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Commissioners approve drug-court services agreement and budget changes for home- and community-based care
Summary
The board approved a two-month subrecipient agreement with Walden Sierra for drug court outpatient treatment and budget amendments that increase state funding for Community First Choice and Home and Community-Based Options Waiver programs by $97,200; commissioners also approved a small NSIP grant increase for senior meals.
The Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 26 approved three actions from the Department of Aging and Human Services: a two-month subrecipient agreement with Walden Sierra, Inc. to provide outpatient treatment services for drug court participants; a fiscal-year 2015 budget amendment adding $97,200 in state revenue for Community First Choice and the Home and Community-Based Options Waiver; and a third revised Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP) award increasing the FY2014 nutrition grant by $196.
Lori Jennings-Harris, director of Aging and Human Services, said the Walden Sierra subrecipient agreement covers outpatient drug-court treatment for a 60-day period and is funded through the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The agreement amount is $9,104 for FY2015; Jennings-Harris said staff expects to bring a follow-up packet with a longer-term subrecipient agreement and a new provider for the balance of the fiscal year.
Judge Abrams and others involved with the drug court were present in the audience; the commissioners were urged to ensure close coordination between Walden Sierra and the court to support implementation.
On home- and community-based services, Rebecca Kessler and Jennings-Harris outlined that federal Medicaid Personal Care cases have been moving into the state-managed Community First Choice program. The county estimated it will receive an additional $97,200 in FY2015 revenue for those programs and will reallocate $33,013 of county funding back to the county Emergency Appropriation Reserve because the added state funding will cover needs previously budgeted as county share unless county funds prove necessary.
Jennings-Harris said the local caseload has grown from about 27 to nearly 60 as the program expanded from serving older adults to a broader eligible population (age 16 and up in some cases), and staff are working to establish service plans, providers and supports planning for those clients.
Alice Allen, senior center operations manager, described the NSIP award increase: the third revised grant adds $196 to a FY2014 award (project US1406) and will be used to provide additional meals for seniors; the total NSIP award cited was $46,440.
Actions: Commissioner Cynthia L. Jones moved to approve the Walden Sierra subrecipient agreement; Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe seconded. Commissioner Daniel L. Morris moved the budget amendment to record the $97,200 state funding and reallocate $33,013 county funds; Commissioner Todd B. Morgan seconded. Commissioner Morgan moved approval of the NSIP revised award and budget amendment; Commissioner Lawrence Jarboe seconded. All measures were approved by voice vote.
Ending: County staff said they will return with the longer contract packet for drug-court treatment services and continue implementation of Community First Choice enrollment and service planning.
