HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250722 IDDAB Meeting Closed Captioning Transcript14:46:04 Okay⦠online, can you hear me?
14:46:14 I'm gonna have to make sure that we're⦠Okay.
14:46:14 Yes. Here you. Hi, everyone.
14:46:18 Yeah, I don't know. Taylor? Great, okay.
14:46:26 Those people online just know it took, uh⦠accrue to get this meeting started, and I'm so grateful for everyone.
14:46:34 Always. Uh, we don't have a chairperson. Um, as⦠may have read⦠Um, through email.
14:46:47 We lost our chairperson after, um, she decided to resign after many years of service.
14:46:54 And thanks to everyone who contributed, too. Her thank you. Note, I'm going to deliver that to her soon. She's just been traveling a lot.
14:47:03 Enjoying⦠you know, enjoying some time. Um, so⦠Heather, would you mind handling that role temporarily? Sure. May I just share this agenda with you?
14:47:15 Um, we can call the meeting to order. How about start with that?
14:47:20 And, um, we've been also open for public comment, so if there's anybody in the room.
14:47:26 Who would like to make a public comment about any topic related to intellectual and developmental disabilities.
14:47:32 You just feel free to raise your hand while you're in the room here, and if there's anybody.
14:47:37 Who would like to make comment online, you can raise your electronic hand.
14:47:44 Anybody like to make public comments? To start us off, I have a question. Okay. Um, I actually have resigned from the board, but I saw my name on here, so if we need you for
a requirement to vote today, though. Okay, thank you.
14:47:57 I don't think we can do that after you've resigned. Luckily, we have a forum, thank you for offering that. Okay. And I published this agenda and shared it before you made that
announcement, so, I mean, we can just.
14:48:11 Okay, great. Kelly has resigned from the board, um, for your service, yes. And you're always welcome to make, like, a comment, and⦠Glad you're still here. Um, so I don't
see any other public comment. We'll go ahead and close, uh, the public comment period for the moment.
14:48:31 Um, we also had some minutes of our March 25th meeting. Did everybody get a chance to take a look at those minutes?
14:48:38 Are there any questions? Um, I'll just say that there were some corrections, which I'm so grateful for, and I had printed them out. Unfortunately, they're still on the printer,
but I do have them on the screen here. Okay. Are you okay with me sharing this? Perfect.
14:48:55 Okay, so, um⦠Do you want to⦠Camille and Andrew and the⦠Andre. Andre, sorry, I'm Andre, do you want to share a little bit about the corrections? Well, I actually don't
remember them, but just to fill you in, I go over every line with Camille to make sure she actually understands it. That's great. So, as we're doing that, things pop up, and I go.
14:49:18 What? I don't, you know, and then I just kind of keep all those, what?
14:49:22 And I hit the button, and that's what it's talking about. Great. So, you want to just go through them here? Well, um⦠I mean, basically, it had to do with, um, some of the
acronyms.
14:49:36 That was the biggest thing, and then she found all these, uh⦠glossaries of acronyms.
14:49:43 Three of them, and I'm just gonna consolidate, and then put a little definition, simple definition, that.
14:49:50 The self-advocates could understand better. That's great.
14:49:57 Yeah, but the whole thing is, really. Okay, so in⦠specifically in the minutes, looks like you had local services and providers. Is that my thing? Yes. Oh.
14:50:07 Yeah! Community inclusion must be accessible via public transit. Cascade Community Connections is the sole provider in Jefferson County.
14:50:17 Um, so that should be⦠it should be⦠Just that you missed the⦠changed the extra dash, is that what you're saying?
14:50:27 What was different? Well, yeah, it looked like there were two different items.
14:50:30 Oh, so just removing that second dash, got it? So, with continuity, yeah. You bet, we can do that. Under the funding and oversight section, I had to look up ACAC.
14:50:42 So hopefully that's the Accessible Community Advisory Committee, is that accurate? Yes. Okay, cool. So we should⦠We can go ahead and just write that out, and⦠Yeah, that's
the⦠but it's fun. I think as long as we actually have some⦠each one of us has thisâ¦
14:50:58 This is Lot 3. Okay, so these are all, um, acronyms that you asked for clarification around, correct? Yeah, and then she gave me all of those. Okay, great. So, and are you suggesting
that we would just put all these into a glossary and attach them to minutes, or how would you like to do that? In my mind.
14:51:17 That is potentially a separate project. I think what I would recommend, just for the sake of getting these minutes straight, is to do the corrections you mentioned, and for
every acronym, write it out instead of just tab it.
14:51:29 Yeah, it does. I think acronyms play a role in actually communication. You bet. And people should know the acronym as well as the definition.
14:51:38 So, I think each person having a glossary would⦠and these guys will have their own glossary with simple terms for them to understand what the functions are of each one of
these derivations.
14:51:49 Yes. I will tell you, um, SBA shares still does that, which is the Salish Behavioral Health Administrative Services Organization. S-p-h-a-s-o, which is, in itself, this really
long acronym, and they have a list of about.
14:52:04 45 acronyms that they attach to every one of their agenda palettes, because it is such a complex system. So it's kind of a bad idea. In terms of just making edits to these minutes,
we probably should go ahead and make the changes just to keep it simple, and then⦠and then we'll work on⦠getting it to be more accessible, and I'm going to work with Rune 2, our
minutes taker, who we justâ¦
14:52:27 Are going through the process of officially hiring after they volunteered, um, with a job coach.
14:52:32 Through Cascade Community Connections. So, um, we'll wrap room into that conversation so we can get the minutes to be more accessible. So I think it was just a really tiny,
uh⦠the resource guide that's a little bit out of date, but it's available online, I know.
14:52:48 Yeah, I reached out to the community, and I got, like, what, 5 different acronym glossaries, so we have to go through and see what works for us, yeah. There's always one of
yours.
14:52:59 Pretty extensive, yeah, for a long time. Yes, we have that one, in addition to the other cities that⦠So, um, in addition for these changes to the minutes, does anybody have
any other changes to the minutes?
14:53:14 And if not, can I get a motion to approve the minutes with these additions and changes?
14:53:21 Which I shouldn't do, someone else should do if I'm not kid.
14:53:26 So moved. All right. Do I have a second? Second? All right. Thank you. And to the folks online, Taylor.
14:53:34 Um, you're right, I just have shared screen, but we verbally, I think, went through what the corrections are, so⦠Does anyone need more clarification?
14:53:46 Okay, okay. Um, any, uh⦠Any⦠anyone have any other concerns or discussion?
14:53:54 Does that motion pass? Okay, I think that passes.
14:53:59 You know, listen, yes. Um, so, we are past the minutes, and we now have a discussion about our chairperson election.
14:54:08 Um, to take potential action. And I would say that we⦠Can⦠skip this if⦠I almost wonder if we should make a decision about whether we talk about this today, because
there's⦠the⦠how many are there? Four? We have four people.
14:54:27 Here, so that's our minimum, that's our quorum. Okay. So if we want more board members here to join in in that discussion.
14:54:34 That's a choice that you might make. Okay, so we might put out some information to the whole board and just think about it until the next meeting, and then⦠Um, I would say
that in general, how this works is if someone is interested in sharing.
14:54:48 Um, they should certainly bring that to Bonnie's attention between now and the next meeting, and, you know, bring that up, and then if you also, if you have, if you have nominations.
14:54:59 Bring that forward as well. I'll send out an email to go over that.
14:55:04 Okay. And are you⦠comfortable continuing to do it for this meeting? I am.
14:55:09 Yes. Happy to do it. Um, okay, so we will defer this action until the next meeting and get some information out and reminders to folks to think about it.
14:55:21 It looks like we have a couple of presentations today, a visual training guide for self-advocates on governing boards, and that will be a presentation.
14:55:30 By Arvani Ovis, and⦠Yes, uh, so right now I'm looking for feedback, so anyone.
14:55:36 Looking at this presentation that I'm about to share. Please feel free to speak up in the moment, shout it out, or write down a note that I can read later. We can also meet
one-on-one later if you want to give more extensive.
14:55:51 Feedback. Um, this project is from an idea, um, that Camille brought forward, um.
