MARION COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICES BOARD
MEETING OF MAY 21, 2021
MEMBERS PRESENT: JOLENE CARTER
DR. HENRY HEINZMANN
ELLEN BRYANT-MESSENGER
JOHN PETERSON
SHAWN JACKSON
MEMBERS ABSENT: MARIANNE BAILEY
STACI THOMAS
STAFF PRESENT: DAN DOWNES, BUSINESS MANAGER
JACQUELINE RINGER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
The regular meeting of the Marion County Children Services Board was held on
Friday, May 21, 2021 at noon in the main training room of Marion County
Children Services. Board Chair, Mr. John Peterson called the meeting to order at
approximately 12:03 p.m. Ms. Marianne Bailey was unable to attend due to family
needs. Ms. Staci Thomas had a work obligation.
Mr. Peterson called for Public Comment. No public comment presented.
Mr. Peterson called for the review of the Minutes. The April Board Meeting
Minutes had been distributed to board members prior to the meeting for review.
Mr. Peterson requested a motion. Ms. Ellen Bryant-Messenger motioned to
approve the minutes as presented. Mr. Shawn Jackson seconded the motion. There
being no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.
Dr. Henry Heinzmann entered the meeting at 12:04 p.m.
Mr. Peterson called for the monthly Financial Reports. The April Revenue and
Expenditures reports had been distributed to board members prior to the meeting
for review. Mr. Dan Downes reported $2,118,564.74 in receipts and $538,005.77
in expenditures. The primary revenue sources for the month were real estate
property tax, federal placement reimbursement and the State Child Protection
Allocation. Placement related costs remain the most significant monthly
expenditure. Mr. Peterson requested a motion. Ms. Jolene Carter motioned to
approve the April financial reports as presented. Mr. Jackson seconded the motion.
There being no further discussion, the motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Peterson called for the Purchased Care Report. The April report had been
distributed to board members prior to the meeting for review. Ms. Jacqueline
Ringer reported two new placements for the month and noted the Agency plans to
place the children with kinship at the next court hearing. Three change of
placements occurred as a result of provider requests. One child was stepped down
from treatment foster care to own-home foster care. As of today, the Agency has
34 children in purchased care for a net cost of $475,287.60. Ms. Ringer noted an
$111,353.36 monthly savings in purchased care from April 2020.
Mr. Peterson called for Committee Reports. Ms. Bryant-Messenger noted the
Finance Committee met on today’s date at 11:15 a.m. The Preliminary 2022
Budget had been distributed to board members prior to the meeting for review. Ms.
Ringer summarized the budget as stated in Section 4, Budgetary Issues and
Discussion. Ms. Ringer noted the potential cost shift to local children services
agencies as a result of the QRTP (quality residential treatment program)
requirements set by the Family First Prevention Services Act. ODJFS provided
congregate care facilities an additional three years to meet QRTP requirements;
however, the act goes into effect on October 1, 2021. For those facilities that have
not met the requirements, local children services agencies will not receive federal
reimbursement for placements. Using current placement information, this could
result in an annual cost of $592,701.60 for the next three years. At this point, local
agencies have no way of knowing what facilities will meet the QRTP requirements
prior to implementation. Ms. Bryant-Messenger stated the Finance Committee’s
recommendation to approve the budget as presented. Mr. Peterson requested a
motion. Dr. Henry Heinzmann motioned to approve the Preliminary 2022 Budget
as presented. Ms. Carter seconded the motion. There being no further discussion,
the motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Peterson called for the Executive Director’s Report. The Monthly Services had
been distributed to board members prior to the meeting for review. Ms. Ringer
reported the Intake unit conducted 77 assessments of safety in April for an average
caseload size of 14.3. The Ongoing units provided services to 120 families and 235
children for an adjusted caseload of 12. The Agency maintained custody of 62
children, including the recent removal of a sibling group of five, and 91 children
were in the temporary custody of kinship. Independent Living services were
provided to 23 children. The Placement unit provided services to 39 foster homes
and 34 adoptive homes. Adoption hearings have been scheduled in June for two
children. The Agency is in the process of negotiating subsidies for a sibling group
of two. Unfortunately, the Agency has reached an impasse with the family which
may require mediation efforts through ODJFS. The Agency currently has seven
children in permanent custody that have not been matched with a prospective
adoptive family. The Agency is utilizing various recruitment efforts, including
social media, to find these children permanent homes. Post finalized adoption
services were provided to 91 children and 46 families. Post emancipation services
were provided to three children for the month. Ms. Ringer noted the management
team recently reviewed current staffing levels, caseload sizes and potential future
needs. It has been decided the increase Intake casework staff to six.
The Agency’s review and recommendation pertaining to SB 310 – Kinship Support
Program had been distributed to board members prior to the meeting for review.
Ms. Ringer summarized SB 310, supporting data, and the final recommendation.
No concerns were noted. Family Court will be provided with the information and
recommendation for consideration.
Ms. Ringer summarized the history of legal representation for the Agency, dating
back to 1999. Family Court presented conflict of interest concerns regarding the
same assistant prosecutor representing delinquency and child welfare court cases
due to several children / families being served by both. To address the concern, the
Marion County Prosecutor’s Office hired an assistant prosecutor to represent the
Agency and reassigned the current assistant prosecutor to the delinquency side.
The Agency has offered to re-enter into a contract with the Prosecutor’s Office in
order for the county to receive approximately 40-45% federal reimbursement for
the cost of legal representation of child welfare cases.
Ms. Ringer noted Kinnect is willing to revise the current MOU to provide a 30
Days to Family Specialist for Marion that will be shared with Williams County.
This will allow the Agency to continue provide additional search and engagement
efforts while reducing the administrative oversight required when the position was
housed internally. Kinnect has agreed to provide reimbursement for
implementation and ongoing training efforts in the amount of $12,600 over the
next state fiscal year.
Mr. Peterson called for Unfinished Business. The revised Executive Director
Annual Performance Review Process, including the draft management team review
tool, had been distributed to board members prior to the meeting for review. No
further revision needs requested. The Board Secretary will distribute the survey
electronically to management team members in December and the results will be
compiled and provided to the Board-at-Large.
Mr. Peterson called for New Business. No new business presented.
Mr. Peterson called for Miscellaneous/Other. No miscellaneous/other presented.
There being no further business, Mr. Peterson moved on to the date and time of the
next board meeting. The next meeting will be held on June 18 at noon in the main
training room at Marion County Children Services.
There being no further business to come before the board, Mr. Peterson requested a motion. Dr. Heinzmann motioned to adjourn. Mr. Peterson adjourned the meeting
at 12:53 p.m.
John Peterson, Chair
Ellen Bryant-Messenger, Secretary
Jacqueline Ringer, Executive Director