Petersburg Regional
Local Human Rights Committee (LHRC) Meeting Minutes
February 11, 2015

Committee Members Present:

Mr. Stephen Crawford, LHRC Chair Person

Ms. Kate Wiltsie, LHRC Member

Dr. Gwendolyn Roy, LHRC Member

Committee Members Absent:

Ms. Kathy Tierney, LHRC Vice Chair

Ms. Isabel Vartanian, LHRC Member

Affiliate Members (Group A) Present:

Ms. Carlotte Taylor, Jireh House, LLC, LHRC Affiliate

Dr. Lynda Hyatt, Gateway Homes, LHRC Affiliate

Ms. Melissa Stiltoner, Gateway Homes, LHRC Affiliate

Ms. Lakesha Mason, Triumph Residential Services, LHRC Affiliate

Ms. Ramona Strickland, Poplar Springs Hospital, LHRC Affiliate

Ms. Holly Richardson, Poplar Springs Hospital, LHRC Affiliate

Ms. Lestine Barnes, Life Enhancement Services, LHRC Affiliate

Mr. Ron Wallace, River City Residences, LHRC Affiliate

Ms. Lisa Boone, Caring Hearts, Inc., LHRC Affiliate

Ms. Patricia P. Jiles, New Desires Services, LHRC Affiliate

Ms. Shari Nesby, B & W Supportive Counseling Group, LLC, LHRC Affiliate

Ms. Cheryl Snowden, A & C Alternative Care, LLC, LHRC Affiliate

Affiliate Members (Group A) Absent:

Mr. James Giggetts, Positive Image, LHRC Affiliate

Mr. Charles Scott, United Family Services, LHRC Affiliate

Affiliate Members (Group B) Present:

Ms. Portia Hairston, Balanced Minds, LLC, LHRC Affiliate

Ms. Ruth Proctor, New Journey Family Services, LLC, LHRC Affiliate

Others Present:

Ms. Carrie Flowers, Human Rights Advocate, Office of Human Rights

Ms. Gail Dussere, LHRC Member Applicant

I.Call to Order

Mr. Crawfordcalled the meeting to order at 2:39pm.

II. Approval of the Minutes

The committee reviewed the minutes from the August 7, 2014 meeting; minutes were approved as written. The November minutes were also reviewed. Several changes were made (Mr. Crawford documented as “Chair Person” and agency name associated with Ms. Snowden was corrected to reflect her employment with A & C Alternative Care). Ms. Wiltsie motioned to approve the November 2014 minutes with the changes; Dr. Roy seconded the motion. Motion carried.

  1. Public Comments

No public comments were voiced.

  1. New Business

a)Ms. Portia Hairston of Balanced Minds requested to add Intensive In-Home services to the array of services they offer. This service involves home-based counseling to families who demonstrate clinical necessity as per the IIH/medicaid guidelines. Counselors (QMHPs) are trained to manage behavioral crises. They receive Crisis Wave training, CPR and First Aid training, as well as Human Rights training. QMHPs providing the service will provide the service within a 50 mile radius from the main office location. Admission to the program will include a recommendation from VICAP for the service and an assessment by Balanced Minds. Prospective clients are at risk for removal from the home; acceptance will be contingent on the insurance approving the provision of the service. Ms. Roy motioned to approve the addition of the new service (and affiliation); Ms. Wiltsie seconded the motion. Motion carried.

b)Ms. Proctor of New Journey Family Services requested to add TDT and IIH in Petersburg; the agency provides IIH and TDT in Emporia currently. This will allow for the agency to transition clients in to other services as needed based on their acuity level. The agency will provide Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The TDT service will be provided at the elementary school level, the middle school level and the high school level, if there is a need in the community. This agency expects to provide the TDT service to 10 clients initially and increases in staffing will occur as needed and will comply with the expected staff to client ratios. Ms. Roy motioned to approve the addition of the services (and affiliation); Ms. Wiltsie seconded the motion. Motion carried.

  1. Old business

a)We Care Residential was not in attendance, therefore no action was taken on their previous request to add Mental Health Skill Building to the array of services they provide. (The LHRC did not have a quorum in attendance at the November meeting so a decision could not be made at that time.)

  1. Affiliate Reports
  • Jireh House
  • Gateway Homes
  • Triumph Residential Services
  • Poplar Springs Hospital
  • Positive Image
  • Life Enhancement Services
  • River City Residences
  • United Family Services
  • Caring Hearts
  • New Desires Services
  • B & W Supportive Counseling Group

a) Reminder to Affiliates: you are required to forward Program Reports (on the newestquarterly report format) to your Affiliate Liaison (Ms. Lindblad) regardless of whether or not your attendance is required at the scheduled meeting. (Group B attends the May 13,2015meeting.) Meeting attendance or failure to provide a written report may result in a citation from DBHDS.

b)New Desires Services changed their name to New Desires Family Services, Inc.

c)Triumph Residential Services submitted reports to the members during the meeting, however, some of the reports may not have been completed properly. Triumph will resubmit quarterly and annual reports with client names redacted; these will be provided for review in the May 2015 meeting.

d)Ms.Wiltsie motioned to accept the reports; Dr. Roy seconded the motion. Motion carried.

  1. Advocate’s Report

Ms. Carrie Flowers reminded the committee to recruit members for the committee so that affiliates can continue to conduct business in a timely manner. A recent email from Ms. Flowers included state correspondence indicating again that it is the provider’s responsibility to recruit LHRC committee members. Failure to maintain a full committee may result in the SHRC“shutting down” the LHRC. If this was to occur, the affiliated agencies would no longer have LHRC affiliation. Also, Ms. Flowers advised that in the future, there will be no “special meetings” scheduled to approve requests that could not previously be heard and approved due to lack of quorum issues. Ms. Lindblad will send out copies of the bi-laws for review by the affiliates to explore whether or not the affiliates would like to change the makeup of the PR-LHRC to decrease the required number from 7 to 5 members.

  1. Closed Session

Onepotential committee member was interviewed in closed session. Information about the applicant will be forwarded to the SHRC for review/approval.

  1. Other Business

a)Meetings in 2015 will occur as follows: May 13, 2015 (Group B), August 12, 2015 (Group A), November 11, 2015 (Group B).

b)Reporting PeriodReports to Kim byMeeting Date

1/1/15 – 3/31/20154/10/155/13/15 (Group B attends meeting)

4/1/15 – 6/30/20157/10/158/12/2015 (Group A attends meeting)

7/1/15 – 9/30/201510/10/1511/11/2015 (Group B attends meeting)

10/1/2015 – 12/31/20151/10/20162/10/2016 (Group A attends meeting)

  1. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 4:20pm.

2/24/15; kml

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