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K:\Agendas and Minutes\Family & Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee\FBHSAC Minutes\2026 FBHSAC Minutes\2026-07- 08_FBHSAC_Meeting minutes-final.docx 1 BAYFIELD COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES FAMILY & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE (FBHSAC) MEETING MINUTES Courthouse Lake Superior Conference Room & Remote July 8, 2026, at 10 a.m. Committee Members Present: Bev Patterson, Christie Branagan (virtual), Bev Lindell, Darlene Neff Members Not Present: James Crandall (County Board Representative) Others Present: Hayley Weyers (Family Services Manager), Jo Beth Gonzalez (Behavioral Health & Community Programs Services Section Manager), Sarah Traaholt (Clerk), Vanessa Pierce (Behavioral Health Case Manager), Jamie Allen (Behavioral Health Case Manager), Tom Croteau (DHS Director) Call to order and introductions: Patterson called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. Minute Approval: Neff moved to approve April 8, 2026, minutes as presented. Lindell seconded the motion. Motion carried. Public Comment: none. Program Report- Behavioral Health Workers Present an Overview of Their Roles – • Jamie Allen and Vanessa Pierce introduced themselves to the committee. • Allen explained that Behavioral Health programs offer support to community members facing mental health and substance use challenges. • Behavioral Health Case Managers serve as a gateway to assistance by helping participants access necessary services, support, and treatments in both voluntary and involuntary situations. o Allen and Pierce collaborate with the legal system, treatment programs, law enforcement, county services, providers, and various other resources to navigate treatment. o Support can include case management, skill-building, and assistance in locating resources, programs, and providers. o Allen added that support is also provided to the participant's family. • Pierce mentioned that she and Allen also work closely with other county programs, such as Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) and the Community Support Program (CSP). These programs provide intensive mental health support, focusing on skill- building, ongoing case management, and maintaining recovery. o Allen explained that CCS is a voluntary wraparound program in which a facilitator is assigned to oversee a participant’s needs. The Service Facilitator coordinates with various service providers to ensure everyone is aligned in supporting the individual. Minutes were approved at the October 7, 2026, FBHSAC meeting. K:\Agendas and Minutes\Family & Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee\FBHSAC Minutes\2026 FBHSAC Minutes\2026-07- 08_FBHSAC_Meeting minutes-final.docx 2 o Whereas CSP is designed for participants with higher needs. This includes those who require assistance with medication, need more personal contact each week, or need help communicating with their physician. • Pierce highlighted that an important step in Behavioral Health Case Management is meeting people where they are and walking alongside them on their journey to help them achieve their goals. Recognizing that everyone's needs and challenges are unique, Pierce focuses on creating a personalized plan for each individual. • Pierce emphasized the importance of building rapport and trust with participants as they engage with various services and providers. Many individuals have had challenging interactions with healthcare professionals, which can lead to mistrust and hesitation to seek help for their needs. Case managers play a crucial role in bridging this gap. They serve as a consistent presence in participants' lives, regularly checking in to ensure that appointments are kept, medications are managed, and access to necessary community services is facilitated. • Pierce clarified that they are not therapists or provide crisis intervention. • Allen stated that Behavioral Health Case Managers also try to be the outreach person who checks in on participants, holds them accountable, and holds the line until they can see a qualified provider. • Lindell asked where referrals come from. o Pierce explained that they come from a variety of sources, including medical providers, law enforcement, community members, and family members. Anyone can refer a participant to the program. • Pierce also noted that she and Allen are the only two Behavioral Health Case Managers in this County. • Pierce stated that one of her favorite aspects of this position is outreach. There is often a negative perception of individuals struggling with mental health and substance use issues. Both Pierce and Allen aim to challenge long-standing stereotypes and raise community awareness of the realities these individuals face daily. The goal is to foster community support to help these individuals get back to where they want to be. • Lindell asked if they encounter individuals struggling with homelessness. o Pierce noted that some of their caseload may have experienced homelessness at some point in their lives. o Allen and Pierce assist those who are currently homeless by connecting them to housing resources through the housing authority or other state programs. o Pierce emphasized the importance of meeting individuals where they are but notes that they must also be willing to participate and engage in improving their situation. It is a team approach. o Allen asked the committee to reach out to legislature for change, because severe and persistent mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, do not qualify for long-term care or group housing. As a result, people with these conditions are highly susceptible to homelessness or are not often placed in settings that are right for their needs. • Gonzalez, Pierce, and Allen all note that Bayfield County has an unusually high percentage of the population with severe mental illnesses. • Patterson expressed her concern in a letter to Angela Stroud regarding another important issue: the transition of teenagers with disabilities into the wider world. Patterson highlighted the need for adequate resources to ensure these individuals are supported during this critical life transition. K:\Agendas and Minutes\Family & Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee\FBHSAC Minutes\2026 FBHSAC Minutes\2026-07- 08_FBHSAC_Meeting minutes-final.docx 3 • Lindell inquired about the new housing structures. o Croteau and Allen mentioned that they are market rate and have a long waiting list. o Croteau expressed hope that this will open other, more affordable housing options for participants. • Croteau thanked Patterson and Lindell for being willing to serve on the committee again. Section and Budget Updates: Behavioral Health