Minutes
ECR Advisory Committee
Jean Oxley Building
nd
935 2 St. SW, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
11:30 – 1:00
November 5, 2015
1.
Welcome and Introductions
Members Present: Diane Brecht, Corrina Todd, Jessica Peckover, Sarah Nemmers, Casey
Westhoff, Shannon Jamison, Ben Rogers, Debra Spina, Jeanine Scandridge, John Brandt, Robin
Stone, Dennis Dozier, Kathy Koerperich, Jessica Gullick
Members not present – notified chair: Jessica Perry and Brian Larkin
Members not present-Brenda Larkin, Austin Snell, and Christopher Peterson
2.
Approved Minutes from October 1, 2015 meeting, Ben Rogers moved, was seconded and
approved
3.
Old Business
a. Strategic Planning
Discussion began with talk of getting clients out of hospitals sooner. Where are the
people we serve going next? A warm line needs further discussion. Ben Rogers
questioned if this is a topic for strategic planning. Jessica Peckover reported that the
Governance Board would like our input on these topics.
b. Gaps in Service
Jessica Peckover discussed the difficulty in placing people in 24 hour care due to some
issues the behavior difficulties and questioned how we can support this? Corrina Todd
stated that she believed 90% of people with mental illness have a criminal record which
makes placement more difficult.
Diane Brecht discussed the need to develop a plan for a restrictive back to community
goal. She reported that Mobile Crisis also sees these difficulties especially with sexual
misconduct.
Jessica recommended a work group to look into this issue of what to do about these
hard to place individuals and then report back to this group. The following agreed to be
a part of a sub-committee study this issue:
Jessica Peckover, Casey Westhoff, Diane Brecht, Erica (Hillcrest), Corrina
Todd (if they could do this as a conference call), and regional staff. Mechelle Dondt
suggested that we do this with neighboring regions who undoubtedly have the same
problems.
4.
Local Stakeholders comments
Main concern is over Medicare Modernization and the implementation of the MCO’s.
5.
Legislative Updates:
Diane Brecht reported on the proposed ID waiver cap. It is off the table and this is good news
Ben Rogers reported there needs to be a stable and predictable funding stream for mental
health. Filling in legislature on what the big needs are.
6.
Regional Governance Board Meeting Update:
We are still waiting to hear from the Governance Board what they want from us. There is equal
funding on a per capita basis.
7.
CEO Update: Mechelle Dhondt
Mechelle did a presentation on the ECR system going forward and the Regional Trends. Hand
out showed money coming in to the region, the partners and providers of support and the
areas where the region is losing money.
8.
Educational Topic
Peer and Family Support Committee gave a presentation in which they discussed the definitions
of Adult Peer Support and Family Peer Support. They discussed the history of both Adult and
Family Peer Support, the training involved, the role of Peer Support, Adult and Family Peer
Support in Action, where you can find Peer Support and the value and benefits of this support.
The committee meets prior to this committee at 9:30 am on the first Thursday of the month.
9.
Deb Spina is no longer able to represent Linn County as a family member and asked if her
husband, Dean could take her place. There was some discussion about process for replacing this
position but the Committee made a motion to approved this change and supported the need to
have family members as an important part of this committee. A motion was made by Bob
Wharram and second was made by Dennis Dozier. All of the committee voted yes to having
Dean replace Deb. This will have to go to the Governing board for approval next month.