INFORMATION ABOUT THE INDIVIDUAL THAT'S GOING TO BE LIVING THERE
[00:55:01]
SO YOU COULD JUST BE HEADS UP.I DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S REALLY NECESSARY.
WE, UM, I KNOW I TRUST YOUR JUDGMENT ON THESE KINDS OF THINGS AND YOUR STAFF HAS PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE SO COMPETENT AND CARING AT EVERY TURN.
AND I JUST I'D WANT TO THANK YOU.
[8. DISCUSSION – ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DEPARTMENT UPDATE]
THE NEXT TOPIC IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.UH, I SEE THAT STEVE DONALDSON, UH, FROM THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL DRUG ABUSE IS HERE.
AND, UH, STEVE, IF YOU COULD, IF YOU'D BE KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING THERE FOR THE PAST SIX MONTHS OR SO, AND WHAT YOU ANTICIPATE WILL BE HAPPENING THROUGH THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR, WE SURE WOULD APPRECIATE IT.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU, STEVE.
WELL, AT FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, UM, COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEMBERS FOR INVITING ME TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE ARE THE BUFORD COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE DEPARTMENT, AND WE ARE KNOWN AS BACK A DAD TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.
SO WHEN I THROW THAT ACRONYM ACRONYM AND AROUND, YOU KNOW, I'M TALKING ABOUT US SINCE I'M, SARAH'S HAVING SOME TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES ON HER END, I'M JUST GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN AND PUT UP MY VIDEO AND I'LL CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN SEE IT.
CAN YOU SAY, YEAH, IT'S LOADING UP.
WELL, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE'VE BEEN A COUNTY DEPARTMENT FOR 46 YEARS.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO NOTE THAT ANYONE IS ELIGIBLE FOR OUR SERVICES, WHO HAS A SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER FROM, UM, THE DSM FIVE AND UH, FOR CLINICAL SERVICES.
AND THEN OF COURSE, EVERY CITIZEN IN THE COUNTY IS ELIGIBLE FOR OUR PREVENTION SERVICES.
UM, LET ME SEE IF I CAN MOVE HEADS OFF OF MY LITTLE SCREEN HERE.
UH, SO BASICALLY I JUST WANTED TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WHAT, WHAT, WHAT WE DO HERE IS, IS NOT UNCOMMON THAN WHAT'S DONE IN THE REST OF THE COUNTIES OF THE STATE.
WE ARE CREATED UNDER WHAT'S CALLED THE THREE OH ONE LAW.
SO EVERY SINGLE COUNTY HAS A COMMISSION SUCH AS OURS.
UM, WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON, UM, WITH US SINCE COVID IN PARTICULAR, IS, UH, WE'VE HAD A SERVICE REDUCTION OF ABOUT 48 POINT 27%, A NUMBER OF PATIENTS THAT WE WOULD SERVE AT ANY GIVEN TIME DURING, UM, SO LIKE RIGHT NOW WE SHOULD HAVE ABOUT 325 PATIENTS, BUT WE REALLY ONLY HAVE ABOUT A 160 AT THIS MOMENT.
AND A LOT OF THAT, WE ATTRIBUTE TO, UH, AS A COBIT EFFECT, UH, AS SUCH, WE HAVE SOME VACANT POSITIONS THAT WE HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO FILL OR NOT ASK TO FILL WHAT ACTUALLY HAVE, UM, THREE FULL TIME COUNSELOR POSITIONS VACANT AT THIS TIME.
AND TWO GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS.
ONE OF THE GRANT FUNDED POSITIONS IS ACTUALLY AN ADOLESCENT COUNSELOR BECAUSE WE RECOGNIZED THAT THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT SERVICE GAP IN THIS, IN THIS COUNTY, JUST HAVING ONE ADOLESCENT COUNSELOR COVERING BOTH THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH OF THE BROAD RIVER AND PLUS THE RIGHT CHOICES PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION BUILDING, WE RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS AT LEAST 70 CHILDREN OR ADOLESCENTS A YEAR THAT NEEDED TO HAVE ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT SERVICES.
AND THERE WAS NOT AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT COMPONENT, UM, IN THAT PROGRAM.
SO, UM, SINCE THE SCHOOL'S CLOSED OR IS JUST STARTING UP AGAIN, THAT'S, UH, ALSO, UH, UH, NOT A POSITION THAT'S, UM, SEEMS NECESSARY AT THE MOMENT, BUT WE'RE KEEPING OUR EYE ON THAT.
AND WE HAVE ANOTHER GRANT FUNDED POSITION AVAILABLE, WHICH IS FOR A PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST.
