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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - ASSET Meetings Minutes 08/08/24www.storycountyasset.org AGENDA ASSET ISU Research Park Core Facility 1805 Collaboration Pl. (New Location) August 8, 2024, at 5 p.m. In Attendance: Becky Harker, Misty Zimmerman, Anneke Mundel, Ron Smith, Sandra King, Pa Goldbeck, Emma Cassabaum, Quinn Margrett, Beth Waage, Aidan Shervheim, Ed Gillott, Ashley Thompson, Linda Hagedorn, Joel Hochstein, Brad Hill, Moriah Morgan, Mindi Heeren, Amy Dombrowski, Mike Lazere, Juliana Nnoko Guest(s): Deb Schildroth, Heartland; Erik Rowles, ISU Harker called the meeting to order at 5:02 pm. WELCOME/ INTRODUCTIONS Volunteers did introductions so those online knew who was present. PUBLIC FORUM (1-2 minutes) Schildroth shared that staff will be moving into the Sixty Forward Center in a few weeks. The ribbon cutting will be Sept 28, 2024, and open to the public on Sept 30th. APPROVAL OF: Cassabaum made a motion to approve the May 9th, minutes, Second by Hochstein. Motion passed unanimously. TREASURER’S REPORT Smith reported the current balance is $3,854.91. He has received checks from City, County and ISU. United Way’s check is in the mail. REPORTS Administrative Team King welcomed the new Volunteers. Thompson reported that the annual United Way of Story County Day of Caring is Friday, September 13, 2024, at Cornbread in downtown Ames. United Way also has their finance director position open, and they are currently looking to fill that position. Goldbeck reported that $25,000 was brought forward to Council to purchase additional services for emergency shelter services. $12,500 of emergency shelter services were purchased from Good Neighbor, and $12,500 of services were purchased from The Salvation Army. Margrett reported that ISU students will be appointed once school starts, and they are looking for an administrative position to help with ASSET duties. www.storycountyasset.org Volunteers None OLD BUSINESS Update on Emergency Shelter Services King reported that ASSET released an RFP in 2023 to look for an agency to provide emergency shelter services. No provider was selected in that process. Funders have searched for another agency that could provide this service and none was found. The Salvation Army has ramped up their services as they had previously been providing hotel vouchers for this service that was not funded by ASSETE. They made an additional request to increase their staffing and are sheltering more people in hotels. Funders realize that this is not sustainable for The Salvation Army to continue at this level. Requests are being made too Funders for funding to hire a consultant to facilitate conversations about how to proceed and possibly do a study on the homelessness issue in the community. Referrals for emergency shelter services are made to The Salvation Army. The Salvation Arny has made requests to United Way to draw down all of their current funding to help with the increased demand for emergency shelter. There have been two facilitated meetings between the housing agencies in the community to help work on communication among providers who serve the homeless population and help better understand what each agency does so all others are aware. Goldbeck reported that on June 25, 2024, the City approved purchasing an additional $100,000 of emergency shelter services provided by The Salvation Army. She will take a request to Council next week to request unallocated dollars up to $12,000 to go toward hiring a facilitator to host some community conversations around the homelessness situation in the community. Smith asked if there is cross communication between the Funders and Goldbeck reported that yes, they are all in communication. Gillott asked when information would come out on the community conversations. Goldbeck reported that it is yet to be determined. Gillott asked if there is a sense of urgency with the Funders and Funder staff reported that yes, there is. Goldbeck reported that the City has an internal team that meets every other week on this topic to discuss ways to help with this in the community. NEW BUSINESS Approval of Reference Manual Goldbeck noted that most of the changes are formatting and not substantive. Smith moved approval, seconded by Gillott. Motion passed unanimously. New or Expanded Services Report The Community Academy King reported that TCA requested splitting their summer service program (Extracurricular School Year Programs) into two programs, one during the school year (1.07 - Youth Development & Social Adjustment) and one during the summer (1.09 - Out of School Programming). They will expand offerings during the school year and focus on engaging kids in community-based projects that last multiple years. The Admin Team approve this program as a new ASSET service. She noted that approval as a new service does not guarantee funding from ASSET. Primary Health Care www.storycountyasset.org King reported that PHC requested funding to serve uninsured clients. The Admin Team approved this program as an ASSET service. King noted that approval as a new service does not guarantee funding from ASSET. These services will have multiple codes. LSI – Nest Parent Education Program King reported that LSI requested a new program - The Nest Parent Education Program, which was a program previously delivered by YSS. The Admin Team approved this program to be considered as an ASSET service. She noted approval as a new service does not guarantee funding from ASSET. The code for this service will be 2.11, same as when YSS delivered it. YSS YSS requested approval to deliver the service of Mental Health and Wellness Education. The Admin Team approved this program to be considered as a new ASSET service under Public Education & Awareness – 1.12. She noted that approval of this service does not guarantee funding from ASSET. She also noted that this service will be getting CICS dollars for the next two years. Raising Readers King reported that Raising Readers requested to add the new program, Playful Pages Family Workshops. The Admin Team approved this program to be considered as an ASSET service under Public Education & Awareness – 1.12. She noted that approval of this service does not guarantee funding from ASSET. New Agency Applications Report Home Allies Thompson reported that Home Allies submitted an application to become an ASSET agency to provide housing services. The Admin Team denied this request due to their not providing services in Story County for 12 months. Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (Iowa MMJ) Thompson reported that Iowa MMJ submitted an application to become an ASSET agency to provide legal aid under code 2.10. The Admin Team denied this request due to their not providing services in Story County for 12 months. Prairie Flower Children’s Center Thompson reported that Prairie Flower submitted an application to become an ASSET agency to provide childcare as a nonprofit agency. Prairie Flower is located at Bethesda Church. The Admin Team approved this request. Thompson reported that they do not currently have a sliding fee scale in place and it was communicated to them that they needed to have one in place to receive funding. Conflict of Interest & Confidentiality Form Schill reported that she has all forms from Volunteers except Hochstein. www.storycountyasset.org Liaison Assignments King asked if any Volunteers found their names or had an issue with the agency they were assigned to. She also explained what the responsibilities are for liaisons. Liaisons will visit their assigned agency and fill out the liaison report form as well as attend one of the agency board meetings. King said this would be covered in the Volunteer training next month. Thompson mentioned that if any Volunteers discover they have conflicts with their agency, to let Funder staff know. Funder Priorities Goldbeck discussed the City’s ASSET priorities with City Council at their June 25 th meeting and there were no changes. King took priorities to the Board of Supervisors for approval and there were no changes. The County’s are broken into three main categories and are in priority order King also pointed out that Story County can’t fund mental health or disability services. Thompson took priorities to the United Way Board and there were no changes. Thompson anticipates changes to them next year as it’s the end of their five-year cycle. Heeren reported that students will approve the ISU Student Government priorities when students are back in session. Open Meeting Law Changes Goldbeck reported that with the new law change to the Open Meeting Law, any public meeting must offer a virtual option for board members. This only needs to be provided for board members not the public. Story County General Assistance (GA) and Central Iowa Community Services (CICS) Invitations Schill reported that we have invited representatives from each of these agencies to give an annual report at the September Joint Funders Meeting. ADDITIONAL ITEMS Goldbeck announced that on September 11, 2024, 1-3 pm at the Human Services Center in Ames, there will be a budget work session offered for agencies if they have any questions on their budgets. Thompson pointed out that this meeting and the Agency training on Aug 12, 2024, are for agencies, but Volunteers are welcome to attend if they want. Harker adjourned the meeting at 6:00 pm