14:55:59 Because we need⦠for everyone who's going to be a part of the board, um, a board training guide that's clear, that covers the basics about how to be on a board.
14:56:12 Um, so that's what I tried to do. Um⦠And so, yeah, we'll just go page by page, and⦠and see what you all think. It is a draft, it's not finished.
14:56:31 Right in the middle. The highlighted green thing.
14:56:39 I'm kidding.
14:56:48 Can folks see⦠Jade brings aboard.
14:56:53 Something I want to add is, since I did this, I've⦠got⦠I've changed my feelings a little bit about chat GPT, um, so ChatGPT generated these illustrations.
14:57:08 On the one hand, it can give me exactly what I want almost instantly, and it's super customizable, um, and it's⦠not expensive. On the other hand, if we hired.
14:57:21 Someone locally an illustrator, or, you know, an actual person. Um, it would be a lot more expensive. I'm not saying it's not worth finding the money to pay for that person,
especially given probably everyone's values, um, especially about inclusion.
14:57:39 Uh⦠I'm just throwing it out there. Yeah, okay. So, Jade joins a board.
14:57:46 A picture book about a self-advocate on a governing board. And⦠which is kind of what I said, where the illustrations are from.
14:57:56 Dedicated to Camille and self-advocates everywhere. Chapter 1, what does a board?
14:58:03 My name is Jade. I work at a bakery.
14:58:08 I like to hang out with friends. Swim, and go on dates. I care about people.
14:58:16 So, I joined a board. I wish there was a way to move this way.
14:58:21 I'll get through these meetings. Okay? Um⦠a group⦠so then this comes from, um.
14:58:40 Your input that we need keywords. So, every⦠chapter really focuses on the definition of a key word. So here we have our first keyword, board, a group of people who work together
to help others.
14:58:54 I'm gonna keep moving forward, but if we need to go back to a page later, we can.
14:59:00 Chapter 2, what is the self-advocate? Every board is a little different. The board I joined is called an advisory board. Advisory means we give advice.
14:59:11 My board gives advice to people who work for the government.
14:59:15 I grew up with a disability, so the advice I give is extra important.
14:59:20 When I tell the government what is important to me, I am a self-advocate.
14:59:25 Self-advocate is the key word. When you teach others all about being you.
14:59:30 Chapter 3. What is a meeting like? A few times a year, I walk to the place where the board members meet.
14:59:38 We sit at a table together. Then we follow the meeting instructions.
14:59:43 There's always someone at the meeting to tell me what the instructions are. Theoretically, that's me.
14:59:52 The construction self-este turns talking. So the keyword is board meeting, when a group of people has a conversation that follows instructions.
15:00:01 Should we pause, or should we keep going? You know this? Okay.
15:00:06 Chapter 4, what is an agenda? The agenda is a list of things to talk about. The meeting manager sent me a copy of the agenda last week.
15:00:15 My sister helped me understand the agenda, so I would be ready to talk about it at the meeting.
15:00:22 Agenda, a list of things to talk about at that meeting.
15:00:25 Chapter 5. What is an agenda Item? Each topic on our list is called an agenda item.
15:00:31 One time, an agenda item said we would talk about a new items.
15:00:37 The new role was about board members like me, about self-advocates.
15:00:42 And the agenda item here is discuss new to the board members who are self-advocates will receive a stipend.
15:00:48 His stipends is money. I spend money on my gym membership, movie tickets, and other things I want and need.
15:00:54 According to the new rule on the agenda, self-advocates would get money for each meeting they'd go to, so the steps are.
15:01:00 Go to a meeting, receive your stipends, you spend your stipends, you get what you want. You feel, my voice is valuable.
15:01:08 A stipend shows everyone that is extra important for self-advocates to be board members.
15:01:13 Agenda item, something to talk about that is on the agenda, stipend. A small amount of money that pays people for their work.
15:01:22 Chapter 5. What is discussion? When we talk about an agenda item, we call it a discussion.
15:01:29 I tell everyone what I think and feel. Everyone tells me what they think and feel.
15:01:34 Discussion. When board members talk about an agenda item. What is the motion?
15:01:39 Discussion time is over when everyone is done talking, then it's time to vote. Anyone can start. I start by making a motion.
15:01:46 You are here. A motion is a suggestion I should share with everyone. My sister helped me practice saying the motion at home.
15:01:58 My emotion. I make emotion that this board recommends self-advocates receive a stipend for attending board meetings.
15:02:05 After I make a motion, another board member speaks up. He says, I second that motion.
15:02:11 That means he agrees we should vote on it. In other words, he seconded my motion.
15:02:16 This is where I ran out of illustrations. Motion. When you share a suggestion for everyone to vote on, seconded when another member agrees, everyone should vote.
15:02:27 Chapter 8. How do you vote on a Motion? The leader of the meeting is called the chairperson. Sometimes they call her a chair. The chairman asks everyone to vote after a motion
is made and seconded.
15:02:39 The chairperson calls out, all those in favor of the motion, say aye. I say aye, because that means yes.
15:02:45 Then the chairperson says if there are any opposed, say nay. We wait a few seconds, but no one says nay.
15:02:51 The ayes have it. The chairperson says the motion passes. That means we all agreed I should get paid when I go to the meeting.
15:02:59 Chairperson or chair, the leader of the meeting, I, yes, nay, no.
15:03:04 How do I ask for help? All the other board members want to help me. Sometimes they need to teach them how to help me.
15:03:11 And tell them, please slow down, or I need more time to think, or I need to hear that again.
15:03:17 Chapter 10, how do I take care of my body during a meeting?
15:03:21 It takes at least one hour to talk about everything at the meeting. I bring water in case I get thirsty, and snacks in case I get hungry. I can leave the meeting whenever I
need to go to the bathroom or take care of my body.
15:03:30 Just so you know, the bathroom's through the clinic. We're gonna write a bunch of that.
15:03:36 Um, what is it, recess? If I need a very short break, the meeting does not stop. If I need a long break, the meeting might stop until I can come back.
15:03:44 When the meeting stops for a while, that is called taking Bermuda.
15:03:49 Recess, when the meeting stops for a little while. Chapter 12. When is the meeting over?
15:03:53 The meeting manager tells us the time the meeting is supposed to end. Sometimes we finish talking about all the agenda items by the end time, sometimes we don't.
15:04:02 At the end of the meeting, we vote to adjourn. Adjournment when the meeting ends.
15:04:07 What are meeting minutes? During the meeting, a person is writing down notes when we talk. The notes are called minutes.
15:04:14 That's a list of the most important things that happened in the media.
15:04:18 The end. Thank you for your public service.
15:04:26 Okay, so you're going to keep moving, you know, toward putting words.
15:04:33 Illustrations and⦠Yeah, and.
15:04:37 I am curious, how everyone feels about. Sticking with the, um⦠using ChatGPT or an AI for illustrations? How do people⦠I picked a character that tried to represent the
intersection of a bunch of people in our community, so I'm totally open to.
15:04:56 Is the character⦠is the character okay? What needs to change about Jade? Um⦠should I keep using⦠artificial intelligence, or should I find an illustrator?
15:05:09 I think it's perfect. Okay, okay. Yeah. And there are people who don't want to give you money.
15:05:17 Yeah, that's right. So, is your issue with the chat thing a political issue?
15:05:25 So, I'm not an expert, I just read the headlines, and one thing that was disturbing is.
15:05:33 Apparently, the equipment that is needed to. Run artificial intelligence takes a lot of water.
15:05:43 Water that is⦠Then the water we use is currently potable drinking water. It's not, like, gray water or, you know, so⦠It uses a lot of resources, um⦠As does the internet
in general, any data storage, any computer data storage also takes.
15:06:02 You know, sending emails, and⦠Um, that all the data storage happens on the intranet overall.
15:06:08 Um, ChatGBT is⦠or⦠and chat and AI in general has just been proven to be particularly data storage and heavy.
15:06:18 And it's hot, and that it makes the servers very hot, so what the water is doing is cooling those servers.
15:06:26 And so they haven't found or been motivated to, um. Provide a better way to do that. Wow, by any chance?
