Call to Order and Roll Call
The first meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on Health and Welfare was held on Wednesday, June 15, 2011, at 1:00 p.m., at Kaleidoscope, Inc., Younger Adult Day Health Center, 10330 Bunsen Way, Louisville, Kentucky. Representative Tom Burch, Co-Chair, called the meeting to order at 1:07 p.m., and the secretary called the roll.
Present were:
Members: Senator Julie Denton, Co-Chair; Representative Tom Burch, Co-Chair; Senators Joe Bowen, Tom Buford, Perry B. Clark, David Givens, Denise Harper Angel, Dennis Parrett, Joey Pendleton, and Jack Westwood; Representatives Julie Raque Adams, Bob M. DeWeese, Brent Housman, Joni L. Jenkins, Mary Lou Marzian, Ben Waide, David Watkins, Susan Westrom, and Addia Wuchner.
Guest Legislator: Representative Ron Crimm.
Guests: H. James Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Cedar Lake, Inc., Louisville; Darla Bailey, President, Kaleidoscope, Inc., Younger Adult Day Health Care Center, Louisville; Jacquelynn Engle, I.C.P.P, M.S., Prevention Specialist II, Kidsnow Plus and Reel Action Coordinator, Seven Counties Services, Inc.; Kyle and Rita Durbin, Lead Youth Creator for Best Editing Winner PSA Commercial, “Don’t Burn Your Future”; Elizabeth Caywood, Internal Policy Analyst, Commissioner’s Office and Robin Herring, Assistant Director, Division of Child Care, Department for Community Based Services, Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Murray Wood, Legislative Liaison, Cabinet for Health and Family Services; Nathan Goldman, Kentucky Board of Nursing; Jim Waters, Bluegrass Institute; Ellen Kershaw, Alzheimer’s Association; Michelle Wade and Evelyn Tinker, KIPDA Area Agency on Aging; Mary Sanders, RN, Diane Stengel, Lana Brunner, Mary Alford, B.G. and Linda Kennedy, Steve and Martha Rudy, Karen King, Kim Keller, and Debbie Walph, Kaleidoscope Family Members; Howard Bracco, Seven Counties Services; Jodi Mitchell, Kentucky Voices for Health; Anne Hadreas, Kentucky Equal Justice Center; Jan Gould, Kentucky Retail Federation; Marty White, Kentucky Medical Association; Bailey Preston and David C. Harris, NMSS; Jackie Wisman, Jefferson County Public Schools; Karen Hublar, Community Coordinated Child Care; and Pam Perry, Amerigroup.
LRC Staff: DeeAnn Mansfield, Miriam Fordham, Ben Payne, Jonathan Scott, Gina Rigsby, Cindy Smith, and Katie French.
Retirement Resolution for Jim Richardson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Cedar Lake, Inc.
A resolution was presented to Jim Richardson upon his retirement from Cedar Lake, Inc. after 34 years of tireless and devoted service as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Referred Administrative Regulations
The following referred administrative regulation was on the agenda for consideration: 201 KAR 20:490 – establishes the scope of practice for administering medicine or treatment by a licensed practical nurse as it relates to intravenous therapy. A motion to accept the administrative regulation was made by Representative Westrom, seconded by Representative Jenkins, and adopted by voice vote.
Kaleidoscope, Inc.
The Kaleidoscope choir, led by the music therapist, Susan, sang My Old Kentucky Home and the Grand Old Flag. Darla Bailey, President, stated that there are 156 participants at Kaleidoscope with an average age of 35. The main focus is the allocation of state funds to help serve individuals with special needs in the community. Kaleidoscope is the only younger adult day health center in Kentucky. Participates live at home and are cared for by a spouse, parents, grandparents, extended family, family home provider, a staffed residence provider, or Hazelwood community home provider. Ms. Bailey answered a question by Representative Marzian by saying it cost $168 per day for an individual to stay in an institution. The money used in the Supports for Community Living (SCL) waiver funds are used and stay in the community. There are approximately 1,800 individuals on a waiting list for the SCL waiver who live at home and receive Home and Community Based Waiver (HCBW) services. The state only funds 50 HBCW slots per year, and there has been no movement on the list for a long time. Representative Burch stated that caregivers receive eight hours of respite while their loved one attends Kaleidoscope. More information is provided at www.kaleidoscopeservices.org.