SO BASICALLY FOR BACON COUNSELOR POSITIONS, ONE VACANT, UM, UM, PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST, WHICH IS ABOUT 25% OF OUR NORMAL, UM, UH, UH, STAFF SIZE.
SO, BUT THE REDUCED, UM, UH, NUMBER OF SERVICES BEING PROVIDED, UH, AGAIN, WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE AND WE HOPE THAT CHANGES.
AND WHEN THE NEED IS THERE, WE ADVOCATE APPROPRIATELY.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S OF CONCERN TO US IN PARTICULAR WITH THE SCHOOL BEING CLOSED AND A LOT OF OTHER SERVICE TEAS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE, UM, NOT FUNCTIONING THE WAY THAT THEY WOULD IN A NON COVID PERIOD IS ADOLESCENTS BEING REFERRED TO OUR PROGRAM IS SIGNIFICANTLY, SIGNIFICANTLY DOWN.
I JUST GOT DONE SAYING THAT WE HAVE A, WE HAVE DEMONSTRATED OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST FEW YEARS
[01:00:01]
THAT WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT SERVICE GAP FOR ADOLESCENTS, BUT RIGHT NOW WE'VE ONLY GOT SEVEN ADOLESCENTS IN SERVICES BETWEEN THE NORTH AND THE SOUTH OF THE BROAD RIVER.AND FOR ME, THAT'S PRETTY ALARMING.
WE'VE DONE SOME THINGS TO TRY TO, UM, UH, COMMUNICATE WITH REFERRAL SOURCES FROM THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY TO LET THEM KNOW WE ARE HERE.
UM, EVEN THOUGH COUNTY BUILDINGS ARE CLOSED, WE'RE PROVIDING SERVICES DIFFERENTLY, AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO, UM, CREATE A PRESENCE OUT THERE SO THAT PEOPLE KNOW THAT, UM, WE ARE HERE TO HELP IF THEY NEED US.
UM, THE OF NOTE IS THAT INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS ARE BASICALLY OUR BREAD AND BUTTER.
THAT'S OUR HIGHEST LEVEL OF SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.
WE PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SERVICES AND A NON COBIT PERIOD THROUGH THAT PROGRAM, WHICH, UM, ARE PATIENTS THAT ARE IN THOSE PROGRAMS. THEY, THEY ACTUALLY THEY'RE ASSESSED TO REALLY NEED THOSE AS WELL.
I SHOULDN'T JUST SAY WE PACK THEM IN FOR THE REVENUE, BUT WHAT'S UNFORTUNATE IS DURING THIS COBIT PERIOD, THE REGULATORY REGULATORY BODIES HAVE DECIDED THAT, UM, THAT SERVICE SHOULD NOT BE DONE VIRTUALLY.
SO, UM, WE REALLY KIND OF WERE REALLY STRUGGLING TO, UM, TO BOTH BILL FOR SERVICES AND ALSO TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR WHAT PEOPLE ARE ASSESSED TO REALLY NEED.
I MEAN, IT'S IOP, WE CALL INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES.
IOP IS REALLY WHEN A PERSON'S IN SERVICES FROM NINE TO 19 HOURS A WEEK.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE NINE TO 19 HOURS A WEEK OF CLINICAL SERVICES FOR, UM, EVERYBODY THAT ASSESSES THAT THEY NEED THAT PROGRAM.
UM, THERE IS GOOD NEWS VIRTUALLY WE CAN PROVIDE SOME SERVICES, UH, WE CAN PROVIDE WHAT'S CALLED AD SAPP.
IS THAT ALCOHOL? UM, UH, IT'S, IT'S THE PROGRAM THAT WE PUT, UM, PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN CONVICTED OF A DUI OR A BOATING UNDER THE INFLUENCE THROUGH, UH, WE CAN PROVIDE VIRTUAL SERVICES FOR THEM.
SO WE ARE PROVIDING SOME GROUP SERVICES, UH, TO THAT END.
WE'RE TRYING TO PROVIDE SERVICES FOR EVERYBODY AS BEST WE CAN, BUT SERVICES ARE BEING PROVIDED DIFFERENTLY.
AND OUR REVENUES, OUR REVENUES ARE CERTAINLY HAVE CERTAINLY BEEN AFFECTED.
UH, THE GOOD NEWS IS, IS THAT WE, UM, UH, THE, THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATION HAD THEIR EYE, UM, ON THE, UH, THE, THE FUND BALANCE THAT WE HAD, THEY PROJECTED THAT WE WOULD NEED TO DIP INTO IT.
AND INDEED WE ARE GOING TO, AND INDEED WE WILL BE OKAY, SO NO, NO RED FLAGS TO BRING UP HERE.
I THINK EVERYTHING IS JUST FOLLOWING COURSE WITH WHAT WE EXPECTED IT TO BE.
