Winnebago County Human Services

ISSUE

February

2012

Our Mission

To serve our clients with professional, quality and cost-effective services that focus on prevention, protection, mental health, family integration, self-determination and recovery with respect for and in partnership with individuals, families, caregivers and the community.

The year 2012 has begun. Many

changes are underway in how we are

delivering services to our clients and

consumers.

This year we are adding one new Aging

and Disabilities Resource Specialist for

the ADRC and have new staff positions

running Towards Tomorrow starting in

February. Income Maintenance has

successfully transitioned to a consortia

model with a sharing of call center

responsibilities. We continue to maintain

our staff and provide local access. Child

Welfare has been given the go ahead to

begin Alternative Response which is an

alternative to substantiating abuse or

neglec

neglect. A state review called a Quality

Service Review will be taking place in

February and we are tentatively

scheduled to participate in placement

review round- tables in April through

June.

Professional Services Group has hired a

new supervisor, Kaila Guske, who is

supervising both the supervised visitation

program and the case management

program for Child Welfare referrals.

Recruiting more skilled visitation

supervisors is a priority.

Thanks to all staff that have made these

new programs and services work

smoothly. Also, a big thank you to all staff

staff who keep all our regular programs

and services working as well. Together

we provide thousands of services per

year.

Our mission statement is being fulfilled

every day.“To serve our clients with

professional, quality and cost-effective

services that focus on prevention,

protection, mental health, family

integration, self-determination and

recovery with respect for and in

partnership with individuals, families,

caregivers and the community.”

Bill

The Director’s Report

“Life is 10 % what

happens to you and

90% how you react

to it.”

~ Charles Swindoll

The

Focus

Budget News The Human Services annual budget serves as a financial “roadmap” for what programs and services are provided to Winnebago County citizens in need. This is a unique time of year as multiple budget years converge with the closing of the prior 2011 budget year, the beginning of the 2012 budget year and the horizon of the budget planning process for 2013.

While the official closeout of the department’s 2011 budget occurs in March, initial results show we’ve ended on the positive side of the ledger with unexpended County tax levy. This positive financial outcome was achieved due to a variety of factors including our employees’ collective dedication and an overall effort to proactively provide essential services that foster healthy, self-reliant and productive individuals and families. Continued efforts included the provision of in-home service supports as an alternative to expensive institutional care. Additionally, the Behavioral Health walk-in clinic and Summit House crisis diversion services enable individuals to receive mental health services in a non-institutional community-based setting.

Our 2012 budget strategy leverages both sides of the ledger by maximizing state, federal and third party revenues and continued emphasis on decreasing expenses, most particularly expensive placements such as corrections, residential care centers and inpatient admissions.

FAST FORWARD to this time next year. In order for

Human Services to have realized a 2012 Budget surplus,

each employee would have fulfilled their Division’s and, in

turn, the Department’s budget and service goals. With

your continued dedication we can make that happen!

MYTHBUSTER

MYTH: Re-release of a treatment record is NEVER

allowed.

FACT: Re-release of a treatment record IS allowed IF

the client has specifically authorized the re-release,

i.e. they have signed a new form specifically

authorizing the re-release of the record in question.

For example, Mrs. Smith signs a release authorizing

our clinic to obtain her records from Dr. Jones, her

previous doctor. Later, when Mrs. Smith is moving to

a new city, she signs a new release authorizing the

clinic to re-release Dr. Jones’s records to Dr. Thomas

who she intends to work with in her new city.

Economic Support Division

Consortium Underway

Change is underway in the Economic Support Division.

As of January 3, 2012 Winnebago County joined the East

Central Income Maintenance Partnership for the purpose

of administering the Income Maintenance Programs.

This means that consumers receiving or applying for

FoodShare, Badger Care, or other Medicaid programs

have many new options available to them. In addition,

Economic Support Staff are experiencing many changes

in the way their jobs are performed.

The main change is that the Economic Support staff is

now part of a 10 county Call/Change center. Consumers

can now call 1-888-256-4563 between the hours of 8 am

and 4 pm each day and one of 25 eligibility workers each

will assist them with updating their case and answering

basic questions. The Call Center Agents are staff from all

10 of the counties in the consortium, which means that

Winnebago County consumers may not speak with a

Winnebago County worker. The worker they do speak to

will have the ability to look up their information in CARES

and answer any questions the consumer has.

Consumers will no longer need to leave voice mails and

wait for correspondence back.

