Supervisor reports changes at CICS, highlights coordinated services and pending 28E update

A Franklin County supervisor told the board the group formerly known by the acronym CICS has changed its name to "Collaborative Individual and Community Supports" and is operating under an intergovernmental 28E agreement covering dozens of Iowa counties. "CICS is a public intergovernmental entity formed under a 28-year agreement among Iowa counties," the supervisor said, describing the organization's mission to coordinate access to long-term supports and short-term service coordination.

The speaker outlined four core services—information and assistance, options counseling, short-term services and service coordination—and said the organization is positioning itself to direct people toward disability services and other supports without directly providing those services. The supervisor said the executive committee and full board recently reviewed bylaws, internal controls, rates, hiring procedures and a new medical policy. "We went over policies, bylaw, internal controls, rates, hiring committee process," the speaker said.

The supervisor said the CICS board approved buying a commercial washer and dryer to replace household-grade machines at one facility and approved a full-time nurse position with a modest salary increase. Governance changes discussed include expanding the executive committee and creating four standing committees chaired by executive-committee members. The speaker said a revised 28E agreement is expected to come to member counties for approval in the near future.

The board did not take formal action on the report; the update was presented as a board report and will return as needed when the 28E revision and any implementing agreements are ready for county approval.