I THINK ONE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHILE WE ARE NOT PROVIDING IOP, VIRTUALLY, UM, CMS IN WASHINGTON, UM, HAS BASICALLY TOLD EVERY STATE TO MAKE THAT THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION.
UM, MOST STATES ARE ALLOWING, UM, ALCOHOL AND DRUG TREATMENT PROVIDERS TO BILL MEDICAID FOR PROVIDING VIRTUAL INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT PROGRAMS. BUT THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA HAS CHOSEN NOT TO.
UM, AND ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS IS SOUTH CAROLINA DE ODUS IS BASICALLY FOLLOWING THE LEAD OF WHATEVER DHHS, UM, SAYS THAT WE CAN DO.
AND SO WE CAN'T PULL DOWN ANY BLOCK GRANT FUNDING.
SO I, TO THAT END, SOUTH CAROLINA IS A LITTLE BIT OF AN OUTLIER, BUT WE ARE, UM, THROUGH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH CAROLINA, OR TRYING TO, UH, CREATE THE NARRATIVE, PUSHING, PUSHING THE NARRATIVE THAT WE DON'T NEED TO BE AN OUTLIER AND THAT WE NEED TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE FOR THE SERVICE NEEDS OF OUR PATIENTS.
HOPEFULLY THAT WILL CHANGE SOON.
BUT AT THIS POINT, UM, I'M NOT SURE WHERE, WHERE IT IS OR SINCE LAST WEDNESDAY.
ANYWAY, UH, LET'S SEE, UH, SOME, SOME TECHNOLOGY CHANGES OF COURSE HAVE OCCURRED, UM, AS A RESULT OF COVID, UH, AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE PROVIDING OUR SERVICES VIRTUALLY, UM, WE'RE DISPELLING THE MYTH THAT WE'RE CLOSED.
AND, UH, IN FACT, OUR, OUR PATIENTS THAT ARE RECEIVING SERVICES IN SOME OF THEIR SATISFACTION SURVEY COMMENTS HAVE ACTUALLY CLAIMED I'M GETTING, I'M GETTING WELL IN MY OWN HOME, DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE POSSIBLE TO DO IT THIS WAY.
UM, SOME, BASICALLY SOME VERY GOOD COMMENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THIS WORK AND BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO.
WE'VE ALL BEEN VERY PLEASANTLY SURPRISED OR CONTINUING TO COMMUNICATE OUR INTEREST WITH DRUG COURT CONTINUATION.
UM, THAT'S NOT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR YET, BUT WE'RE IN COMMUNICATION WITH, UM, THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE AND HOPE THAT THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT WE CONTINUE.
UM, WHERE CAN I CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE THESE ISSUES WITH THE
[01:05:01]
BOARD? AND AGAIN, I'M HAVING REGULAR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE.UH, THE DEPARTMENT'S CONTINUING TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE NEW ATTORNEY HIRED BY THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING ARRESTED FOR DUI.
UM, AND I THINK THAT YOU'RE AWARE BECAUSE YOU FUNDED THAT POSITION, THAT THE SAME, LIKE THERE NEEDED TO BE, UM, ANOTHER INTERVENTION OR ENHANCED, UM, AN ENHANCED LOOK AT WHAT TO DO WITH THOSE CASES.
SO WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME DISCUSSIONS MAY S AND THIS NEW ATTORNEY FRONT, THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE, I'VE ENCOURAGED THEM TO TAKE A LOOK UP WHAT KERSHAW COUNTY IS DOING AND INDICATED THAT WE WILL SUPPORT, UM, UH, ANY SORT OF INTERVENTION TO HELP MAKE OUR ROADS SAFER HERE IN BUFORD COUNTY.
SO, UH, I ANTICIPATE THAT WE WILL BE HELPING THEM AND WE'LL BE TOGETHER.
WE'LL BE HELPING BUFORD COUNTY.
UH, THE DEPARTMENT HAS, WE OBTAINED SOME, SOME GRANT FUNDING.
THOSE PSH ARE, UM, RUNNING, UM, THE COUNTY CHANNEL.
THEY'RE PUSHED OUT IN OUR NEWSLETTER AND SCOTT'S ALSO BEEN LOOKING AT OTHER, UM, MAJOR MARKETS TO PUSH THESE THINGS OUT, UM, ON THE THIRTIES, YOU KNOW, THE 32ND VARIETY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, THEY CAN DO WITHOUT US HAVING TO PAY FOR IT AND ALLOWING US TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE.
THOSE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS HAD TO DO WITH, UM, YOU KNOW, US USING OUR ACTUALLY BEING A NARCAN DISTRIBUTION SITE, AND ALSO TO HELP CITIZENS UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAD RESOURCES FOR THEM TO SAFELY DISCARD MEDICATIONS, AND ALSO TO ALERT THEM TO WHERE THE DROP BOX IS.