15:06:37 Oh, you're here delivering, yes, okay. Great. Yeah, no, I see why you have⦠A qualm about it, I had no idea. Well, there's always trade-offs, you know? That's the problem.
There's trade-offs. I mean, what you do is very important for the community, and unfortunately, if money is scarce, you go.
15:06:55 Well, if I can help more, and it's true that there's a drag that it does cost, and environmental degradation, but⦠You know, if you have to cut key services to people that
you need to service, you kind of go.
15:07:07 God, I hate to do it, but, you know, I hate all these AI things. You know, I'd rather support some local person, you know, which is another plus point. Right. You go, Godâ¦
I love the artists in general. You just have to, exactly, but, you know, there's trade-offs, you know, and you have to⦠marshalled your resources the best way you can.
15:07:28 Yeah. This is also one of those tools that would be nice to just⦠to get it done and get it and get it out there, and getting it functioning, and being utilized quickly.
15:07:37 And, um, that would be another trade-off. It would take quite a bit longer and a lot of more money.
15:07:45 Certainly, it could be adopted by any number of other boards. I mean, all of those are just⦠general terms, then⦠You know, it doesn't matter what level you're working at.
Exactly. It's easy to get confused about something.
15:07:57 What's going on. It's not like you're sitting there hacking out, uh, AI stuff all day long, and then running. Where's in the water?
15:08:08 I did have one question. Would you mind putting it back up and going to the, um⦠The definition of board meeting?
15:08:16 Yes. Which was still in the section that had illustrations, if that helps.
15:08:23 Um, it's probably near the bottom. Yes. Yeah, it's toward the beginning.
15:08:28 There's a function⦠Yes, cool, I'm sorry again.
15:08:36 Oh, very⦠Yeah. When a group of people has a conversation.
15:08:42 That follows instructions. Mm-hmm. I'm⦠is there a better.
15:08:48 Way for us to describe what a board meeting is. Did you say gather? Again, just a gathering, yeah. Gathering. What a group, yeah. Yeah. I feel like it's the that follows instructions
part. Oh, okay. Yeah.
15:09:03 And addresses issues that the board is responsible for. Right, so it's about getting.
15:09:10 A set of tasks. Accomplished right decisions, yeah. Yes. Was the follows instructions was that⦠that follows a specific format? Is that kind of what you meant for that? Right,
that follows an agenda, maybe? Is that enough to⦠An agenda as defined, yeah. Right. â¦open public meeting law, you know, although not what you know all about by how board meetings
do, though.
15:09:35 Right, okay, that is true. Yeah. Well, there should never be a mention of a topic.
15:09:42 That's where I'm headed. A specific topic. Yeah, they have an area of concern. Yeah, areas of concern. Yeah, so maybe we don't need to wordsmith it.
15:09:53 Together, necessarily, but I⦠I think that would be helpful for me to get a little more clear on what a board meeting is trying to accomplish, right? Yes. What we're trying
to do while we're here? I like the distinction, though.
15:10:08 This is Kenner. For a focused and determined.
15:10:14 Uh, purpose versus⦠you know, public forum or, you know.
15:10:19 A different kind of conversation, even though it's discussing. Similar topics.
15:10:26 Here we have specific things that we need to do. So, Camille, as our self-advocate.
15:10:33 If you feel like you can come up with a really.
15:10:37 Clear way. To tell someone what a board meeting is, if that comes to your mind, maybe send it to⦠it might be a nice way. Beautiful.
15:10:48 Center eye. Great. Okay, so it's okay if I email you after the meeting, and we try and⦠get this figured out. Yeah. Okay, cool. Well, and just another clarification, in the
chapter above, did you define what board members were? Yeah. Soâ¦
15:11:06 Really a board meeting is a meeting of their board members and community members, yeah.
15:11:11 Yes, um, so it's a talk about⦠Right, yeah. That's what topics that they are concerned about.
15:11:20 Right? That's something⦠Okay, then I get⦠Okay, and you all have access to a copy of this, um, so⦠and I'm happy to reshare the link if you need, and⦠If you want to
look at it later.
15:11:34 Um, I'm gonna take⦠a little minute between presentations, because, um, we have a special guest from the workhouse, Wendy, who's.
15:11:43 Here to present Camille, uh, certificate. Cool. Well, I'm a deep housekeeper. I work for Jefferson County for the Board of County Commission Sheriffs.
15:11:57 And I oversee. All the boards that the commissioners sit on.
15:12:02 And so it's my job to keep track of the training that you have to do, and I want to thank you for your time. I mean, it takes a lot of time and energy to, um, commit to being
on the board.
15:12:12 Let alone complete what is required. So this is your certificate of completion.
15:12:18 For your OPMA training that you did, and I want to thank you for completing it, because there's people that I have to write about this.
15:12:26 And so, it helps Wendy do her job. When I get certificates like yours.
15:12:32 It is greatly appreciated. So, I want to tell you that. And this is yours to keep.
15:12:38 You're very welcome, and thank you for the work that you do with this group.
15:12:48 Flip it off, flip it over so that you can see the face again.
15:12:55 Yeah, open that up. Okay, nice. Okay, 1, 2â¦
15:13:05 Thank you, and people are clapping online. Okay. All right, and this is a good reminder to me and certain other folks on board to get their training done. That's right. It's
also reminding me there were some other trainings I still need as a partner.
15:13:25 And that will help. You'll help? They both have them on the work.
15:13:29 If they won, okay? And I will⦠y'all both get them all trained. Yeah, I don't know. Thank you. You already are, you said you're gonna exam. Yeah, thank you.
15:13:44 Um, okay. Great, so one other presentation here⦠And I'm also going to be looking for everyone's feedback as a part of this presentation.
15:13:56 So that's the next on your agenda is the Family Support Activities Fiscal Year 26 budget.
15:14:06 Hey, I know him. I didn't meet him personally, he was just a⦠but he is still at least I really had them.
15:14:14 Couple kids fall⦠the⦠Check the ball with their friends.
15:14:21 And they came to the dog biscuit into the dark space, gathering ways.
15:14:31 This is about the Connectivity Summit in Venice. Okay, so supporting families that care for people experiencing IDD. This is what we're going to be talking about.
15:14:44 There is money to spend on activities for families that care for people experiencing IDD.
15:14:50 So we've got the money. It goes to families, and, um, those family members who are.
15:14:58 That's experiencing IDD, and then they get to do things that feel supportive and community-oriented to them.
15:15:07 And there should be a little bit familiar, um, the funding stream I've shared with you before, and it also reflects some changes that have happened since our last meeting with
the government.
15:15:17 So, um, we have DSHS, that's still the same, and then the funding goes to something.
15:15:24 It's the same, but different. The home and community living administration is a new department under DSH. Oh, yeah, okay. Administration, yeah, okay. And then within that administration.
15:15:42 This little person saying hello, um, is the Developmental Disabilities Community Services.
15:15:47 That used to be called DDA. Okay, so it's just⦠it's a restructuring.
15:15:52 I'm personally not 100% sure all that's involved in that, but new names. That's kind of⦠and we have folks here. We get new names.
15:16:02 So now, when you hear people say DDCS, you're just gonna have to retrain your brain, because it used to be DDA, and now it's DDCS.
15:16:10 So, it was the one, the home, the Washington home, the Community Living Instruction, is that a new name? Yes. Yeah, it's a new umbrella that covers BDCS, so⦠Um, and then
home and, um, home and community, what used to be home and community administration is now home and community services, so⦠and, and, umâ¦
15:16:33 I think it's⦠no, not OVR, um⦠oh my goodness!
15:16:39 Yes. I think is also under home community-based⦠home and community living administration.
15:16:47 So that's Adults Protective Services. Yeah. It happened really fast. It did, yeah, yeah. So the funding flow comes through what's now DDCS.
15:17:00 And the funding comes to us, to me, um, and then, you know, some of it pays for services and stuff, but we're⦠what we're going to focus on right now is the funding that then
flows out to these three things.
15:17:12 People first, family supports. And provider trainings.