Services- • Gonzalez highlighted that the department is requesting an additional full-time Service Facilitator for the Comprehensive Community Services (CCS) program, citing the following points: o Enrollment in the CCS program continues to grow steadily, and the program aims to meet participant needs while maintaining service quality. o A typical Service Facilitator manages a caseload of 12 to 15 participants. While this is generally manageable, many Service Facilitators also provide substance use disorder counseling, complete functional assessments, and handle other program responsibilities. As a result, a caseload of 15 participants is typically considered heavy. o Currently, there are approximately 60 participants in the program, with five to ten referrals received at any given time. o The position is funded through the Medicaid program and is not reliant on county levy. • Gonzalez also shared some additional information about CCS staffing: o Alan Spaude-Filipszak, a licensed clinical social worker, serves as a mental health professional, offering essential clinical support to the staff. ▪ Branagan stated that Spaude-Filipszak is a phenomenal worker and noted that he used to work with the Red Cliff Elderly department. o Croteau still serves as the CCS service director due to licensure. ▪ Gonzalez is working towards obtaining the required clinical hours and will take over the role from Croteau upon completion. o Gonzalez stated that it is exciting to see the amount of work the Behavioral Health and Community Programs unit does for Bayfield County. Having worked in different counties and areas of the state, Gonzalez noted that this is not offered everywhere. • Gonzalez discussed the 2025 CCS Survey results: o Bayfield County CCS performs at or above state averages on the Adult Satisfaction Survey. o Survey results for Youth and Family Satisfaction have been a little less consistent. ▪ A small sample size is an important factor when reviewing results. ▪ A single low response can significantly impact overall scores when only a few surveys are completed. ▪ Self-assessing progress can be challenging for youth ages 13-17. ▪ There are no disparaging remarks. ▪ It can be difficult for participants and families to separate their satisfaction K:\Agendas and Minutes\Family & Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee\FBHSAC Minutes\2026 FBHSAC Minutes\2026-07- 08_FBHSAC_Meeting minutes-final.docx 4 with CCS specifically from their overall experiences across multiple departments or systems. • Gonzalez announced that August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. Behavioral Health, Criminal Justice, and Public Health are currently organizing an event from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the steps of the Bayfield County Courthouse. o Patterson inquired whether Narcan would be available. ▪ Gonzalez confirmed that Public Health will provide training and distribution of Narcan at the event. Family Services- • Weyers introduced herself as the new Family Services Manager to the group. • Weyers explained the restructuring of the Family Services unit as of mid-April. o Melissa Berthiaume has taken a lead position for supervision of Child Protective Services (CPS). Berthiaume also carries a CPS caseload. o Brittany Anderson has taken the lead position for supervision of Youth Justice. Anderson is also the department’s Foster Care and Kinship Care Coordinator. o Weyers previous position, Supervisor of Children’s Long-Term Services and Children’s Community Options Program, was absorbed into her Family Services Manager role. ▪ In 2027, CLTS is looking to promote one of the existing Service Facilitators to a lead position. • Other changes to the Family Services section include: o Ivy Ray was hired as a CPS Case Manager and started on June 15th . o Caitlin Irvin-Sullivan was hired as a CLTS Case Manager and started on June 29th . o There is one open vacancy in Family Services for a part-time Social Worker Aide. We hope to have good news about this position by our next meeting. o Patterson inquired if the Social Worker Aide position was something a certified peer specialist would qualify for. ▪ Weyers stated they certainly could. It just depends on that person’s skill set and interests. The Social Worker Aid helps the rest of the Family Services team with a lot of document processing, uploading to eWiSACWIS (the statewide out-of-home placement database), answering access calls, and writing reports. They work very closely with the Foster and Kinship Coordinator and assist with outreach. • Neff inquired if the child must be on Medicaid to receive CLTS or CCOP services. o Weyers responded that for CLTS they do, but for CCOP they technically don’t. There are a bunch of doors to the different Medicaid programs, so if they are eligible, our staff can help facilitate the child's enrollment in a CLTS-accepted form of Medicaid. • Neff inquired if any of the families are losing Medicaid. o Weyers noted that the family’s status with Medicaid/BadgerCare hasn’t been discussed much over the past six to eight months. o A benefit for CLTS children having their own Medicaid program, rather than family coverage, provides more stability, especially since family income or job status can affect eligibility for BadgerCare. o Weyers stated that this is just one reason a CLTS lead position is needed to help track state changes and educate the team on how to implement them. • Child Welfare in general remains busy with managing a lot of complex cases. K:\Agendas and Minutes\Family & Behavioral Health Services Advisory Committee\FBHSAC Minutes\2026 FBHSAC Minutes\2026-07- 08_FBHSAC_Meeting minutes-final.docx 5 o The team is working on having some youth currently in placements return to their home settings, which can be an involved process for both youths and families alike. • Professional development is an ongoing process: o Weyers is participating in statewide standardized training. o Staff are absorbing as much information and training as they can. o Family Services is building capacity, while providing high-quality care and ensuring children's safety. o Anderson and Weyers secured funding from an initiative grant to get more staff trained in Carey guides and BITS, which stands for Brief Intervention ToolS. These tools help with supporting behavioral modification. Other Business - • Neff recommended that Lindell and Patterson both be reappointed to the committee. • Gonzalez will bring the renewal request for both Lindell and Patterson to the board at the August meeting. 2026 Meeting Dates: • October 7th • Review of 2027 dates will take place at the next meeting. Adjournment: Meeting was adjourned at 10:44 a.m. Minutes respectfully submitted by, Sarah Traaholt Sarah Traaholt