UH, AGAIN, ALL SERVICES ARE VIRTUAL EXCEPT YOU'RE IN DRUG SCREENS.
UM, WE ARE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE, WE'RE BASICALLY, WE'RE ALSO VERY PATIENT CENTERED CLIENT CENTERED.
UM, UH IT'S UH, AND I THINK ALL OF OUR PATIENTS DESERVE THAT SORT OF DIGNITY AND RESPECT.
SO WE CROSSED, HOWEVER, WE ALSO HAVE TO VERIFY, SO A URINE DRUG SCREENS ARE AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR US TO HELP SUPPORT DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING.
AND SO RECENTLY WE ARE ABLE TO OPEN ON AN ABBREVIATED SCHEDULE TO PROVIDE THAT SERVICE AGAIN.
UH, I HAVE A CONTRACT WITH FEDERAL PROBATION, SO I ALSO ALERTED THEM TO THAT, UM, UH, OUR ABILITY TO DO THAT, WHICH THEY WERE HAPPY TO DO.
AND THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY PEOPLE THAT ARE OTHERWISE IN OUR SERVICES.
IT'S JUST A MONITORING DEVICE THAT WE HELP THEM WITH.
SO WE'RE PROVIDING URINE DRUG SCREENS FOR OUR PATIENTS AND ALSO FOR FEDERAL PROBATION.
ONCE AGAIN, I INDICATED THAT WE'RE DOING AD SAPP, UM, VIRTUALLY, UH, I DIDN'T INDICATE THAT GROUPING OFFENDER BASE INTERVENTION VIRTUALLY TO, AND ALSO WHAT WE'RE USING TO DO IT.
WE'RE ACTUALLY USING A SERVICE, A PLATFORM CALLED DOXY.ME, WHICH HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY THE, UM, SOUTH CAROLINA TELESCOPE TELE-HEALTH ASSOCIATION.
THEY'RE ALSO PAYING FOR US TO HAVE AN ENHANCED VERSION SO THAT WE, OUR GROUP SERVICES THAT WE'RE DOING TELEHEALTH ARE ACTUALLY, UM, VERY QUALITATIVE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF PLATFORMS THAT WE LOOKED AT AND TRIED, UM, THAT WERE NOT, AND NOT ONLY IS THIS ONE, A GOOD STABLE PLATFORM, IT'S ALSO BEING PAID BY SOMEBODY ELSE, WHICH I REALLY LIKE, UM, STAFF HAVE ALL BEEN CONVERTED TO, UM, MOBILE TECHNOLOGY AND ALSO PATIENTS THAT CANNOT ENGAGE IN SERVICES THROUGH TECHNOLOGY ARE ALSO BEING PROVIDED AT A FLIP PHONE.
SO WE'RE DOING TELEPHONIC SERVICES WITH THEM, AND I'M PAYING FOR THAT ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS, AS LONG AS THEY'RE ENGAGED IN SERVICES.
AND THAT ALSO IS BEING TAKEN FOR, FROM A GRANT I'VE ONLY GOT ABOUT $300 LEFT IN THAT GRANT, BUT, UM, DHHS WHO ALSO GIVES US HEALTHY OUTCOME INITIATIVE DOLLARS, UM, HOW COPS DOLLARS HAVE GIVEN US PERMISSION TO USE SOME OF OUR HOPS FUNDS TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PAY FOR THAT SERVICE FOR THOSE PATIENTS.
UM, WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE WE HAVE, WE HAVE PATIENTS THAT DON'T HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY, OR, YOU KNOW, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS DON'T WANT TO LOAN THEM THEIR TELEPHONES.
SO WE'VE REMOVED THAT ACCESSIBILITY BARRIER THROUGH GRANT FUNDING, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO, TO DO IT THROUGH HOPS FUNDING, OUR SERVICE OPERATIONS.
UM, WE ARE CONTINUING TO PROVIDE MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT.
UH, WE HAVE CONTRACTUAL AND NON CONTRACTUAL, UM, PARTNERS, OUR NON CONTRACTUAL PARTNERS, WHERE WE'RE ACTUALLY WORKING ON CHANGING THAT.
I'LL GET TO THAT IN A FEW MINUTES.
[01:10:01]
FOR MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT ARE BEING PAID BY THE STATE OUTCOME RESPONSE, THE STATE OPIOID RESPONSE, OR FEDERAL OPIOID RESPONSE DOLLARS.AND, AND IT IS A BEST PRACTICE INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE MEDICATION AND SUPPORTIVE COUNSELING.
UH, AS LONG AS BOTH ARE INDICATED, WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH, UM, COMP HEALTH.