15:17:19 So, alright. This parent-to-parent something so that is supportive by the county? Um⦠I'll get⦠I'll get to that real quick. Um⦠So⦠how did I move this? Go over to
that. Let me just show you the thing, but if you hover over thisâ¦
15:17:41 Yes, you should be able to⦠Yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you, Eshner.
15:17:48 Okay, so just⦠to go to this, so that one, that yellow, um, kind of bubble that encompassed these three bubbles, um.
15:17:58 So, I said some people, first of Washington, so we're talking about, right now, um, you know, off to the⦠Outside of this meeting, Katie and I are talking about, because Katie's
the advisor for People First, Katie and I are talking about how much money, from this little money bag is going to go to people first.
15:18:16 And then I'm talking with, um, WISE and Cascade Community Connections about how much they're going to need for trainings for training new staff, and that's in negotiation.
15:18:25 But today, right now, in this presentation, we're going to talk about how much from that money bag goes to family supports.
15:18:35 And depending on how everything goes, what we're looking to spend here on Family Supports is between.
15:18:42 $15,000 and $19,000 for. This year.
15:18:48 For 2025. Yeah, for⦠I'm sorry, and 26, sorry, the fiscal year. The fiscal year, so we have to spend this money between.
15:18:56 July 1st, which has already passed, and June 30th of the next year.
15:19:04 Okay, so family support activities provide opportunities to connect with others who are caring for those with IDD. Activities should be accessible, social, fun, consistent,
well-managed, well-advertised.
15:19:17 What else should family support activities be?
15:19:25 Lonnie, are these individual family activities, or group, like, grouping activities? It could be either. I guess I'm trying to get at the heart of the matter, like, whether
it's for group or.
15:19:35 Smaller, you know. What should we⦠What should these events be? What's that? Yeah.
15:19:45 Is there any element of this that is meant to sort of.
15:19:50 Not necessarily create a respite opportunity, because it sounds like families are involved.
15:19:55 But is there any element sort of meant to take pressure off of?
15:20:01 Families? Yes, that's my sense. Yeah, value for them. I'm not sure⦠yeah, I mean, I think in some, depending on what.
15:20:10 We decide to do with the money. Some of it could count as respite, you know, the actual service that is reimbursable through Medicaid, or was. I think it's still old date.
15:20:21 But regardless of whether it is technically respite, yes, the idea is this is something where.
15:20:29 Parents, caregivers, guardians can⦠find some⦠fun, let us, you know, find support with one another.
15:20:39 And it's not clinical, you know? Yeah. It has been done.
15:20:44 Um, well⦠And I would rely on Kalish and Katie to tell me what happened historically.
15:20:53 Um, by this past year. Um, there's an organization in Clallum called Clallum Mosaic.
15:21:01 And once⦠I believe it was a month, they have a virtual online gathering called Moms Chat.
15:21:09 And you, um, if you're living in Collin County or Jefferson County, you can sign.
15:21:14 Into the Zoom chat, and spend an hour talking. And as far as I know, that's all that's gone on in the past year.
15:21:22 I think they do a few, like, movie night⦠family movie nights, but it's in Fallen, that nothing happens. Yeah, I know that the roads actually solicit.
15:21:33 People to rent, uh, their⦠Not quick or something to learn, yeah, they would put on something that would⦠communicate to you guys that you really would love.
15:21:44 And, uh, me, I always think about making more money if you, uh, if you offered it to the people who are the families, but then they can invite people to come.
15:21:56 And then you could generate some more revenue that way, and now we have a company.
15:22:01 I always think of business first. Yeah. You know? Okay, hearing that.
15:22:07 What I⦠should we add, um⦠in Jefferson County, or local, or⦠yeah, okay, maybe local.
15:22:15 Okay. Is it too redundant? To just say that it should be supportive? Like, that it should⦠I mean, I know that the family support activities should feel supportive to families.
I think that's kind of what I'm getting at, is there. What do families actually need to feelâ¦
15:22:32 Like, they are in community, and they have support in the community. Right. I wonder if we should put on a survey. So maybe⦠Let's find out, yeah. With the suggestions. Right,
because I think some of them jump down the bandwidth sometimes to even figure out what it is thinking.
15:22:48 But if they had a lift, it would give them and help me, yeah.
15:22:52 And please, if anyone online, I can't see you, if you ever hand-raise, so just pop on and say if you need⦠if you have to say something.
15:23:02 The Bible regulates⦠success? Like, who⦠Who are you reporting to?
15:23:09 Um, I don't think this is as⦠regulated, I'm about to have my first, like.
15:23:16 The state comes and evaluates me and what I'm doing, so I'll ask them.
15:23:21 But looking at their checklists, I'm not sure if it's really⦠scrutinized, you know, they just want to know that I'm supporting folks, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, we used to doâ¦
pre-pandemic, and it was just, um⦠Uh, it was Taylor, me.
15:23:40 Yeah, we can't rebel. It was kind of an informal, a couple families. Would you, um, and I think we used the rec center as a hub, like, a game night, dances.
15:23:50 You know, karaoke, potluck, and actually, what I found with us doing that is a lot of the parents, caregivers would, like, kind of go off and do their own social thing while
we were providing that. So that is true respite, more of an actual respite.
15:24:07 Yeah, or it could be, what I'm thinking for this is it could be something, like, if there was a structured thing for the caregiver group, that that could be going on. Because,
you know, we have so many families and caregivers that can't get away.
15:24:20 But if we provided something. In addition to me doing, at the same time that there was some supportive thing for them to do, you know, because that's⦠kind of the big catch-22
here is, um, when we talk about respite, like, that sounds good, but I know on my caseload.
15:24:38 A lot of people don't have, you know, if their loved one lives with them.
15:24:41 There's nobody⦠that's the⦠I've talked to so many married couples that have spent their 30 years of anniversaries, you know, with their⦠family members, so that kind
of thing.
15:24:53 There just is a huge lab providers and⦠organized, like.
15:25:06 Yeah, I'm here. It was⦠it was community inclusion for everyone.
15:24:59 Organized activities that are⦠respite. And that's what we⦠I remember what we call the⦠I don't know if it's tailor's on there, she might remember, but⦠We call thisâ¦
15:25:12 Claudia was involved, too. Yeah, can youâ¦
15:25:11 And it was⦠Yeah, it was originally its own thing, but then Olympic Neighbors took it on as part of their⦠you know, it was run by volunteers through ON.
15:25:26 Oh, okay.
15:25:26 But⦠yeah, and I was just gonna add that. You know, what I hear a lot from families⦠is that, yeah, they're really lacking the opportunity to network with other families.
15:25:38 So, they have some formal supports, but there's. Um, not a lot of opportunity for them to meet other families who are going through the same thing, or the same phases that.
15:25:49 The person they're supporting is in, so whether that's. Child, or transition, or adult services.
15:25:56 Um, they want to meet other people. That are going through the same thing. So, maybe, like, an opportunity to network is kind of what I'm⦠thinking about.
15:26:06 Got it. And we had that one, the housing meeting that you were at, we held it at the golf course last October, and got a pretty full.
15:26:18 Um, full, yeah, the hall was well attended. Yeah, and we've had some stuff, you know, come out of that, which is we're working on, so that's been great, but the whole focus
was housing, but it was⦠definitely, like, I've got a lot of⦠I noticed a lot of people wereâ¦
15:26:33 Sharing stories and⦠I personally agree with what you're saying.
15:26:40 Even though I'm new to the team. Okay, so I spoke with Paul and Mosaic, who I mentioned as the mom's Chats, Peninsula Alliance, and we have a special guest with us online.
15:26:53 Tari, if you're still there, um, to talk with us about some ideas. We have First Step Family Supports, who I spoke with, uh, the production lines, and of course, Cascade Community
Connections.
15:27:04 So here's some ideas that we can consider, um, and I can add to that.
15:27:10 Uh, we can continue supporting the long chats. Um, Tari's here to talk to us about.
15:27:15 Um, an 8-wealth Peak Healthier Relationships course for 20 students. Um, we could potentially offer that course more than once if we wanted to.
15:27:26 Enhancements to existing kaleidoscope playgroups. So, there's existing⦠playgroups run by First Step Family Supports, which is in Port Angeles, but they run.