Legislative Hearing on the SFY 2012 Social Services Block Grant
Elizabeth Caywood, Internal Policy Analyst, Commissioner’s Office, Department for Community Based Services, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, stated the SSBG became effective October 1, 1981 in an effort to consolidate federal assistance for state social services program. The block grant provides federal funding to the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) and, as a pass-through, the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) for the last three quarters of State Fiscal Year 2012 and the first quarter of State Fiscal Year 2013. The DJJ receives approximately one-third of the federal allocation. The anticipated funds for Federal Fiscal Year 2012 are $23.8 million with $115.4 million state-matched funds. The funding provided through this block grant is considered a revenue source, not a particular program. The DCBS prioritizes the funding of services mandated by the Kentucky Revised Statutes, and are provided in accordance with promulgated administrative regulations. Services are offered in each county by DCBS staff or by contracted service agents. A motion that the block grant application does meet the standards and criteria set out in KRS 45.353 was made by Senator Parrett, seconded by Representative Jenkins, and approved by voice vote.
Legislative Hearing on the FFY 2012-2013 Child Care and Development Plan Block Grant
Elizabeth Caywood, Internal Policy Analyst, Commissioner’s Office, and Robin Herring, Assistant Director, Division of Child Care, Department for Community Based Services, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, stated that the CCDF Block Grant was authorized under Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 and amended by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). The block grant replaced welfare-related child care funding streams. Under CCDF, states cannot spend more than five percent on administrative costs, but spend approximately four percent on activities to improve the quality and availability of child care, and demonstrate how they serve families who receive public assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant transitioning off public assistance or at risk of becoming eligible for public assistance. Kentucky’s estimated funding under CCDF: FY 2012 CCDF allocation is $76,774,230; federal TANF transfer, $54,386,300; direct federal TANF spending on child care: $22,108,100; state maintenance-of-effort funds: $7,274,537; state matching funds, $9,546,233; and quality funds, $5,135,536. The DCBS has partnered with various state agencies, private consultants, the provider community, and advocates and developed the proposed state plan. The DCBS has identified three areas for the proposed funding: Child Care Assistance Program, comprehensive consumer education, and quality enhance initiatives. A motion that the block grant application does meet the standards and criteria set out in KRS 45.353 was made by Senator Buford, seconded by Representative Marzian, and approved by voice vote.
NECCO
Pam Priddy stated that Necco is a private, statewide, not-for-profit agency started in 1997 by Ed and Dorothy Necco that provides therapeutic foster care, independent living, alternatives to secure detention, and other community based services to children in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Necco serves children ages birth to 21 years in both the child welfare and juvenile justice system and families in need. Offices are now located in Ashland, Bowling Green, Florence, Hazard, Lexington, Louisville, Owensboro, Paducah, and Somerset serving approximately 20,000 children since 1997. The staff include certified sex offender counselors, certified MAPP/GPS trainers, certified Safe Crisis Management trainers, certified drug and alcohol abuse counselors, certified STEP and 123 Magic staff, certified Prime for Life, Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention staff, certified first aid/CPR trainers, adoption assessors, licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed social workers, and licensed clinical social workers. Serving more than 600 children and nearly 300 foster families in 68 of Kentucky’s 120 counties, it has established itself as the largest provider of therapeutic foster care in the state.
Services provided are therapeutic foster care, medically fragile foster care, alternatives to secure detention, electronic monitoring, prevention services, visitation, parenting education, independent and transitional living, adoption home studies, and outpatient mental health services. Recruiting and training foster care parents is a high priority. Ms. Priddy answered questions by Representative Jenkins by saying the annual budget is $16 million with approximately 85 percent government funding. Some of the contracts are with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the Department for Juvenile Services, and Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky. More information is provided at www.necco.org.
Local Youth Taking “Reel Action” To Prevent Underage Drinking
Jacquelynn Engle, I.C.P.P, M.S., Prevention Specialist II, Kidsnow Plus and Reel Action Coordinator, Seven Counties Services, Inc., stated the regional project began in 2008 and involves youth directly in prevention of underage drinking. The project is an environmental strategy which uses media as its main outreach and influential component. The primary goal is designed to provide counter-advertising and increase awareness of the consequences of underage drinking through peer education, involvement and influence through youth-created 28 second Prevention of Underage Drinking video public service announcements (PSAs). The secondary goal is an awareness effort geared towards parents and care providers, creating written articles focusing on underage drinking information, preventative tips, and resources. Annually, over 500 youth from area schools and community groups create approximately 100 videos. The winners are announced at the World Premiere and Awards ceremony at Baxter Avenue Theatres in the Highland of Louisville. The grand prize winners are aired on MTV and other youth-oriented outlets in addition to winning cash prizes and other benefits. More information is provided at www.reelactionky.com.
Kyle Durbin, Lead Youth Creator for Best Editing Winner PSA Commercial, “Don’t Burn Your Future”, stated that the project changed his outlook on and motivation about his future. He had to do a lot of research preparing the video and it opened his eyes about underage drinking. Senator Denton stated that the videos have a positive impact on underage drinking.
Adjournment
There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 2:13 p.m.