AND I THINK THAT A YEAR AGO WHEN I WAS HERE, WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT STARTING THAT INITIATIVE.
IT'S WORKED WELL, WE'RE IN OUR, WE JUST RECENTLY SIGNED OUR CONTRACT TO, UM, GO INTO OUR SECOND YEAR.
AND, UM, AGAIN, IT'S A, IT'S, IT'S A GOOD SUPPORT.
THAT'S HELPING PEOPLE, BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH OF THE ABROAD WHO HAVE AN OPIOID USE DISORDER.
UM, WE'RE, WE'RE, AGAIN, WE'RE, WE'RE, UH, DISTRIBUTING, UM, NARCAN FOR, FOR, UH, BOTH OUR PATIENTS SUPPORT SOURCES AND THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEN I GET TO TALKING ABOUT PREVENTION, I'LL LET YOU KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE BEEN DOING WITH THIS INITIATIVE SINCE THEY'VE TOTALLY, TOTALLY TAKEN IT ON AT THIS POINT, OUR DEBT SET OFF PROGRAM, WE JUST SUBMITTED OUR FIRST SPREADSHEET, UH, OF, UH, PEOPLE THAT NEED TO BE SUBMITTED.
UM, WE HAVE TOLD ALL OF OUR PATIENTS WHO WE'VE SUBMITTED FOR DEBT SET OFF THAT THEY HAVE BEEN, UM, UM, THEY HAVE BEEN DULY SUBMITTED AND THAT THEY HAVE UNTIL THE END OF DECEMBER TO START MAKING PAYMENTS SO THAT WE DON'T, UM, TRY TO GET SOME OF THEIR TAX DOLLARS AND THAT'S RESULTED IN SOME PEOPLE STARTING TO PAY THEIR BILL.
SO WE'RE REALLY HOPEFUL THAT IN THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, WE'LL GET SOME MONEY FROM THAT.
AND THEN ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, COME TAX SEASON THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET SOME OTHER MONIES FOR, UM, BAD DEBT.
AND THIS IS THEIR FIRST YEAR AND OUR 46 YEARS AND IN THE COUNTY THAT WE HAVE BEEN PART OF THE DEBT SET OFF PROGRAM.
AND I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THAT.
I THINK PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IS, IS BIG.
AND SO HOLDING THEIR FEET TO THE FIRE, TO PAY FOR, UM, BILLS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ASSESSED, THAT THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PAY FOR.
I'M A BIG BELIEVER IN LETTING THEM DO THAT.
ALSO, THIS MAY SEEM LIKE, WELL, DOESN'T EVERYONE, BUT WE DIDN'T.
WE JUST STARTED USING CREDIT CARDS AT BOTH LOCATIONS SINCE JANUARY.
UH, I KNOW THAT'S A LITTLE BIT FURTHER OUT THAN SIX MONTHS, BUT I, TO US, THAT'S A PRETTY BIG DEAL.
IT'S ALSO, UM, WE'VE ALSO GOT ON OUR WEBSITE SO PATIENTS CAN PAY THEIR BILLS THAT WAY, AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO COME TO OUR OFFICES.
THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT SINCE OUR OFFICES RIGHT NOW ARE, ARE CLOSED FOR THE MOST PART.
IF SOMEONE WANTS TO PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD, NOW THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.
UH, WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF WEBSITE ENHANCEMENTS.
UM, OUR COUNSELORS, VIRTUAL COUNSELING ROOMS ARE LISTED ON OUR WEBSITE.
IF A PATIENT HAS AN APPOINTMENT, THEY, THEY JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE.
THEY CLICK THAT THEY'RE THERE.
AND THE COUNSELOR, IF THEY RECOGNIZE THAT THAT'S THE PERSON THAT HAS THE APPOINTMENT, THEY LET THEM IN AND COUNSELING BEGINS AGAIN.
WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF PSA DAYS.
UM, WE'VE EXPANDED, UM, A LOT OF OTHER RESOURCES FOR CITIZENS, UM, UH, ON OUR WEBSITE.
SO CITIZENS ARE ABLE TO, TO SEE WHERE CAN I GO FOR HELP VIRTUALLY WHEN I CAN'T GO FACE TO FACE OUR PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST IS JUST DONE A BANG UP JOB WITH THAT.
UM, SO MUCH THAT THE STATE HAS APPRECIATED, UM, THE INFORMATION SHE'S PUT TOGETHER AND HAS SHARED IT WITH EVERYONE ELSE IN THE STATE AND THREE ON ONE SYSTEM.
SO I THINK THAT'S, UM, I THINK THAT'S A NICE COMPLIMENT FOR HER.