15:27:37 Groups throughout our county that are for ages 0 to 5.
15:27:42 So, um⦠per step family support said, well, maybe with additional funding, we could make those.
15:27:48 Those playgroups more supportive, specifically to kids and families, um, experiencing IED. We didn't get into specifics, but it's a possibility.
15:28:00 Periodic parent-caregiver coffee hours, periodic social dances. And then I talked with the Production Alliance, who you may know, they're doing so many events in town, they're
doing, um.
15:28:11 Well, the all-county Preparedness Day and Connectivity Summit, Airport Day coming up. They do Nike Pride, yeah, like, pretty much any big community event, it seems, like, they're
a part of.
15:28:23 I think the film festival, that are amazing. I think they're supporting that this year, yeah. So if we've worked with them, they couldn't⦠manage it, they don't have the expertise,
comfort to, like, put it on themselves, but if we.
15:28:39 Incorporated them, like, as an add-on, like, we were saying maybe if someone wanted to put on.
15:28:45 What you were just talking about, a social event that's for.
15:28:48 For everyone, um⦠then maybe we could have the production alliance come in and do a⦠a focused activity that's a little above and beyond what.
15:28:58 You know, it's a little more structured, and maybe hopefully more fun and engaging than if we just set something out and have people do it themselves.
15:29:08 Okay, so I'm thinking that we probably only have enough to support two or three ideas that were on the previous.
15:29:18 Screen. So, what do we do, basically? Which do you want to fund?
15:29:25 What are the priorities? And before we move forward, Tara, did you want to speak more about the relationships course?
15:29:32 Sure, one second, let me get my video up.
15:29:36 I'll stop sharing, then I'll go back to the⦠bring with that.
15:29:38 Okay, can you guys hear me?
15:29:41 Oh, how do I⦠yeah, you can go, should be able to volume that. That's on at max.
15:29:49 Yeah, Tari, you're the one talking, is that right? Okay, let's see, we're gonna see if we can turn this up just a little bit.
15:29:52 Yes.
15:30:03 Does this⦠is that better? Perfect.
15:30:01 Give that a go. That's better, yeah, okay, I'm gonna turn it up to Steven a little more. Okay, go for it.
15:30:09 Okay, hi, I'm Tari, and I work for⦠I appreciate that everyone said my name correctly, um⦠often we get mispronounced.
15:30:16 Um, and I work for Peninsula Alliance, and what I had talked to Bonnie about a couple weeks ago is we offer a healthy relationships class.
15:30:23 And it's not your traditional healthy relationships class, it's really an abuse prevention curriculum.
15:30:30 Specifically that was created for people with IDD, and I've taught it from anywhere in range from middle school all the way up through, um.
15:30:38 Adults. It is an 8-week course, and it focuses on what makes any relationship healthy or unhealthy, so not just romantic ones, although we do touch on that.
15:30:48 It's more about what, like, what kind of like that, um, the board⦠the book that Bonnie has kind of created, we break it down into what is a relationship, what is healthy
and unhealthy.
15:30:59 And then things like boundaries. It really prevents⦠my focus is on preventing grooming in relationships.
15:31:06 So that we know that service providers are, we do, friends versus acquaintance, and service providers should be friendly, and they should.
15:31:13 Compassionate and ethical, but at the end of the day, they're not our friends, so their job is to provide whatever service they are there to, paid to provide, but not paid to
maybe take us out to coffee, for example. Like, if a bus driver is your⦠taking you, their job is to get you from A to B.
15:31:28 Safely, their job is not to be like, hey, what are you doing later? So it prevents that by giving the knowledge at the ground level of how we should be treated, how we can have
boundaries, how to talk about boundaries.
15:31:40 And that we all, just by existing, have inherent worth and value.
15:31:45 Just for being ourselves. No one gives it to us, no one can take it away from us, it's not earned, it just exists within us, and once we know that people.
15:31:52 That we have this value, we don't let people treat us like we are less than, so that, um, people with IDD, we're showing them.
15:32:01 How to identify abuse in that situation, and how to report it.
15:32:05 So that's our, like, 8-week-long situation. I've taught this since 2019, so it's been about 6 years now, time flies when you're having fun, um, in both Thurston.
15:32:16 Mason S3, and Kitsap. I'm based out of Bremerton, but I travel, so I created the curriculum all those years ago, and I've kind of added to it. The really cool thing about it
is that even if you took the class more than once, it is different every time, because it is.
15:32:30 Led by participants. So I lead, but I always say that it's really boring if you just hear me talk for an hour. I really encourage relevant stories, and we make rules that whatever
is shared in the class, especially once I teach in classrooms, that we're not going to go outside during our lunch break and go talking about what someone shared that was very personal.
The only rule that, um.
15:32:50 That I⦠we⦠that we break that rule on is if somebody reports abuse to me, because I am a mandated reporter, so we do talk about that. But otherwise, it's really open for
people sharing relevant stories until, like, what.
15:33:01 The difference between envy and jealousy is, like, what⦠how to talk about boundaries, or when the time when someone broke them. So they really learn from each other more
than just me. I facilitated it, of course, but it's more of that learning from their peers and being able to.
15:33:16 Really voice, um, things that have happened that are relevant in relationships.
15:33:22 Um, with the participants, but being able to relate back to what makes that relationship either healthy, like, good for you or unhealthy, which would be not good for you.
15:33:35 Awesome. And, um⦠Tara and I also talked about the⦠there's a couple ways to do this, and correct me if I'm wrong. One is to have this happen in schools.
15:33:47 And partner with schools to have it happen in the schools. And another way to do this is to have it be sandwiched.
15:33:54 In between social events. Or bookended, you know, either something at the beginning, or end, or even beginning and end.
15:34:02 Um, so that folks are getting⦠you know, a lot, and incentivized to come not only to learn, but to have fun and have a social experience.
15:34:12 Um, so⦠Uh, so that's something to consider.
15:34:17 Um, and char⦠and Peninsula Alliance. They're in Kitsap and have seen success with that kind of bookending. However, they can't provide.
15:34:27 The social experience, or contributes the social experience here in Jefferson County, we would have to rely on.
15:34:35 Cascade, hopefully, or another partner to do that fit, but it could potentially be paired with buttons and slow alliance.
15:34:42 Upwards. Any other questions for Tari before we talk?
15:34:47 What age groups, or is it all across⦠a very engaged group, sorry.
15:34:52 Yeah, it's, uh, broken down, like, it was created for, like, starting in, like, upper middle school, but generally what I've taught in the schools is either transition or high
school, and then I, um, what Bonnie was saying, how we sandwich it, so, like, we have a Friday night dance in Bremerton every Friday we have had it since the 70s, um, so we sandwich
it in between our events on Friday.
15:35:14 So it's like, come and do Coffee Club, for example, and then we have bingo, but then you also have the opportunity to do healthy relationships, so we get fun and a little learning.
15:35:21 Um, that's the best way, and then our dance comes after that. Um, that's the best way I feel like integrating it. We've done community classes in other counties, um, both in
Thurston, and I've done it in.
15:35:32 Mason, it's really hard to get people to commit to a time, like, during the week after work and school and, you know, transportation. It's⦠been more successful. I've had
some success there, but when it's with other activities, and especially when it's in the school, because the students are already there, um, you know, and this isn't an education that
generally people, regardless of, you know, ability, get.
15:35:55 Um, so it's really beneficial, I feel like, to have it with where they get to interact with their peers, and then we all kind of get to come together and have those conversations
that sometimes parents don't want to have.
15:36:08 Sometimes who are uncomfortable to ask. Um, this really gives them that opportunity to be able to feel comfortable.
15:36:18 Great. Wouldn't be a lot of⦠I have an adult caseload, and off my⦠top of my head, I'm thinking that⦠people I'm thinking of are in their 40s.
15:36:26 You know, 30s. I know you did a class. Um, and it was for⦠was it for all ages?
15:36:32 Um, no, it was adults, just all adults. I did a 25-week sex ed class that actually, uh.
