CAPE COD & ISLANDSCOMMUNITY HEALTH NETWORK AREA ~ CHNA 27

Minutes for Thursday, January 8, 2015 9:00-11:00 am

Harborview Room at the Barnstable County Courthouse Complex, 3195 Main Street, Barnstable, MA 02630 – Brenda Vazquez

Present:

Gabrielle Hathaway, Outer Cape WIC / Deirdre Arvidson, RN, Barnstable County Health & Environment, Health Nurse
Judy Harris, Lower Cape Outreach Council / Kelly Welch, CISPC, Team Maureen
Kimberly Perry, CHNA / Pam Ciborowski, Barnstable Public Schools
Krysten Rignanese, South Bay Mental Health / Cynthia Stead, Sight Loss Services
Annemette Cliggott-Perlt, Helping Our Women / Keli Maibaum, Elder Services of Cape Cod & Islands
Valerie Pereira-Brown, Cape Cod WIC, Health Imperatives / Fiona Jensen, Calmer Choice
Maura Wilson, Samaritans / Magolia Solorzano, Cape Cod WIC
Tina Broderick, RN, Community Health Center of Cape Cod / Judith Reppucci, Harbor Community Health Center/Ellen Jones Dental Center
Maureen Dooley Lawrence, Rock Harbor Village / Dara Bryan, Cape Cod Foundation
Brian Robbins, Stairway to Recovery / Ronnie Gullette, MS Society/SHINE
Forest Malatesta, Outer Cape Health Services / Melissa Weidman, HopeHealth
Jennifer Nocella, Tufts Health Plan-Senior Care Options / Deb Martin, Cape & Islands District Attorney’s Office
Glen Ilacqua, South Bay Mental health / Debra Paulino, BMC Healthnet Plan
Leslie Moreland, Children’s Cove

Welcome, Introductions:Judith Reppucciand Kimberly Perry openedthe meeting with CHNA’s purpose and introductions.

Regular Business: Minutes: Judy Harris moved to accept the November and December 20th Anniversary Party Minutes as written, seconded byMaura Wilson; approved unanimously.

Financial report:Chris Morin was able to attend today’s meeting and Judith did not receive the report. The Financial Report has been deferred to the next meeting.

Presentation: Lower Cape Outreach Council – Judy Harris

-Mission: Neighbors Health Neighbors and what we do is to provide emergency assistance of food, clothes and financial support to the folks that live within our service area. It is a services that helps folks lead healthy, productive, self-sustaining lives and is not to be used as a crutch. A mission that helps us help them to take better care of themselves and their families.

-Founded in 1980 it was an outgrowth of a program at Eastham United Methodist Church. Growth achieved by hooking up with leader type people. We grew to cover eight towns. This year is our 35th Anniversary.

-Who we are today: there are 3.5 paid staff (CEO, Larry Marsland; Director of Human Services, Gennie Morand; two support staff – one data systems manager and a part time bookkeeper). There are 350+ volunteers.

-What we do: Serve people in eight towns.

  • Provide temporary financial assistance.
  • There is a food pantry in each town.
  • There is a free clothing store in Orleans.
  • Face to face assistance with food stamps, MA health, etc.
  • Duffy Health Van is our parking lot every Wednesday morning.
  • One on one advocate support for navigating financial needs and finding resources.
  • Have a mentoring service for people who come back to us year after year for help with finances, legal issues and substance abuse.
  • There is a lot of substance abuse on the lower cape and legal issues. It is hard to find inexpensive legal services.