I ALSO PUT OUR SATISFACTION SURVEY LINK FOR THE COMMUNITY ON OUR WEBSITE.
A LOT OF MY PEERS SAID, OH, YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT.
UM, IT'S BEEN, IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A VERY GOOD, UM, IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN VERY GOOD FOR US, UM, TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING MORE PEOPLE RESPONDING.
I LOOK AT THAT THING PERIODICALLY AND NOT, YOU KNOW, DOING IT ONCE A YEAR AND LOOKING AT IT THEN, AND THEN NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
I LOOK AT THOSE RESULTS THROUGH SURVEY MONKEY WITH REGULARITY.
UM, AND SO WE'RE ABLE TO DO PROCESS IMPROVEMENT FROM LOOKING AT SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS BEFORE A YEARS PAST.
UH, SO OUR WEBSITE HAS REALLY BECOME A VERY, VERY, UM, IMPORTANT AND USEFUL TOOL FOR US AND FOR THE CITIZENS.
IT'S GOT A LOT OF INFORMATION THERE.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T LOOKED AT IT IN A WHILE, UM, I, YOU KNOW, I ASKED YOU TO DO THAT.
PREVENTION SERVICES PREVENTION IS A, UM, YOU KNOW, CAUSE WE PROVIDE THE CLINICAL SERVICES, WHICH I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR THE MOST PART.
AND I NEED TO SAY THAT WHEN COVERT HIT, I FIRST WONDERED, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH PREVENTION? BECAUSE PREVENTION
[01:15:01]
IS A, IS IN THE SCHOOLS, IT'S COMMUNITY BASED IT'S UM, UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S, AND THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GO TO THOSE PLACES.SO I WAS WONDERING, WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO? WELL, THEY, WE HAVE A GREAT PREVENTION DEPARTMENT.
I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW, THAT, UM, THEY BASICALLY WANTED TO, UH, THEY MET AND DID THEIR OWN PLAN FOR WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO TO WORK VIRTUALLY.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DID SIX MONTHS AGO, THEY STARTED OUR NEWSLETTER CALLED THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT, WHICH IS A GREAT NEWSLETTER.
IT CAN BE CONVERTED INTO SPANISH FOR, UM, UH, FOR OUR LATINEX COMMUNITY.
THE ONLY AT THE DUDE'S JUST CLICK A BUTTON AND EVERYTHING'S CONVERTED, UM, THERE'S, THERE'S LINKS THAT ARE PUT IN THERE SO PEOPLE CAN SEE VIDEOS.
UM, IT'S JUST NOT, IT'S VERY INTERACTIVE.
IT'S IT'S UM, IT'S, IT'S, IT'S A GOOD, IT'S GOOD.
AND WE'VE ALSO HAD GUESTS, PEOPLE PUT COLUMNS IN THERE, LIKE LAST MONTH IT WAS FETAL ALCOHOL SPECTRUM DISORDER MONTH.
AND SO ONE OF MY FRIENDS FROM THE CHARLESTON AREA WHO'S BIG IN THE STATE.
AND THEN SHE DID AN ARTICLE FOR US.
AND THIS MONTH, COUNCILMAN MCKELLEN IS DOING SOMETHING ON REV RED RIBBON WEEK FOR US, WHICH I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT.
MY BOARD ASKED HIM ACTUALLY TO DO THIS ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO, MAYBE EVEN LONGER.
UM, AND SO WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR RED RIBBON MONTH FOR THIS.
THE LINK FOR OUR NEWSLETTER IS ATTACHED.
IT'S AN OPT IN OPT OUT SORT OF, SORT OF THING.
I DON'T SEND IT TO ANYBODY UNLESS THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.
SO WE PROMOTE THIS LINK WITH REGULARITY.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SIGNED UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO SO.
UM, AND YEAH, UM, I REALLY DO CAUSE THE PREVENTION DEPARTMENTS PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS, UH, THE PREVENTION DEPARTMENTS.
DON'T DOING A LOT OF OTHER THINGS, UM, RELATED TO SOCIAL MEDIA.
UH, THEY, UM, PUT PROGRAMS ON THERE.
UM, I'LL TALK ABOUT A FEW OF THOSE IN A MOMENT THEY STREAM, UM, MOVIES AS OCEAN BOULEVARD, WHICH IS ABOUT, UM, REALLY IT'S ABOUT ORANGE COUNTY, BUT IT'S A GERMANE TO ALL OF US.
UM, THERE'LL BE A LOT OF THINGS WE DO TO DO WITH RED RIBBON, UM, GOING ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE COUNTY AND INVITATION TO ATTEND THE RED RIBBON WEEK GALA AND OTHER SORTS OF ACTIVITIES THEY'RE BEING PROMOTED, UM, QUITE, UM, QUITE A BIT LAURA MMM AND LA HAS BEEN WONDERFUL FOR US BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN SOMEBODY THAT MY PREVENTION DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH AT LEAST TWICE WEEKLY.