There are new options to submit documents as well.

Documents can be mailed to a central state scanning

location, or faxed using 1-855-293-1822. All of the

documents, regardless of how they are being submitted

are scanned directly to the case in the computer. So,

piles of paper for Economic Support are now electronic.

As we all know, with growth there can be growing pains.

Computer systems were updated. New programs were

learned. Ten counties accustomed to operating

independently, now needed to coordinate to operate as

one. Training was fast and furious and not nearly

enough. Even with all of that, the consortium start has

been a success. Approximately a thousand calls get

answered each day, with a wait time of 10 minutes or

less. Consumers who are trying the new system express

satisfaction with how their needs are being met.

Economic Support staff is balancing Call Center duties

with caseloads that are increasing due to cases that were

formerly being handled by the state (19-64 year old

childless adults) returning to the county as well. Feel free

to ask one of our qualified staff if you have any questions.

Living Green

The sustainability committee is hard at work finding ways to

increase sustainability within Winnebago County facilities.

Through the results of the recent sustainability survey that was

e-mailed to all staff, the committee has determined some minor

behavioral changes that can be made, greatly decreasing our

effects on the environment without costing the county large

amounts of money. Signage has recently been developed to

remind employees of these small changes and make everyone

conscious of their behaviors. Through minor behavioral

adjustments we can all make

a difference.

Potentially Abusive Work Situations

Identity Theft: How to Prevent It No one argues that identity theft is a problem. Everyone is familiar with online identity theft, and the problems it can create if someone gets a hold of personal information such as your credit cards, social security number, or birth certificate, but it may surprise you to know that identity theft is also a problem in the workplace.

Practicing identity theft protection at work is largely a matter of common sense. These helpful tips will make sure you keep yourself safe without angering or offending anyone.

1. Think about how safe your computer is. Who could access it? What sort of information is on it? Most workplace computers these days allow you to lock your station if you're going to be away for more than a minute or two, a feature that should be utilized.

2. Don't allow your workplace computer to remember passwords for you. Sure, if you're the only one who ever uses your computer, it might be convenient to have it log into your account easily. But keep in mind that other people, from customers to the cleaning crew, could access your files.

3. Watch out for shoulder surfing: people who stand behind you, probably chatting away, while watching you type in passwords.

4. If your company assigns you a password, change it as soon as possible. There's no reason for them to have your password on record, aside from monitoring your transactions..

5. Keep your wallet or purse with you or locked in your desk. Never leave it unattended. It only takes a couple of seconds for someone to copy down your credit card numbers.

Unfortunately, there's a lot of danger in the workplace. People tend to protect themselves from online identity theft, but forget about the people surrounding them.

Source: http://www.identitytheftfixes.com

Administrative Services Division

Navigating Changes

The Administrative Services Division has been hard at

work supporting the various teams throughout the agency.

Though some of their efforts are behind the scenes, the

day to day support and specific projects the teams have

collectively accomplished have positively affected the

department as a whole.

On January 1, 2012, the financial team began automatic

billing of MA for Targeted Case Management services.

Through collaboration with Information Systems and

Mental Health staff, updates were made in TCM to allow

for use of this automation which will replace manual, labor

intensive processes performed by clerical staff. It is

anticipated that the Goodwill Team and Long Term

Support MA billing will be automated in the first quarter of

2012.

Also in TCM, is the addition of Driver Safety Plan

information and the survey questionnaire. Paula Way, has

been working feverishly with Carol Morack and Tom Saari

to not only discover ways to enter the information, but also

develop reports that can be generated from the data.

The introduction of the Income Maintenance Consortium

has affected the Administrative Division as well. The

Office Systems and Confidential Records team has been

collaborating with ESD to meet new state requirements.

This involves a new scan first process, meaning that a

majority of income maintenance paperwork that is

delivered via postal mail or personal delivery is now

imaged by staff before it is ever forwarded to the worker.

This process helps to ensure that all 10 counties in the

consortium have access to the documents in the event of

receiving a call through the call center.

In addition to the scan first process, the development of

the East Central IM Partnership brought the need for two

Systems Administrators to oversee the security access of

the call center software for the 10 counties. Rita Walsh,

Support Specialist Supervisor has been working tirelessly

adding and removing agents from the system, managing

and assigning work groups, updating business events,

generating reports, and troubleshooting software issues.