-Services:

  • Temporary Financial Assistant
  • Designed to be temporary – get you over a hump. They are assigned and advocate – not always a face to face relationship but a telephone relationship.
  • We provide financial help with rent, utilities, bills, gas to get to doctor appointments, etc. There is a limit to the amount we offer and it is determined on a case by case basis.
  • We currently have a new micro loan program that started last year for short term financial help. The person can keep the loan for a year and pay the whole thing back at the end of the year or they can make small payments throughout the year.
  • Food Pantries
  • All of them are located in churches.
  • The client uses the pantry in the town in which he/she and their family resides.
  • They can go to the pantry every two weeks.
  • They have a private appointment with a pantry volunteer to do their shopping so they aren’t waiting in line.
  • The amount of food they receive is dependent on their family size.
  • Our regular clients are eligible for our Thanksgiving Dinner. It is kind of a hoot. We get donations for everything from the turkey, vegetables, bread, desserts, etc. At their local food pantry clients drive up in their cars and get into line and drive to stations to get fixings, the turkey, dessert. This takes place on the Friday or Saturday before Thanksgiving.
  • In the summer we have a community garden. It has fresh fruits and veggies. Runs spring, summer and fall. The food grown there is distributed to the eight food pantries.
  • Katy’s Corner
  • Free clothing store for all family members
  • Can shop every two weeks
  • Has bedding and linens
  • In addition to Katy’s Corner we have the “Hope Chest” a lovely consignment shop that has clothing, furniture, china, dishware, etc.
  • Mentoring Program
  • Mentors are volunteers. Very dedicated in helping our clients.
  • They help with budgets, organizational skills, job searches
  • One of our mentors is an expert substance abuse counselor. Another one is a financial planner.
  • All mentors have social worker type backgrounds. Client works with mentor in the office in a private session to set goals. The client has to meet the goals that are made with the mentor

-The Results: For 2013

  • $1.5 million of aide went out to clients in the lower cape area.
  • We have served 18,000+ households over that year.
  • Our main office has 30+ volunteers of which Judy is one.
  • The main office is open five days per week.
  • It takes three people to answer the phones on any given day.
  • There are 24 advocates and 10 mentors.
  • There are 12 volunteers on average at the food pantries.
  • Katy’s Corner has 15 volunteers. They fold clothes, go through bags, iron, wash clothes. The clothing is gently used.
  • Hope Chest has 25 volunteers. It is open 6 days per week during regular business hours.
  • The Community Garden has 15 volunteers helping to pick and prepare food to be brought to the each of the 8 pantries.
  • Lower Cape Outreach has a 35 year track record.
  • There is no other organization our there like this.
  • It takes a strong leader. Someone who is good with fundraising.
  • It takes going to different organizations.
  • It takes sense of making a difference.
  • It takes loyal supporters.
  • It takes constant reinvention.
  • Local grocery stores have stopped helping Lower Cape Outreach
  • Judy is very proud to be associated with Lower Cape Outreach. It would be wonderful to see the opportunity to work with people to start this type of program on the rest of the Cape.

-A question was raised by Judith Reppucci of how many people have been served by Lower Cape Outreach. Judy stated they have helped 18,000+ households.

Member Highlight: SHINE – Ira Wolfson

-SHINE stands for Serving Health Information Needs of Everyone – but mainly those on Medicare and the elderly.

-In business since 1985.

-In 1992 became the model.

-Became a nationwide program.

-Started with eight regional offices. Now there are 14.

-Original office was at Barnstable County Human Services.

-Funded by the State, Government.

-In 2014 saw 5500 clients.

-85% of clients are over 65 years old. Most are in their 80’s and 90’s.

-85% are females. They have the lowest income and most are single and widowed.

-90% of clients are Caucasian.

-In order to become a SHINE counselor you must be trained. SHINE offers training: 10 sessions, all day sessions. 40-50 hours’ worth of training and an online exam. Must pass the exam with an 80% or higher. The exam is take home.

-They have monthly meetings for updating (i.e., changes in pharmacy programs and medication availability).

-Must be recertified every year. It’s state mandated. There are 100 questions on the test and they are tricky. The recertification exam is a take home exam also.

-A SHINE counselor helps people with their Medicare applications. We are not allowed to give any legal advice though.

-What We Do: Part D Drug Plan Open Enrollment – help people figure out what program would be best for them.