15:36:40 Uh, Hanlan had this amazing curriculum, and they let us copy it, and then I turned it into a PowerPoint. It was a wonderful sex ed class, but the reality is that's not whatâ¦
I mean, a little snattering of that kind of information is⦠The important that I felt like what needs to happen more is, like, a monthly group, where everybody comes together with
their questions about what are healthy relationships, or I want to ask a girl off her date, how do I go about doing that? And maybe every once in a while, having something about.
15:37:13 You know, STDs and condoms and birth control. I mean, this was so specific.
15:37:18 That I found myself thinking, how many people really need to know the four organs in a male that contribute to semen? That kind of stuff they don't need, but they do need that
social.
15:37:31 Piece to it, somehow. Um⦠And I always thought of⦠I didn't have a family, I would love to do that. I think, too, with what's coming up with some of my clients, and you
kind of touched on it in an email with the AI.
15:37:47 Is that they're falling into, um⦠having an AI friend over their phones. Oh, boy. And it has really led to some dangerous.
15:37:58 Dangerous stuff, really scary stuff. So, that's a whole nother new thing that I didn't even know you could⦠Dude, yeah, but it didn't sad me.
15:38:10 So, those kinds of subjects. So, in your discussion about your group, I think it sounds wonderful, but is it also done for adults, too?
15:36:26 Yes, yes. It's kind of open, too, and it's also⦠I talked to Bonnie about this, um, in more detail, but it's also open to.
15:38:25 Whatever the classroom needs specifically. So I had a class that, um, it's not directly in the curriculum, but we have those opportunities to have that conversation where there
was, like.
15:38:35 A really, uh, problematic social media relationships, I think, at that point, so we had a conversation of, like, how do we talk to people on the internet versus how do we talk
to people in real life? So, like, if someone in real life, if you saw someone and you said hello, and they didn't respond back, for example.
15:38:51 Would you keep saying hello in person? Probably not. You might say it once, you might say it twice, and you're gonna assume that this person doesn't want to talk to me.
15:38:57 But on the internet, sometimes we're like, high, high, high 7 million times, um, kind of⦠so it can be led based on what is needed for that. That's the beauty of it, where
it has the bones of the foundation of the conversation that we can have from all age groups, and we can use examples from.
15:39:14 Depending on who I'm teaching, obviously, I'm not going to use a, like, social media example when there's someone that doesn't use it at all.
15:39:19 Um, but we can really break it down to whatever they're going through, because they'll⦠that'll come up, like, in the natural conversations during the classes, it'll come
up, whatever they're facing, or they have questions with, whether it's dating.
15:39:32 Whether it's, um, they just want to be friends with someone, depending on the age range, um, we're able to kind of focus on what⦠what is needed.
15:39:44 Hillard, do you want to talk at all about the possibilities that Cascade, um.
15:39:49 Or, you know, the capacities you may have to engage with this work.
15:39:55 Sure, yeah. And I just wanted to say that some of our.
15:40:00 Participants took the Healthier Relationships course with maybe you, Tari, during COVID.
15:40:06 Um, when you guys were providing it online. And it was⦠it was really great. It was a⦠it's such a wonderful curriculum, and.
15:40:13 I think it would be great to have it in our community, if we can⦠If we can figure out a way to get it over here.
15:40:19 So, um, yeah, ways that we could⦠that cascade, specifically, could.
15:40:27 Participate in family supports, um. Yeah, like Katie mentioned, I used to volunteer to do something similar to the Friday night dances that Tari was talking about over here
in Jefferson.
15:40:40 And, um, I kind of had an idea of. Reinventing those, but incorporating, like.
15:40:49 The⦠you know, I talked with Bonnie, too, about apparent coffee hour, or something like that, a way to.
15:40:56 Um, like, Katie was mentioning, the parents naturally gravitated to talking to each other while we were providing these activities.
15:41:04 So, it was always hard to get parents to these events that we were putting on for parents, but when we put on this social event.
15:41:12 Well, the parents ended up coming, and then they ended up networking on their own.
15:41:15 So, is there a way that we could do that in an intentional way, where there's, um, the social aspect, where we're doing something fun and supportive for families, but also.
15:41:26 Providing, um, an opportunity to. Answer questions, or do specific topics, like guardianships or trusts, or transition, or how, you know, different important points.
15:41:39 That parents might be looking. Uh, for more info on. So⦠Um, I did put it out to our staff to see if that would be something that they would be interested in, and they were.
15:41:49 And so it⦠depending on. On funding and what the community wants and needs, we could look at doing something.
15:41:59 Um, once per month or quarterly, and it could be on Friday afternoons. We could, um, potentially look at.
15:42:08 Respite as another revenue source, um⦠or if it's open to the entire community, it could.
15:42:17 Potentially apply to community engagement or community inclusion as well. So⦠Um, just trying to think of other ways to fund the project, but⦠Um, we definitely need some
funding to put on the events, and⦠guidance on what the community is looking for.
15:42:35 And, you know, we'd be interested in partnering with whoever else, what other organizations.
15:42:41 Want to piggyback. Or bookend, or however you want to say it.
15:42:46 Or, like what you were talking about with Production Alliance, to do dedicated activities during.
15:42:52 Those social events, um⦠you know, that can all be looked at, but it sounds like our crew is⦠interested in, um, putting in the work to host an event like that.
15:43:04 Periodically, throughout the rest of the fiscal year.
15:43:19 Oh my gosh.
15:43:09 So, I'm so grateful, as part of this community, that you're willing to consider taking that on. We only have 15 minutes left in the meeting, so I know we have some more stuff
I want to get to, and I want to have space for⦠our presentations. Um, so, um, what about if right now, we just jotted down.
15:43:28 1, 2, 3, like, from this list, or add something if you don't see something on this list that you want. Um, in order for how much you got. So, if you want social dances or something
like social dances.
15:43:42 The BOST have that as your number one. And then, say you want, you know, the health of relationships course, that's your second choice.
15:43:50 You know, so just 1, 2, 3 in order for how much you want them, and just take a minute to jot those down, and then we'll go around and read them real quick. Before you do that,
I'd like to throw this in. I have to say, parent-to-parent saved my life and my family's life, and that was many, many years ago. It was in Saskatchewan County, but.
15:44:09 We haven't really had anybody talk about that, and I don't know what parent-to-parent looks like in Jefferson hands now. It's the mom, cats, and Clallum. Mosaic does.
15:44:20 Provide parent-to-parent. In the form of mom chats, they don't have the same⦠I wanted Laura to be on the meeting, but I don't see her here today, and I'm sure that's because
of, you know, she has a lot to attend to.
15:44:31 I spoke with her one-on-one. I'm not sure there's a lot of capacity for them to provide more than that at the moment, and if they're a flown organization, they're only providing
me, then Flow. Well, they may potentially, in the future, I think, or with more funding, could have the capacity to be.
15:44:49 Have more of a presence, but it's just very unclear. Is⦠are they the current parent? They are, yeah. So there's a lot of parents. In my last 13 years of being here in this
job.
15:45:02 We really haven't had. I know. So if you look, if you know of someone who could provide it.
15:45:08 Please reach out. Well, Anna would have a better historical feedback, but really, it actually⦠kind of nationwide, starting with the lapsing. And, um⦠Do you know why? You
know what? I can't remember yet. To do with our lives becoming more technology.
15:45:25 And⦠and people weren't needing as much. And this was pre-COVID.
15:45:31 That it really began to fall apart in Ashland, but I do feel it was⦠For me, I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had parents. When we have parents in the role,
there's been a lot of different people in Jefferson that.
15:45:44 Been in that role, but I think, too, I work with students anymore, but when I did.
15:45:49 Yeah, the families were just so busy, and it just didn't⦠it wasn't clicking. It wasn't, you know⦠so for me, and I actually wonder at those, uh, virtual mom chats, even
in Clown.
15:46:01 And they have a pretty strong lead person. I hear about her a lot, I'm calling her parent again, but I wonder how, you know, how many people are actually coming on Jenerson.
And I hear you that it saved your life, that's a strong statement, so I hear you.
15:46:14 I'm wondering⦠Yeah. I guess what I'm hoping and wondering is if.