Finally, the Administrative Assistants have teamed up with

Information Systems to completely overhaul the DHS

website. Layouts, content, and features will be updated on

team by team basis, with the initial focus being on the

Family Support and Resource teams. Check the website

soon for its new and improved look.

Mom writes…

“All my childhood I was taught to lie and

manipulate the system. My mom wasn’t

the best role model for anyone. Then 3

years ago social services started a case

on me and I told myself “I don’t need them

and my kids will do fine without them too”.

Then I realized that no matter what I said

they were not going to leave me alone. I

told everyone that “I don’t need help and

no one will change me!” But then one day

my kids got taken away and put in a foster

home. And that still only made me mad I

just thought “now what?” They went from

one home to another and then back to

their dad’s. I thought well he will let me

have them back one day but I realized no

matter if he had them or not he would

never change either. My kids were missing

a lot of school and always seemed

unhappy. And that is when I said “No

matter what I have to do I will change for

my kids.” I got involved with my own

counseling and started helping myself. I

just knew that I could not live without my

kids and they needed me more than I

needed anything or anyone. I got a phone

call one day and some wonderful women

asked me to start some family counseling

and I said, “I will do anything as long as it

helps my kids.” So we started it that week.

and I realized that it made my kids happy

to go and not

How can we help

you, help your

consumers? Submit suggestions to

Ellen Shute

Did You Know? The Wisconsin Office of

the State Treasury has

links on their website to

help you search if you

have any unclaimed

property. Don’t let

your money remain

unclaimed. Search for

property by going to

www.statetreasury.wis

consin.gov. From there

click on the unclaimed

property tab at the

top. The next screen

will provide three links

for searches you can

perform to find any

property you have

outstanding. Once

property is discovered

there is a link to the

claim form, which

must be printed, filled

out and notarized.

Good Luck!

Do you have a

poster you would

like displayed?

Contact

Nancy Ruedinger

to have it added

to the poster

cases.

to go and not have to lie and just be able

to tell me how they felt. It hurt to hear them

tell me everything I was doing wrong and

how much they needed me, but that made

me want to change more than anything.

We all learned how to share our feelings

and how to work with each other. We also

learned that that we are our own person

and we can do our own thing. We all deal

with things differently. I learned how to

deal with each of their needs separately

and give them both the same amount of

love at the same time. We as a family now

can talk to each other and know that no

matter how we feel, it is ok because we

will always love each other. We learned

how to work through our problems

together. I am so grateful for everything

I’ve been taught and all the help the

counselors have given me! I know now

that I have always needed help but didn’t

want it because I thought I could do it all

alone but every family could use some

change and I am glad I changed for myself

and my kids.

Thank you to everyone that helped us

along they way. You will always be in our

hearts.”

Teaming to Reunite a Family

Care Facts

- Children, ages 6 and 7 were in Foster Care.

- Services provided to Dad and Foster Parents.

- Children returned to Dad but placement was unsuccessful. DHS considered

- Termination of Parental Rights (TPR) action.

- Children placed with Mom in June 2010.

- Family Therapy began in July 2010.

- June 2011, successful closure of the case occurred with the family in their new home.

Behavioral Health & Child Welfare Divisions

Long Term Support Division

Thank You Mom, Dad, & Human Services

We met her in 2009. Her emotional disturbances were

related to having a chaotic and neglectful home life.

Today, she is a happy student, receiving A’s & B’s and

no longer needing Long Term Support Services.

Her family was provided intensive services from the

Child Welfare, Long Term Support, and Behavioral

Health Divisions. The family received CPS case

management, Long Term Support respite and funding,

foster care coordination, intensive in home family

therapy, and psychiatric services.

After nearly a year of intensive services, both of her

parents recognized they were unable to meet her

needs and asked that she be adopted by her foster

family. Although she did not reunite with her birth

family, she views her outcome as a true success –

clearly shown from this letter she submitted, which she

titled “What My Mom and Dad Have Taught Me.”

“When I get mad or sad, my mom and /or dad was

there for me all the time. There is not a time that my

mom or dad was not there to make me feel safe or

happy. There was a time with my bio mom and bio dad

gave me up, and guess who was there to support me

when I was crying? My mom and dad. They made me

happy and they made me cheer up. This is the best

family in history When I am feeling guilty for

something I did wrong or think I did wrong my mom

and dad were there to explain that it is ok to mess up

but it is not ok to mess up and then do it over and over

again. Look at me now, I am getting adopted in 6 days

and I have changed over the past 3 years I have been

living with my family Thank you for teaching me

something new. I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD

XOXOXO.”

