MN HIV Services Planning Council
Meeting Minutes for April 13, 2004
Redeemer Missionary Baptist Church

 

 

I.          Welcome and introductions; lighting of the candle

Sarah called the meeting to order at 9:05 a.m.  Introductions were made.  David lit the candle in memory of those who have gone before and to remember why we are here.

 

II.          Review the minutes and proposed agenda

The minutes were passed by unanimous consent.

 

III.   Open Forum

Dan Reidenberg, Director of Family & Children’s Service, is here to speak about their home health care program.  They are currently serving 20 HIV positive clients and have heard that the current cuts will significantly impact those clients.  He then shared some general information about the challenges facing those clients.  Many of them face serious health problems in addition to AIDS and the home health services allow them to stay in their homes.   They also have clients that are on the waiting list.  His concern is that if additional funding is not secured clients will be moved out of their homes which would have huge implications on their overall health.  He thanked members for past support and encouraged folks to keep these things in mind in their decision making process.

 

Irwin Thompson from Access Works also spoke.  As of June 1^st their HIV outreach will be downsized, along with some testing, because of a lack of funds.  He would like them to stay on the mailing list and wanted to let folks now that they will still be around with reduced staff.  The hope that is in the future they will secure more funding and be able to resume those services.  Those present then asked some additional questions.  Currently they see any number of clients per week, some of those clients require multiple visits before they get into case management.

 

IV.     Co-chair update

Sarah gave the update. All God’s Children Church (AGC) recently experienced an act of vandalism on cars parked in the parking lot.  A letter is circulating around the Council this morning, expressing support for All God’s Children.  She encouraged everyone here to read and sign the letter as a sign of support.

 

She then shared that the conflict of interest statement was sent to all members in the most recent mail packet.  With prioritization coming up this summer she reminded everyone of the ways that conflict of interest could arise (i.e. if a member could have some financial gain by the decisions made).  She would like to encourage a norm in meetings where people identify any potential conflicts of interests when speaking to specific issues that could be viewed as a conflict.  She added that key definitions have been posted at today’s meeting, as well as on the form, and encouraged everyone to review them.

 

V.                 Greater Minnesota Initiatives, Capacity Building and Systems Development provider presentations

These presentations are audio taped for future reference.

 

A.                Data presentation on Greater Minnesota Initiatives

Aaron Keith and Eric gave an overview of the service area.

 

B.                 Greater Minnesota Initiatives presentation

Jim Knappe-Langworthy and Renee Steffen gave a presentation about the services covered under greater Minnesota initiatives.  Three agencies are currently funded to provide services to folks in greater Minnesota – Mayo Clinic, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, and Minnkota Health Project.  Funds for transportation are also available, but not included in the Greater Minnesota Initiatives service area

 

C.                 Data presentation on Capacity Building

Aaron Keith and Eric gave an overview of the service area.  Capacity building is a very different type of service area than most others because it works to build the capacity of agencies rather than directly serving clients.  It has funded a variety of projects, specifically training, and clients in this case are service providers and agencies.

 

D.                Capacity Development presentation

Redwan Hamza spoke about African agency development that DHS has been conducting as a result of receiving funding through Capacity Development.  Amy Moser from DHS and Jonathan Hanft from Hennepin County then spoke about specific provider trainings that have been conducted.  Jonathan further clarified that these trainings are to increase provider capacity to work with to strengthen agencies infrastructure, which relates to their ability to serve clients. 

 

E.                 Data Presentation on Systems Development

Aaron Keith and Eric again provided information relevant to systems development, which includes housing, women & children’s services, substance use services, and corrections.  There is one provider, Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP).  There is no client utilization data because these services relate to building the capacity of systems.  But please note that often clients receive services through advocacy and system change.

 

F.                 Systems Development presentation

Cathy Strobel from MAP gave the presentation about the systems development work MAP has been implementing.  There is much data in the provider responses prepared by MAP so Cathy focused on specific situations that illustrate how systems advocates can work with and try to assist folks living with HIV/AIDS in the four areas above.

 

G.                Discussion

Aaron Keith fielded members’ questions about all services presented today.

 

VI.             Title I update – Jonathan Hanft

Jonathan reported that they’ve gotten feedback from HRSA about the unmet need estimate done – it was very well received.  Last week they conducted the second in the series of cultural competency training.  Ron Simmons will be in town, the day before the next session to have some informal meetings with specific groups in advance of the training, which is scheduled for May 27^th.

 

Jonathan handed out a revised budget proposal for members to review.  Last month he reported that Title I had received a 5% cut and Title II anticipated that their cut would be around 2.5%.  They now know that Title II was cut by 5%.  He then reviewed the changes made to the application budget approved by the Planning Council in September to accommodate the cuts that weren’t proposed at that time.  This budget is for fiscal year 2004 (Title I – March 1, 2004 to February 28, 2005 and Title II – April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005).  The Planning and Priorities Committee have discussed this recommendation for the budget in depth.  In looking at past spending the grantees were able to reduce a couple of service areas to help fund services farther down the list.  These include reductions to clinician consultation, care advocacy, substance use services, and all activities under systems development. Funding from the ADAP formulary plus carryover money will be allocated to cover benefits counseling through 2005.  Dave added that DHS has submitted a grant that, if approved, would fund two benefits counseling positions.  Also, six months of shut down funding will be provided to home health care.  Members then asked questions that Jonathan and Dave answered.  One question was how programs, specifically systems development, will be able to continue operating with the planned reductions.  Jonathan reported that conversations were had with the providers of those services to ensure their ability to continue running those programs.