15:46:21 Something called parent. Parent isn't specific provider of the things that you benefited from. Can we make those things that you needed and wanted?
15:46:30 Happen is another way outside of the parent-to-parent. Organization. I don't need⦠I personally don't think that I know Omar, but back then, it was actually a funded position.
15:46:42 We've got a hidden strategy, I applied for that job, and then was offered it, and took a different job, but, um⦠That was one of many things that a county-funded position
actually did, was facilitate the parent-to-parent thing. But I thought that was how it's here, too.
15:47:01 I, I, I, you know, we⦠this funding can pay for more Mons Chats, it can, and if that's what you want, put it down. Um, I just⦠or if you know of another provider, please
let me know, because I can't⦠find another provider at the moment. Well, it would be interesting to find out if there are Jefferson moms plugging in. Yeah, for sure. There areâ¦
Oh, I don't know. I don't think⦠I don't think there are.
15:47:24 Well, if it's not been here, then⦠Well, I want⦠I want it to be⦠I want, at least if not parent-to-parent, but I want.
15:47:31 Something that Parent2Parent provides to Ether, you know? By hook or by crook, so⦠Yeah.
15:47:44 Yeah. Well, for meâ¦
15:47:37 I just have a follow-up question. Kelly, like, what did that look like? Was that⦠when the most beneficial to you was that, like, someone that you could call, there was a
specific parent-to-parent coordinator that you could talk to one-on-one, or was it things that a parent-to-parent coordinator was.
15:47:56 Organizing that was helpful. Because I'mâ¦
15:47:59 Once a month. And when I⦠it was funny, because I went with the occupational therapist from our school district.
15:48:05 We didn't know what we were going to, but we knew the woman facilitating it. We were going to ask her, how can we start a support group? And that's what it was, and that once
a month. And I⦠this was when my son was first diagnosed.
15:48:18 With autism and, um, it was in the schools, and⦠It was horrible to end with IPs and stuff like that. Well, we talked about all kinds of things, and it was both⦠Emotional
support, but it's also a real strategic support, that intelligence press companies, how to deal with the school district. Um, I remember one mom back then.
15:48:39 You, um⦠the way you could find out about medication was a physical PBR, you know, that book with medications, and it turned out in a.
15:48:48 Prana Pharmacy in Mount Vernon, there was an addicted pharmacist, and he was giving the wrong medication to kids.
15:48:54 So, I found out about that in that meeting, and then where I worked, I had a PDR, so I started looking at all the medication Jillian got, and in fact, one time I got the wrong
medication.
15:49:05 I mean, it was⦠so it was really practical now that I just⦠but there's such power of going into⦠I'm now involved with an Alzheimer's group, and it's the same thing.
15:49:14 Being with people that are walking in your shoes, that know what you're doing, or know what that feels like. Um⦠But it⦠I don't know.
15:49:23 Maybe it's a dinosaur. I wonder what Taylor was presenting earlier about basically having that support group, but in conjunction with activities for.
15:49:34 The⦠because I think with the mom's chat, and with really anything that's just supporting parents in person, at least with my families, I would say most of them.
15:49:43 Don't have an alternative for childcare, and so they're not making it to one of those groups because.
15:49:51 They have their kid. Um, and so for us to be able to figure out a way, well, can we create these fun events that is really inclusive, that supports all ages, that supports lots
of different.
15:50:05 Abilities, but then also have that kind of aside support group for.
15:50:10 Parents at the same time, then they know that they can keep an eye on their kid.
15:50:14 Or adult, um, and⦠But also get that, and maybe sometimes it's just a⦠that session and⦠or chat over coffee, and sometimes it's a little bit more organized of, let's
talk about guardianship or thematic, let's talk about trust, let's talk aboutâ¦
15:50:29 Medications, insurance, things like that. I think that that would be an amazing resource.
15:50:36 For⦠from what I've been hearing from the families that I work with.
15:50:38 And that actually sounds brilliant, because that's what Taylor was talking about earlier. Yeah, no, that's great.
15:50:45 Those safe spaces where you don't have to⦠You don't have to worry all the time, like, I don't have to worry about taking my son to the store, I'm like, what's he doing now?
Is everybody looking at⦠We, you know, like⦠you know, all the aisles, you know, like, what's he doing now?
15:51:01 And just, like, okay, I just let him for a few minutes.
15:51:04 And use another kind of, like, you know, it's okay, yeah, it's fine.
15:51:08 Is that right? So, to acknowledge usability, I don't have ceased, but, you know, so, um, would you stop the share for just a second? Even if everybody just had it on the lineâ¦
The number one, then we would get something. Right. I mean, I do feel like, in general, you need input from.
15:51:29 Families that are being served to determine what kind of support they need. It's, you know, I wonder⦠how much of a⦠of an outreach has⦠has gone to families lately to
ask about what kind of support they are needing right now.
15:51:47 Does that happen? If we could develop some sort of a poll, I could email all of my families. Yeah, for sure.
15:51:54 I did send⦠we did our annual survey, and part of our annual survey asks what barriers do families believe exist in the community?
15:52:02 So I would be⦠I could happily share that. It only went out to the participants that we serve, but that is a large number of families.
15:52:11 So, there's a little bit of data.
15:52:11 Was that⦠do you think the question was targeted toward barriers to service, for example?
15:52:18 Um, a lot ofâ¦
15:52:19 It's it. I'll send it to you to see if you think it's relevant, but it's, um, we talk about our specific services, but then we also have.
15:52:26 Just barriers in the community to a number of different things, like architectural barriers, um.
15:52:33 Like, inclusive⦠inclusion barriers, etc. There are lots of different things, like, not just for our company, but for the whole community.
15:52:44 It might be, yeah.
15:52:42 I mean, it might be relevant for⦠Yeah, and it might be relevant for an IDD board to establish a set of.
15:52:51 You know, for 3 or 4, like, some very⦠small amount of questions that you might all send out to your families, so that you can.
15:53:03 Kind of get, you know, apples to apples comparison. If you're looking specifically for input about how to spend.
15:53:12 These dollars in a way that are supportive to families. Yes. Okay, here's what I'm thinking, given that if we are going to make this stuff happen this year, and the way contracting
is, and the way planning is, and the way organizations need to.
15:53:25 Think about staffing and their own budgets for the year. I really want to get a plan in place by the end of August.
15:53:33 Um, if that sounds good to the potential players. And so, how about I⦠do some of that work to try and solicit more community input, more board input, and I mean, through
these agencies that are serving families? Yeah, in the coming weeks, and thenâ¦
15:53:51 Um, we're not gonna meet before the end of August as a board, so⦠I think maybe⦠I'll collect that and put⦠I'll put together.
15:54:02 A detailed email, I guess, that I can share with you all, and then you, if anyone has feedback, you can tell me, and then, you know, barring anyone saying that's a horrible
idea, stop, you know, I'll just⦠proceed with whatever we've decided based on input to do the contracts and get the things in place. And then maybeâ¦
15:54:20 We can plan as a board for the coming year, or we can keep in mind whatever we decide to do to have a.
15:54:28 A quality, uh, analysis, you know, or⦠so we can say, like, well, how did that⦠did it⦠did it meet the feedback that people gave us at the beginning?
15:54:37 That sounds reasonable. Um, and can I just clarify, you said a little bit ago that we only had 15 minutes left, but doesn't this meeting go until 4 30? It actually⦠does.
Okay.
15:54:49 Just have the same question, yeah.
15:54:48 I just wanted to make sure. I was just hoping you can find my loved one charming. Great, great. What I see is that we all, um.
15:55:00 Need support. We do. Neil just gave me my post-it note that fell off. Oh, thank you. Thank you very much.
15:55:09 Alright, well, this means we have time to get through, uh, people's reports. Me too. I think that's a good part of the, um, so were you finished with⦠was that the remainder
of your budget? It is, and my update line items, I think, are.
15:55:24 Fairly self-explanatory, so I feel like I could skip that, uh, or do it at the end, and just both have, um, program and services updates. Okay, that sounds good. So we'll, um,
go to the program and service updates for that guidance.