UM, SHE'S BEEN GREAT FOR HELPING US TO INCREASE OUR IMAGE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHICH AS YOU CAN IMAGINE WITH OUR NUMBERS DECREASING, THAT'S BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL.
UM, IN ADDITION TO PUTTING OUT ALL THIS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION FOR PREVENTION, THE, THE PREVENTION DEPARTMENT IS, UH, DOING NARCAN DISTRIBUTION.
THEY'RE DOING KEEP DOING IT AT BOTH OF OUR SERVICE LOCATIONS, AT LEAST QUARTERLY.
THEY'RE ALSO GIVING OUT THE TARA BAGS.
UM, I'M REMINDED THAT THE TERRA BAGS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE.
SO ALLOW ME A MOMENT TO SAY, BASICALLY, THIS IS A PRODUCT WHERE YOU CAN PUT YOUR EXPIRED DRUGS IN THERE AT SOME WATER AND SEAL IT UP.
AND THEN BASICALLY, UM, THE, THE CONTENTS, UM, MAKE, UH, THEY REDUCE THE, UH, THE INTEGRITY OF THE MEDICATION TO SUCH A POINT WHERE IT CAN BE DISPOSED OF IN YOUR REGULAR TRASH.
CAN WE REALLY DIS DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FROM, UH, LEAVING MEDICATIONS IN THEIR MEDICINE CABINET? CAUSE THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF KIDS GET THEIR FIRST TIME.
AND WE REALLY DISCOURAGE PEOPLE FLUSHING BECAUSE WE JUST DON'T NEED A LOT OF HAPPY.
STEVE, UH, STEVE, JUST LET ME TELL YOU, WE HAVE ANOTHER MEETING STARTING AT THREE 30, SO I'D JUST LIKE YOU TO KEEP THAT IN MIND.
UM, SO ANYWAY, OUR NEXT, UH, OUR NEXT CURBSIDE EVENT IS OCTOBER 17TH FROM 10 UNTIL ONE.
UM, I TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PSA.
JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THOSE WERE, UM, TAKEN CARE OF BY GRANT MONIES, WHICH I ALWAYS APPRECIATE SPENDING FIRST, HERE ARE SOME OUTCOMES DESPITE US.
UM, UM, DESPITE OUR CHANGE IN OUR SERVICE PLATFORM, UH, 71% OF THE PEOPLE THAT COMPLETED SERVICES AND OUR FIRST QUARTER, THAT'S JULY ONE TO SEPTEMBER 30TH COMPLETED SUCCESSFULLY, WHICH IS FAR ABOVE THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 45 TO 55, DEPENDING UPON WHICH SERVICE 84% OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, UM, WERE SATISFIED OR EXTREMELY SATISFIED WITH WHAT WE'RE DOING.
AND A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THE PATIENTS FRIDAY AFTERNOON, WE
[01:20:01]
GOT OUR ACCREDITATION AWARD.WE DID GET A THREE YEAR AWARD.
UM, I EXPECTED IT, BUT IT'S ALWAYS TO SEE IT IN WRITING.
UM, WE ARE ABOUT TO LAUNCH, UM, EXPAND OUR MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT SERVICES TO INCLUDE, UM, BEEF AT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL.
UH, WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF SECURING PHARMACIES.
I WON'T GO INTO ALL OF THAT EXCEPT TO SAY WE'RE EXPANDING IT SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST PROVIDING MEDICATIONS FOR OPIATES, BUT ALSO TO INCLUDE ALCOHOL.
UM, IF ANYBODY WANTS MORE INFORMATION ON THAT, LET ME KNOW.
UH, WE ARE EXPECTED, ARE EXPECTING TO BE PROVIDING OVERSIGHT FOR THE NEW PATHS PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PROGRAM FOR WOMEN TRANSITIONING FROM CORRECTIONS SHORTLY.
WE HAVE A PEER RECOVERY SUPPORT SPECIALIST, UM, PROGRAM THAT WE'RE STARTING AND WHICH IS BASICALLY PEOPLE THAT ARE IN RECOVERY, WHO HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF BOUNDARIES THAN COUNSELORS, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE'S CONTINUED RECOVERY AFTER THEY LEAVE SERVICES.
UM, YEAH, WE HAVE OTHER PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE HELPING TO EXPAND, UM, STAFF CAPACITY AND TRAINING.
AND I'M VERY HAPPY TO, TO SAY THAT OUR URINE DRUG SCREEN LAMPS ARE OPEN UP BOTH LOCATIONS AND THAT WAS PAID FOR BY STATE, UM, SOUTH CAROLINA STATE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING.