 

MOTION:  Dan moved Roxanne seconded approval of the proposed budget for allocated 2004 funds.  Passed unanimously.

 

Jonathan then reported that the grantees would like to shift funds ($4,500) from culturally appropriate mental health into culturally appropriate emotional support – this a provider issue because the current provider is having difficulty providing those services due to inability to find a mental health provider. 

 

MOTION:  Roxanne moved Sarah S. seconded movement of funds from culturally appropriate mental health to culturally appropriate emotional support.  Passed unanimously.

 

VII.        Title II update – Dave Rompa

Dave reported that they have concluded two grant applications - the second Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) grant and integrated health care grant.  These are new services grants but will not help in other areas

 

The Heroes Conference was very successful.  There were approximately 245 in attendance.  Dave reported that it was a very positive experience.

 

Amy Moser and Michelle McCafferty could be, if travel is approved, attending a free conference on quality management to dialogue with 15 states about quality management expectations on April 30^th.

 

There was a $60,000 increase in the ADAP allocation.  DHS is continuing with a chart audit to see if consumers qualify for other programs – 48 people will be moving to other programs.  This is an effort to ensure that they are really the payer of last resort.

 

The case management RFP has gone out.  About a half a dozen new organizations participated in the proposal.

 

ADAP shortfall – the House decided not to include the shortfall in their omnibus bill.  The Senate last week did add it to their bill.  There is no help coming from the feds for ADAP.  The legislature could pass no bill, which would then pass to the Governor for a decision about money that could come out of the general fund.   Currently ADAP delivers service 1,100 to 1,600 individuals in the areas of insurance, drugs, nutrition and dental.

 

VIII.          HIV/AIDS Medical care update – Dr. Timothy Schacker

Dr. Schacker is the Medical Director of the Delaware Street Clinic and works in research at the U of MN as well.  He is here today to provide a medical update and began by showing the progression of HIV infection, including when meds should begin, etc.  This presentation is also audio taped (missed the first few minutes).  Upon infection CD4 and viral load counts fluctuate dramatically before tapering off to a seemingly normal level.  They’ve now been able to detect that acute seroconversion occurs about 14 days after exposure with mono-like systems.  During this time a person has been infected but has not begun to experience symptoms from the fluctuations in viral load or CD4 counts.  Guidelines about when to begin therapy continue to vary greatly.  His personal belief is that once someone is diagnosed they should begin therapy.  Members then asked additional questions.

 

IX.          Committee written reportstime for questions, discussion

Written committee summaries were sent out in advance of the meeting.  There is one action item for discussion from the Operations Committee.

·        Planning and Priorities Committee

·        HIV Positive Committee

·        Needs Assessment and Evaluation Committee

·        Community Participation Committee

·        Operations Committee – member contact information recommendations

LeMonte explained that because the Planning Council members are part of a body involved in government entity requests are sometimes made for contact information for members.  The Operations Committee decided that names could be provided, but that no additional contact information, such as addresses, phone, etc. will be provided.  This is partly because many of our members do not have a professional affiliation and additional information would be their home address and phone number.  He is asking for ratification of this decision by Planning Council members.  Information on Planning Council members would be provided to governmental partners, MDH and DHS.  Sarah S. suggested that anyone contacting staff to disseminate information be asked to send that information to staff who could send it out to the full membership. 

 

MOTION:  Sarah S. moved Bob N. seconded that all communication to be directed to Planning Council members be sent to staff for distribution to membership, this does not include information to government staff (i.e., DHS, MDH, etc.).  Passed unanimously.

 

X.      CSAD update – Joan Othieno, Ph.D.

Joan gave an update – the field team has developed it’s own identity including letterhead, business cards, etc.  She is asking Planning Council members for assistance.  They are focusing on HIV positive African immigrants looking at those not in care, those in care, and those who have dropped out of care and would like help identifying folks who could be interviewed.  Assistance with identifying agencies that the team could go in to for observation would also be appreciated.  Joan would also appreciate help in identifying providers who would be willing to be interviewed.  She is also asking to set times with Planning Council members for individual interviews and for any feedback from members about questions to be asked when interviewing or when conducting focus groups.

 

Joan added that the staffing of the project has changed.  They were to have six interviewers but one field team member has dropped out.  It was decided that they would continue with the present team, if more are needed they will look to others that attended the training.  The new site assistant is Moheden.  Members asked questions, specifically about funding.  The funding that was secured will not be adequate so Joan will be doing additional fundraising.

 

XI.          Announcements and next agenda

Sarah S. announced a daylong retreat for women.  Register by calling the AIDSLine.

 

Paul reported that HRSA has called a consumer conference in Santa Fe at the end of the month. He, Mary Dwyer, LaMonte and Randy will be attending.

 

Mary Dwyer announced that the next greater MN services systems training will be in Mankato on May 7^th.

 

Documents distributed at or before the meeting:

·        Agenda and March 9, 2004 meeting minutes

·        Capacity Building SAR summary

·        Greater MN Initiatives SAR summary

·        Systems Development SAR summary

·        Service provider information regarding Capacity Building, Greater MN Initiatives and Systems Development

·        Title I update outline

·        Proposed budget for 2004 allocations

·        Title II report

·        ADAP Watch published by NASTAD

·        Written committee reports (summaries)

 

MOTION:   Sarah S. moved David seconded adjournment of the meeting.  Passed unanimously.

 

Adjourned at 12:10 noon