ALLAMAKEE COUNTY

MENTAL HEALTH & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SERVICES

STRATEGIC PLAN

FY 2007-2009

Approved 3/13/06

Allamakee County Board of Supervisors

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MISSION STATEMENT............................................................... 3

A.  NEEDS ASSESSMENT........................................................... 3

Development of FY 2004-2006 Strategic Plan........................................................... 3

Areas of Concern........................................................................................................ 3

B.  GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.................................................. 4

C.  SERVICE AND SUPPORTS................................................... 6

D.  PROVIDER NETWORK & ACCESS POINTS.................. 8

MISSION STATEMENT

            Allamakee County is dedicated to providing appropriate and cost effective mental health and developmental disabilities services.  Toward this end, the county management plan will provide a vehicle for identifying the type and amount of service consumers receive to live and work in the least restrictive environment.  The county plan will reflect consumer choice and empowerment and give priority to community based services when appropriate.

We have a vision for the future:

People with Disabilities will:

Live in the community of choice, using needed supports and services by a provider of choice, working at a job of choice, and recreating, worshiping and volunteering in settings of choice.

A.      NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Development of FY 2007-2009 Strategic Plan

Throughout the past three years, the CPC Administrator relied on the Citizen’s Advisory Board (CAB) to carry out the current plan and formulate ideas for the FY 2007-2009 Strategic Plan.  The Board consists of nine members including consumers, family members, and citizens representing all disability groups and meets quarterly to review the activities of the CPC Office.  Major activities included visiting with local providers, talking with various consumers, and exploring financial and legislative aspects of the MH/DD system.  Most area agencies participate in these meetings. Meeting dates included 9/15/03, 10/28/03, 1/27/04, 4/27/04, 9/28/04, 12/7/04, 2/8/05, 5/10/05, 9/13/05, 10/25/05, & 2/21/06.  Minutes of the meetings are available in the CPC Office. 

On January 23, 2006, a public informational meeting was held to review past trends and the current trends in work services.  Because the session was attended only by agency staff, the informational presentation by Mary Lynn ReVoir from Workforce was again presented at the 2/21/06 CAB meeting.

The public hearing for the Mental Health Management Plan was held March 13, 2006.  Notices appeared within the required time frames in The Allamakee Journal and The Waukon Standard.  The final version of the plan reflects issues raised in this planning process. The Courthouse is accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Areas of Concern

Comments in italics denote those made by consumers.  All other comments are from family members, providers, and citizens.

1.      Revision of the Mission Statement to include “developmental disabilities” and addition of vision statement.

2.      Revision of appeal process to include that closed sessions must be recorded.

3.      More affordable transportation.  Providers note that lack of affordable and reliable transportation limits the opportunities for interaction with the community

4.      Concern about being sensitive to culturally diverse population.

5.      Need to expand of mental health services, particularly psychiatric services within the county.

6.      Increased opportunities to live and work in the community. 

7.      Development of comprehensive retirement plans as the baby-boomers become retirement age. 

8.      Continue to work at smoother transitions between children and adult MH/DD/MR services.

9.      Increased expectation from the community that all members work to their ability.  Expanding Supported Employment could create opportunities for every person to participate in the working community.

10.  Increased community advocacy, public education, and involvement in legislative issues.

B.      GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Note:  Due to financial and political uncertainties of the next three years we have chosen to state our goals and objectives in more general outcomes.  The action steps reflect some current ideas about measurable indicators of these goals.

Goal 1:  People with disabilities will live lives no different than people without disabilities.

Objective A:  Our community will actively include all people regardless of disability.

Action Step 1:  Increase the number of individuals with disabilities working in the community for real wages each fiscal year.

Action Step 2: Increase community advocacy and education including involvement in legislative issues dealing with people with disabilities by providing at least one event annually.

Objective B:  Individuals will actively assert both personal responsibility and rights when utilizing services.

Action Step 1: Increase the number of individuals with disabilities making their own decisions and accepting the consequences, both positive and negative, with the support of their families, friends, and providers.

Action Step 2:  Provide education for individuals with disabilities, their families, service providers and the communities, about changing service philosophies and consumer rights and responsibilities at individual program meetings, in community meetings, and when system changes occur.

Goal 2:  Our community will provide an array of opportunities that aid in life’s transitions.

Objective A:  Individuals’ entry into the system at any point, whether accessing child or adult services, will be straightforward and simple with helpful interactions between professionals and clients.

Action Step 1:  Explore options of funding services based on assessment of needs in conjunction with other local and state entities by end of FY09.

Action Step 2:  Increase community education about access to services to increase knowledge and decrease stigmatization.

Objective B:  Individuals moving from child to adult services and adult to elderly services will experience ease  and assistance from all agencies involved.

Action Step 1:  Clarify role of county in funding ongoing outpatient mental health services for students being served under the Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant before grant ends.

Action Step 2:  Clarify roles of Northland Area on Aging and the county in serving and funding individuals 65 and older by January 1, 2007.

Objective C:  Our community will provide a supportive and safe environment where clients can transition out of crisis and back to everyday activities.

Action Step 1:  Research trends in commitments, including both mental health and substance abuse, by end of FY08.

Action Step 2:  Continue to explore more crisis options in local communities, including psychiatric hospitalization.

C.      SERVICE AND SUPPORTS

The following matrix outlines services that (as defined by the state chart of accounts) are available for each diagnostic group.  An asterisk (*) denotes services mandated by federal or state law.  More specific requirements are found in the service listing, and in the budget.

D.      PROVIDER NETWORK & ACCESS POINTS

*Denotes local access points.  Staff at these agencies will help complete the needed application form, complete a comprehensive service needs assessment, and forward the completed application to the Allamakee County MH/DD Central Point of Coordination office that determines eligibility and service funding.