She was adopted by her foster parents at the end of

2011. Her case management team members worked

closely together to help her achieve permanence and

emotional stability. The level of attention the In-Home

Therapy Team provided to her and her family and

foster family allowed things to progress quickly. Team

members and her parents developed a respectful

relationship. This truly is a success story. Thank you to

all who helped to make this story a reality.

Behavioral Health Division

Toward Tomorrow

On Feb. 1st the Behavioral Health Services Division

began to operate the twelve (12) bed community

based residential facility (CBRF) known as Toward

Tomorrow. This facility is located at 1332 Monroe St.

in Oshkosh and has previously been operated under a

purchase of service (POS) contract with Lutheran

Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, Inc.

This residential service is an integral part of our local

mental health continuum of care thus the decision was

made to operate vs. contract for this service. Not only

will we realize an annual cost savings through

operation by the county, but enhanced communication

and care coordination with our other behavioral health

teams will be realized and of significant benefit to our

consumers as well.

Toward Tomorrow is a transitional living facility

designed specifically to serve individuals with a severe

and persistent mental illness. Individuals served in this

facility are those identified as needing care, treatment

or other recovery oriented services necessary to

transition back into an independent community living

situation. Anticipated length of stay is less than one

year, but more than just a few weeks. Care, treatment

or other services encompass not only psychiatric care,

medication monitoring, supervision, case management

and supportive services, but also the development of

independent living, social and vocational / employment

skills, etc. necessary to resume life in the community.

This facility will also offer some limited crisis diversion

services.

The facility, formerly a church, includes a large living

room, a full kitchen, an office, a patio, and 8 small

apartments on the first floor. Each of the 8 apartments

has a bedroom, private bathroom, and open concept

living/kitchen area. The basement, which has been

recently renovated due to flooding back in June of

2008, has four additional beds, a sitting area with TV,

and an office.

If you are interested in touring our facility, call John

Sheehan. John will be overseeing this facility along

with his current duties of coordinating our crisis

diversion CBRF facility, Summit House.

How’s Your Etiquette? What is Protected Time Really Mean?

We’ve all experienced this situation. You need to

talk to a co-worker about a common case…

problem to troubleshoot… lunch plans. You walk

to their office and when you get there you see it -

the brightly colored Protected Time sign. What do

you do now?

We’ve all had the excuses run through our minds.

I don’t want to have to come back later, I have

meetings or appointments. I’m not sure I’ll be able

to hook up with him/her again. It will only take a

quick second. It is work related so it’s ok to

interrupt them. We are friends – that sign doesn’t

pertain to me. Do any of these sound familiar?

The truth is, when co-workers have their

protected time signs up it is because they need a

peaceful time to catch up on work – a time free of

interruptions. Whether or not your need is of

equal importance to them, interrupting coworker’s

focus during protected time is poor etiquette.

There are alternatives to interrupting; sending an

e-mail, coming back later, finding another co-

worker that can help. The key to respecting

protected time is being resourceful and patient.

The other side of the protected time dilemma is

when to post the sign on your door. While it is bad

etiquette to interrupt during protected time, it is

equally bad practice to post your protected time

sign constantly thus making yourself chronically

unavailable to your teammates. Like chocolate –

too much of a good thing can have bad results.

Similar to any other etiquette topic, the key to

positive behavior is being mindful of others.

Respect the sign. Avoid interrupting if it’s posted,

and avoid over posting in order for people to take

you seriously.

Christine Knutson Behavioral Health

Summit House

Heather Kilgas Behavioral Health

Summit House

Megan Heiden Behavioral Health

Toward Tomorrow

Johannah Bradle Child Welfare

Access Team

Ryan Bernhagen Behavioral Health

Toward Tomorrow

Kira Bartow Child Welfare

Child Protective Services

Annette Beattie Child Welfare

Juvenile Justice

Charla Nettles Admin. Services

Support Specialist Team

Ashley Lackas Child Welfare

Child Protective Services

Larissa Kranzusch Economic Support

Family Team

Samantha Paugels Behavioral Health

Summit House

Alyssia Peterson Behavioral Health

Summit House

April Zink Behavioral Health

Summit House

Todd Vendenberg Behavioral Health

Toward Tomorrow

Katie Sharpe Child Welfare

CPS Neenah