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Humboldt County IHSS advisory board approves minutes, allocates $600 for member travel; staff report caseload and state budget changes
Summary
The Humboldt County IHSS Advisory Board approved February minutes and a $600 travel allocation at its March 23 meeting. Staff reported 3,058 authorized cases, 3,172 enrolled care providers and warned of proposed state changes to Medi‑Cal disenrollment and cost‑sharing that could affect IHSS funding.
The Humboldt County Advisory Board on In‑Home Supportive Services voted to approve its February 2026 minutes and to allocate $600 for board member travel at a March 23 meeting in Eureka.
Board action and procedure The board approved the minutes by roll call, six in favor and one absent. The motion to approve the February minutes was made by Andrew Buschkamp and seconded by Mimi Aubrey. Later the board approved allocating $600 for travel expenses for the remainder of the fiscal year; that motion was made by Buschkamp and seconded by Tim Such. The roll‑call votes in both cases recorded Petersen as absent; the other six members voted aye.
Why it matters IHSS staff used the meeting to present operational data showing steady program activity in February and to flag proposed state budget changes that local advocates say could affect program funding. The board also discussed upcoming advocacy steps, including an advocacy‑letter template members may use to contact state lawmakers and Lewis’s planned presentation of the Advisory Board’s annual report to the IHSS Public Authority Governing Board on March 24.
What staff reported IHSS front‑office and program staff reported the following February figures: 1,874 IHSS‑related inquiries (about 70% were payroll related); 76 new IHSS applications received; 3,058 authorized cases; 3,172 enrolled care providers; a provider registry listing 260 care providers with 6 newly added and 155 actively accepting recipients; and more than 90 newly processed care‑provider packets. Staff also said payroll contacts commonly involved questions about starting the care‑provider enrollment process or about W‑2 forms.
State budget concerns Meeting materials and staff remarks noted that state lawmakers are proposing changes to Medi‑Cal disenrollment, the BUPS program, and CFCO (client/family share‑of‑cost) penalties to address projected state budget shortfalls. Advocacy agencies are lobbying to protect IHSS funding; the board discussed preparing advocacy messaging and an email template for members to use in communicating with state officials.
Other business Chair Margaret Lewis said she plans to present the Advisory Board’s annual report to the IHSS Public Authority Governing Board on March 24. Lewis and member Mimi Aubrey also agreed to attend the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors meeting on May 5 (a change from a previously planned March 17 date). Under a standing agenda item, Connie Beck, director of the Department of Health & Human Services, and Jack Breazeal, deputy director of Adult Behavioral Health, had no updates.
Next steps and meeting close The board added continuing advocacy regarding the state FY26‑27 IHSS budget to the agenda for the next regular meeting and adjourned at 2:45 p.m. Future meeting dates listed by the board include April 27, May 18 and June 22, 2026.