-Ira has been doing this for 18 years and has seen about 8,000-10,000 people. Most people are grateful for the services. We spend about an hour with each client sometimes longer.

-We have volunteers. They usually volunteer one day per week for approximately four hours.

-We are currently trying to recruit people.

-Topics we deal with:

  • Medicare
  • HMO’s and choices
  • Prescription drug coverage
  • Supplemental Insurance (2 in MA)
  • MA Health
  • Application very lengthy
  • MA Health in community and nursing homes

-Not many people know about SHINE.

-We do outreach.

-We rely on our referrals to get to the hard to reach.

-There are SHINE offices on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. We see more people on Martha’s Vineyard then on Nantucket.

-We saw 5,500 people which represents 10,000 hours of work.

-The State holds SHINE harmless if a representative makes a mistake.

-Do long term care (people want to know what coverage they have when they go into a nursing home.

-We help with SSI questions.

-There is a State prescription plan. This plan helps with the cost of insurance.

-We help with Medicare appeals.

-We help with claim processing.

-We help with fraud cases. MA had the best compliance with regards to fraud.

-No two people come with the same problem.

-SHINE representatives are not mandated reporters but we do report to outreach workers to follow-up with individuals.

-We do report abuse.

-Shine helps people young and old with disabilities also.

-Shine works with PCA program. Also works cooperatively with other services and programs.

Updates: Dara Bryan from the Cape Cod Foundation spoke regarding the Mini Grant. It is open to CHNA Members only. Must be a member prior to 1/5/15 to be able to apply. The deadline for applying is February 2, 2015 by midnight. Further information regarding the Mini Grant can be found on the Cape Cod Foundation website – capecodfoundation.org.

Announcements:

-Maura Wilson: Samaritans are doing training during the month of January. Call the office for more information. Also they are looking for an assistant director.

- Kelly Welch: Team Maureen has a fundraiser coming up on February 5th – Strike Out Cancer. It is being held at “The Lanes” in Mashpee Common. Information for that is on Team Maureen’s website. And, February 25th going to be screening “Good Will Hunting” at the Cape Cinema’s in Dennis. Also partnering up with Barnstable County Substance Abuse to screen “What Happens Here” telling the story of addiction on Cape Cod. That will be held on Wednesday, January 28th. Today after this meeting is the Suicide Prevention Meeting from 11 a.m. to 12 noon down the hill.

-Cynthia Stead: Sight Loss Services will have a table at the ??? Conference being held at the Double Tree Hotel in Hyannis this Friday, 1/9, Saturday, 1/10 and Sunday, 1/11.

-Melissa Weidman, Hope Health on behalf of Mary Grauerholz: Mary is no longer working for Hope Health. Her position is available. It is called the Corporate and Foundation Relations Officer. Also we are doing the Walk for Alzheimer’s in May and the kickoff breakfast will be in March. Please go to our website for more information.

-Fiona Jensen, Calmer Choice: We are having our Annual Adult Spelling Bee in April at the Cape Codder in Hyannis, more information to follow. Also, we recently received a grant from Cape Cod Foundation for and are looking for a Resource Development Officer – if anyone is interested or knows anyone who is interested please contact us.

-Judith Reppucci, Harbor Health: February, Children’s Dental Health Month – we spear headed the “Great Brush Out” where we collected toothbrushes for children in need. They were distributed to WIC programs, the Baby Center, to school nurses. We collected 6,000 toothbrushes. So we are repeating that this year. We are looking for help collecting. If your offices or organizations would like to help out we would love it. We are partnering with Cape Cod Cooperative Bank and they are going to have collections in their branches.

-Deirdre Arvidson, Barnstable County Health and Environment: County does a public immunization program for all ages. If you need more information please get in touch with Deirdre Arvidson.

Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 10:33 AM

Meeting minutes respectfully submitted by: Kimberly Perry, CHNA27 Coordinator