WHAT'S NEXT, WE'RE ADJUSTING TO THE NEW VIRTUAL NORMAL WE'RE INCREASING OUR USE OF TECHNOLOGY, UH, WITH NOVA TIME.
UM, I, THAT'S JUST A NEW THING THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND OUR USAGE OF IT.
WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND, WE'RE LOOKING TO EXPAND SOME PROGRAMMING THROUGH THE COUNTY CHANNEL HAVING TO DO WITH ANTI-STIGMA ADDICTION, MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT, ET CETERA.
AND WHEN THE SCHOOLS DO OPEN, WE WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR THAT SECOND ADOLESCENT POSITION TO BE OPEN SO THAT WE CAN EMBED A COUNSELOR AND A PROGRAM THAT SHOULD HAVE AN ALCOHOL AND DRUG, UM, COUNSELOR AT RIGHT CHOICES HERE AT THE BEAVER COUNTY, UM, UH, SCHOOLS, ADMINISTRATION OFFICE.
AND I THINK THAT'S A MUCH AS I CAN, UM, SAY FOR NOW.
UM, BUT HOWEVER, I CAN ALWAYS TALK MORE.
I THINK YOU'VE PROBABLY REALIZED THAT.
SO IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE THEM.
AND, UM, I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS A MUCH NEEDED BREAK AHEAD OF THEM.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? SO FOR STEVE, I GOT ONE REAL QUICK.
UM, STEVE, UM, YOU MENTIONED THAT PREVENTION IS FOR EVERYBODY.
HOWEVER, THE, UM, UH, THE, THE DRUG PROGRAM IS FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE DESIGNATED, HOW DOES SOMEONE BECOME DESIGNATED? AND WHERE'S THAT DESIGNATION COME FROM? UM, GOOD QUESTION.
WE GET A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT REFER PEOPLE TO US THAT THEY THINK, UH, MIGHT NEED OUR SERVICES.
THEY, THEY MAY NOT NEED, UM, ALCOHOL AND DRUG COUNSELING, UM, PROPER, THEY, THEY MIGHT NEED SOME SORT OF BRIEF INTERVENTION THAT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THEY NEED TO CONTINUE IN SERVICES.
BUT IF ANYBODY HAS A QUESTION ABOUT, DO I NEED YOUR SERVICES OR WANTS TO STEER SOMEBODY TOWARDS US? CAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE EXTERNAL MOTIVATION TO COME TO US.
WE WILL DO A SCREENING AND AN ASSESSMENT AND WE WILL BASICALLY LET THEM KNOW WHETHER OR NOT, UH, BASED UPON THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ADDICTION MEDICINE CRITERIA, WHETHER OR NOT, UM, WE CAN PROVIDE THEM WITH A BONAFIDE COUNSELING SERVICE.
UH, ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? STEVE WERE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU, UH, ANYBODY WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE DRUG WORLD, UH, KNOWS THAT YOU CAN NEVER ARREST YOUR WAY OUT OF THIS PROBLEM AND THAT PREVENTION AND EDUCATION AND TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION ARE CRUCIAL TO ANY KIND OF SUCCESS IN THIS FIELD.
YOU ARE VERY WELL INFORMED AND CLEARLY KNOWLEDGEABLE IN YOUR AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY.
AND I CONGRATULATE YOU AND THE MEMBERS OF YOUR TEAM FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING IN THIS COVID RESTRICTED ENVIRONMENT.
WHEN YOU CAN'T HAVE PERSONAL CONTACT, IT MAKES THINGS A HUNDRED PERCENT MORE DIFFICULT.
AND I KNOW FROM LISTENING TO YOU AND YOUR BOARD MEETINGS AND WITH WHAT YOU SAID TODAY, THAT EVERYONE OVER THERE IS WHEN YEOMAN'S WORK TO ENSURE THAT YOU PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY WHO NEEDS IT BECAUSE WITHOUT YOU, QUITE FRANKLY, THEY'D BE LOST.
SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO.
UH, ARE THERE ANY, WE HAVE SOME CITIZEN COMMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO HEAR.
ARE THERE ANY CITIZEN COMMENTS, SARAH OR BRENDA THERE SAID THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY COMMENTS.
WELL THEN, WELL THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR ATTENDING THIS.
IT'S BEEN VERY INFORMATIVE AND I THINK VERY NECESSARY TO HEAR ABOUT THE GOOD WORK THAT DSN AND THE BUREAU OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSES IS DOING, AND I'M HAPPY THEY WERE ABLE TO JOIN US AND GIVE
[01:25:01]
US THOSE UPDATES.UM, WITHOUT ANY FURTHER COMMENT, THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.