MN HIV Services Planning Council
Meeting Minutes for April 9, 2002
Minneapolis Urban League

 

Council Members Present:

Council Members Absent:

David Bergquist

Don Anderson

Linda Brandt

Michael Allen Beyer excused

Sheila Brunelle

Willie Bridges

Megan Ellingson

Clarence Charles

Randy Hornstine

Frank Guzman

Efren Tovar Leon

Mary May excused

Judi Marshall (Co-chair)

Steve Moore

Nick Metcalf

Helen Doris Reed excused

Jerry Moss (Co-chair)

John Whalen excused

Tim O’Brien

 

Bob Olander

 

Roxanne Robinson

 

Dave Rompa

 

Sarah Rybicki

 

Sarah Senseman

 

Michelle Sims

 

Debra Smith

 

Paul Tucker

 

Norman Wylie

 

 

 

Community Members:

Guests:

Bob Tracy – MAP

Trudy Cariveall - DHS

 

 

IGA Present:

 

Julie Hanson – MDH

Tracy Sides – MDH

Eduardo Parra - Hennepin County

Jeff Buckles – DHS

Michelle McCafferty - Hennepin County

Jennifer Thompson - Hennepin County

 

 

Staff:

Consultants:

Mary Doyle

Juan Jackson

Wardell Thompson

 

Mary Dwyer (minutes)

 

 

I.                  Welcome and introductions; lighting of the candle

Jerry called the meeting to order at 9:05.  Debra Smith welcomed new members and said a few words about remembering why we are all here as she lit the candle.  Introductions were made.

 

II.             Co-chair update

Jerry and Judi welcomed the new members.  Jerry said his door is always open and encouraged members to contact him when necessary.  Judi encouraged members to ask questions when necessary.

 

III.         Review of the minutes and proposed agenda

Clarifications to the minutes were made. MOTION:  Tim moved Sheila seconded approval of the revised minutes.  Passed unanimously.

 

IV.             SAR process summary and discussion

Juan Jackson and Becky Kroll, CLEAR

Juan handed out information related to the SAR (Service Area Review) summary.  He then provided an overview of the outcomes that were selected by the grantee and the provider to evaluate.  Juan continued through the SAR summary briefly outlining each service area, utilization information, the target group identified, first and second outcomes and if change was made in the desired direction.  ACTION:  The Needs Assessment & Evaluation Committee will look at the information that MDH has on the client level – to see if we want to include it in our SARs.

 

V.          Behavioral Update

          Orin Johnson

Orin provided a yearly update on behavior related to prevention and services.  New trends in sexual behavior reflect ongoing myths about HIV.  Recent HIV population trends identify MSM’s of color, persons of color, women and families, homeless teens, injection drug users and incarcerated individuals – these match health disparities recently identified by the CDC.  Other issues that impact these groups are cultural identity, multiple stigmas, testing and disclosure, services access, lack of empowerment and feelings of community.  New strategies must focus on barriers including programs for HIV positive injection drug users, programs for HIV positive gay and bi-sexual men and programs for incarcerated individuals, the use of multi-component and multi-agency efforts, web based opportunities for HIV positive individuals to connect and increased advocacy.  Some key prevention programs that are currently available are Women Alive, Centerforce, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies (CAPS), San Quentin State Prison; and HIV Stops with Me.  Members asked questions related to service; the discussion focused on programs for HIV positive persons who are incarcerated and the social marketing techniques being used.

 

V.                 Title I update

Jennifer Thompson

Jennifer shared information about the status of carryover funding from last year.  She said she will be able to provide more accurate information next month and would like to have the discussion then.  She said the Planning Council, via the Planning & Priorities Committee, could begin this discussion soon and suggested that capacity building and training are areas that could be looked at for carryover funding use.  Title I staff is currently working on contracts.  Jennifer also mentioned that in February and March the grantee staff offered training (financial management/accounting and collaboration) for vendors.

 

VI.             Title II update

Julie Hanson and Jeff Buckles

Jeff began the update by introducing himself to the group.  He announced that DHS is the Title II grantee, as of April 1.  He will be providing the monthly reports.  He asked for feedback from members regarding monthly reporting on Title II issues.  Please contact Jeff at: 651-634-2997 or email him at jeff.buckles@state.mn.us.  Currently the State has a freeze on creating any new contracts – they have requested an exemption for HIV/AIDS programs and that may be approved.  The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) grant application has been turned in – this grant will allow for extended case management services for the refugee population (primarily at HCMC and Regions) without relying on current funding sources.

 

Julie provided an additional update.  She recapped the audit that MDH has been undergoing as Title II grantee for 2000.  MDH and Hennepin County have provided five contracts each to the Office of the Inspector General for review as the final stage in the audit. A project to reimburse seven physicians and three dentists in the State for educational consulting on HIV/AIDS to other practitioners that was on hold has been begun.  Carryover funding used for this project.  She then passed out an updated spending report with a proposal for reallocation of funds ($22,000) from the dental program under primary health to nutritional supplements.  MOTION:   Approval of the reallocation of Title II funds was moved and seconded.  It passed unanimously.  Dave Rompa ended the Title II update by acknowledging Julie Hanson’s great work in this area.  Thanks Julie!

 

VII.        Task Force Report

Nick provided an update on the Task Force.  Last month the Task Force didn’t meet.  The CDC is reviewing their community planning guidance – a representative from the Task Force will be going to Atlanta to provide input on this.  They are also in the process of recruiting new members because some will be leaving this summer.

 

VIII.    Statewide Plan and Linkage Working Groups updates

Julie Hanson

Julie provided the update.  She began by reviewing the role of the statewide plan and linkage working groups for new members.  Both groups began meeting in February.  At the last meeting the statewide group began looking at services that are available throughout the State.  The also discussed the upcoming retreat for the statewide group including setting some specific goals.  The linkages group has been meeting monthly and currently is discussing counseling and testing.  At the next meeting they will begin talking about referral.  HRSA has just recently begun to allow funding for some testing and counseling, specifically looking at key points of entry as ways to reach people.

 

IX.          Report on Everyday Heroes Conference

          Kevin Sitter and Roger Ernst

Kevin and Roger provided information that was handed out at the conference along with a summary of the report that they are working on.  Kevin said they felt that it was a great success partly because it was planned by an advisory committee comprised of members of the community who also did much of the outreach.  They also had a low no-show rate and attrition rate.  They had 216 registrations (ten walk-ins are included in this number) 170 attended.  Providing transportation, childcare and overnight accommodations were helpful in getting people to attend.  Roger clarified that several affinity sessions were developed, as an example, for those newly diagnosed to discuss their options with long term survivors.  Kevin shared other feedback that participants mentioned about allowing HIV negative people and providers to attend as well.  Feedback was given that there haven’t been as many of these opportunities for conferences as there were in the past.  Many people enjoy and profit from them.  Jennifer expressed her thanks to Kevin and Roger for all of their hard work.  Tracy expressed her thanks – they have gotten increased calls for the SHAS study because of a flyer that was distributed in the conference materials.

 

X.                MHSPC Staff updates

Mary Doyle provided the staff update.  She reminded the Council about plans for the upcoming prioritization and the comprehensive plan.  At the next meeting we will begin passing out information for the prioritization process. The Planning Council meeting in June will be at DHS and will be extended for an extra hour to begin training on basing prioritization decisions on the data the Planning Council has gathered over the last two years. 

 

Mary Doyle also reminded the Planning Council membership of the conflict resolution retreat that will be conducted this Friday, April 12th.  The 800 number is finally up – the number is 888-638-3224.  Mary Doyle also shared the web address for the MDH site with the soon to be released HIV/AIDS Epi data is on the agenda.  Tracy Sides will overview this data at the May meeting.

 

Her final announcement was about the NAPWA training about community leadership that’s coming up.  Jerry asked that we add the Planning Council’s website to the agenda.

 

XI.          Committee reports

A.                Executive Committee, information was covered in the co-chair update

 

B.                 Operations Committee, Attendance policy

Jerry gave the Operations Committee update.  Copies of the attendance policy were passed out.  He also shared that the committee discussed the new member orientation and training plan.  Jerry said they also clarified the attendance policy and evaluation form.  MOTION:  Tim moved Bob Olander seconded approval of the attendance policy.  It passed unanimously.

 

C.                 Needs Assessment and Evaluation Committee

Sheila provided the update for the committee.  She began by giving a plug for the Needs Assessment Committee to the new members. 
In the most recent NA&E Committee meeting Tracy gave a preview of the new website that MDH has put together, Becky provided a summary of the SARs that was presented to the full Council today and Julia Hidalgo presented her preliminary report on the uncompensated care study.  Julia will present her final report to the Planning Council in the May meeting.

 

D.                Community Participation Committee

Bob Tracy provided the committee update.  The committee will be meeting on April 19th at 10:00 a.m. at Hennepin/Powderhorn Partners – this is a change from the normal meeting time because of the retreat.  The committee has been working on developing a modest communication plan, which will be brought to the full Planning Council in June.  They will then shift attention to focusing on how to create alternative mechanisms for those in greater Minnesota to be more involved in Planning Council work.

 

E.                 HIV Positive Committee

Debra provided the update.  The committee discussed the training plan that the committee will be using for new members.  The first training is scheduled for today.  The committee also discussed the results of the Everyday Heroes Conference questionnaire that the committee fielded.  One of the areas heavily identified was peer education.  The committee decided to bring that information forward to the Planning & Priorities Committee for consideration.

 

F.                 Planning and Priorities Committee

Linda provided the update for the committee.  The committee has been working on revising the Continuum of Care and looking at specific service areas.  One of the main changes was moving case management from a core service to being an access service.  We also heard a report on a study done by Diane Knust about the quality of medical care in Minnesota, the MCQA.

 

XII.       Meeting Evaluation

The revised meeting evaluation form was passed out.

 

XIII.   Announcements, next agenda

Debra announced that there is a new schedule for meetings of the community advisory group working with ACTU and that she will have information available.

 

Bob Tracy announced that in June the MAP community forum (being held at the Urban League) is going to look at changes in HIV testing, specifically what happens with referral.  The July forum, prevention for positives, will be held at MAP.

 

Nick announced that April 11th MN Men of Color will be having a fundraiser at Patrick’s Cabaret.  On May 11th they will conduct a training – information will be sent out.

 

Debra announced a collaborative effort being worked on for community information sessions.  The first one scheduled will specifically discuss Hepatitis (many types) and will be held soon.  She will keep us informed.

 

MOTION:  Sheila moved Dave seconded adjournment of the meeting.  Passed unanimously.

 

Adjourned at 12:20 p.m.

 

MN HIV Services Planning Council’s new 800 number! 1-888-638-3224 

MDH Website address for Epi update after April 15, 2002: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/dpc/aids-std/hivsurvrpts.htm