15:55:39 Um, and start with Cascade Community Connections.
15:55:45 Okay, I will, um, I'm gonna give⦠the⦠all of the program service updates, except for transition, which I'll hand it over to Sam.
15:55:56 And, um, let's see, we've been doing lots of stuff. Um, in addition to.
15:56:04 Community⦠well, I'll go through a little bit. How short are we on time? I guess I should ask.
15:56:11 Well, I don't⦠yeah. High portions, probably only 5 minutes long, about.
15:56:10 34 minutes. So⦠Yeah, I'd say we want⦠Yeah, so that would be about great. If each of the program updates took about 5 minutes, that would be perfect.
15:56:17 Okay. Okay. Yeah, I'll keep it⦠I'll keep it shorter than that. So, um, we're serving 41 individuals in community inclusion.
15:56:29 We have 30 individuals in individual supported employment, and. Um, we did just place someone at the Safeway Bakery, so we have a new job start happening.
15:56:40 Over at Safeway, and we have a new hire, Trista Crowe, and so if you happen to meet her out in the community, she's one of our.
15:56:49 Newest supported employment specialists. She here?
15:56:53 Yeah.
15:56:53 Oh, hi, Trista! I can't see the people in the⦠In the room.
15:56:59 Is that your coach? Yeah.
15:56:59 My co-gender, um⦠Yeah, can you have my interview with, um⦠close to crabs.
15:57:07 Right on! Wonderful.
15:57:08 We did annuals together. Thanks. Great.
15:57:13 Good. And then we have our group-supported employment program, and with group, we⦠support the Jefferson County Transfer Station, as well as.
15:57:25 Uh, we have two vending machines. One is at. Marine Plaza, and one is at the Port Townsend Athletic Club.
15:57:32 So, if you ever go to either of those locations, you'll see vending machines, and those are operated, um.
15:57:39 By people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And that's funded through the county. And then, um⦠Other programs that we have, we have community engagement.
We're currently serving 57.
15:57:51 Folks in that, and also we've started up our respite program again, which is really exciting, and we have, uh.
15:58:00 Great provider Liz Barnes, who's worked with us for about. Um, 6 going on 7 years, and she's doing a number of different.
15:58:08 Activities. She did a, um, Mother's Day flower basket-making party. Um, a yard sale and milkshake Day, a movie and dinner over in Silverdale, and they're planning, uh.
15:58:21 Tour of the Jamestown⦠tribe and dinner event coming up at the end of this month.
15:58:28 And so, it's all kind of, um, in the⦠experimental phases of figuring out what works and what people like and what they don't like, and what they want to see, and so eventually
we're hoping to have, like, a schedule for all of 2026 with all the events.
15:58:44 Um, hopefully once per month, but these are small groups that go out together.
15:58:48 Um, with one to two providers, and we're able to use our van, put our van to use, and.
15:58:54 So far, the feedback has been really. Really wonderful, so⦠It's going well. And then⦠Um, another big update, it's on Bonnie's update, but we did have our⦠eval in June.
15:59:08 Where we were monitored by Bonnie. Um, at the county for all of our contracts, and so we came out of that.
15:59:16 Pretty strong, with only a few things that we're working on over the next two years.
15:59:22 And so, I don't know if you share that. With the whole board, or not Bonnie?
15:59:29 Um⦠ouch. Degree, and I agree with everything.
15:59:30 Anyway, it's available. It's available if anybody wants to see it, I guess I would say.
15:59:36 Is it⦠yeah.
15:59:37 And then, um, in addition to that, uh, we are⦠required to have an international accreditation.
15:59:46 It's called CARF, C-A-R-F. And it's, um, a triennial.
15:59:54 Accreditation, and the county requires that, as well as the state, for us to be able to provide our services.
16:00:00 And so we have our survey, is what they call it, where they send a surveyor to.
16:00:06 Come to our organization, and that's coming up August 11th through 13th.
16:00:11 Um, so if anybody wants any more information about that, I'd be happy to share, but⦠The surveyor will be looking at all aspects of our organization, from leadership.
16:00:21 Business practices, finances, technology, performance management. Um, and then they really dive into quality of services and individualized services.
16:00:32 Um, we are specifically accredited in employment planning services. Job development and employment supports, which is, like, job coaching.
16:00:42 And, uh, what else was I gonna say about that? Oh, the surveyor, they come and they are really hands-on. They go and they visit.
16:00:50 They'll be visiting about 6 job sites. And going and interviewing the people that we serve, and as well as the employer and the job coach, and families.
16:01:02 So, it's really in-depth, and then they, um⦠They get to know people, and they talk to people to get their feedback. So it's really neat, um, accreditation. It's a lot of
work, a lot of prep work that we put in.
16:01:16 To go through that evaluation. And, um, they'll be doing an orientation on the morning of August 11th.
16:01:25 And, um, also. I think it's called the exit summary on the afternoon of the 13th, where they will, um, the community's invited to come and see what their findings are, whether
they call it recommendations for improvement, if we have any, if they have any.
16:01:41 For us, but, um⦠Yeah, it's really a good thing. I really wanted to share that with you because it's a good thing.
16:01:49 Um, for you all to know, as funders. You know, the county is one of our funders.
16:01:56 And, um⦠it⦠they have a really big commitment to person-centered services.
16:02:03 Quality, accountability, and lots of standards that we adhere to. I think Claudia used to be a surveyor, right?
16:02:12 She was a surveyor, yeah, so⦠Anyway, if anybody wants any more information about that, let me know.
16:02:17 And otherwise, I'll turn it over to Sam to give. An update about transition.
16:02:24 Dan, before you do that, Taylor, I just want to tell you how much I appreciate that description, and.
16:02:25 Oh, yeah.
16:02:29 Um, coming from, you know, a housing provider background, which is where I, um, I was working.
16:02:35 Prior to, um⦠being elected, the way you're talking about accreditation is so refreshing to me, and now, from the funder's perspective, it's even more⦠even more refreshing,
because, um, when you're a provider of any kind of services, you can either see those accreditation processes as a big pain in your tail.
16:02:59 Um, and, uh, or you can see them as an opportunity.
16:03:03 To provide the best possible service, and I hear that in the way you're describing.
16:03:09 Um, you're, you know, accreditation as an opportunity for your organization to be the best that it can be and to provide the best service it can provide, and I really, really
appreciate that.
16:03:19 Thanks. Thanks.
16:03:19 It gives me a lot of confidence.
16:03:25 Go ahead, Sam, sorry.
16:03:27 All right, no worries! Um, so for transition services, um, we are finished with.
16:03:35 Workshops for the school year and the summer. Um, and we're solely focusing on our school-to-work students, and.
16:03:44 Work-based learning opportunities for students. Um, for school to work, we have two students in the program.
16:03:53 One student is hired, and they're actually going to be starting the process of.
16:03:59 Transitioning onto adult DDCS services, and so⦠That should be taking place in the next couple of weeks.
16:04:07 Um, so it's really exciting. Um, they're doing really well at their job, and.
16:04:11 Um, it's been really, really cool and exciting to see her.
16:04:16 Kind of blossom and learn all these things and be as independent as she can. Um, so it's been really fun.
16:04:24 Um, our other student, we're still in the job development phase, so, um⦠The student has a very particular set of skills, and so we really, really are trying to find the best
match for them, and so we're hoping to.
16:04:38 Um, get somewhere in the next couple of weeks, and if not, then we'll have to⦠sort of discuss our options from there.
16:04:45 So, we'll see how that works out. Um⦠As far as pre-employment transition services, this year, we are⦠Um, continuing summer internships, where Cascade pays the wages for
students, and we work with businesses to host the students for summer jobs.
16:05:07 Last year, we did this. We had 3 students participate. Uh, this year, we have 20, and so between⦠Port Townsend High School, Ocean.
16:05:17 And Chimacum, we have people all over the community. Like, at Quimper and Pizza Factory, Olympic Equipment Rentals.
16:05:27 Um, Bonitas, the YMCA, and just all of sorts of other places, just⦠doing all of the things that they are interested in or excited to learn.
16:05:38 Um, just to kind of build up those skills that they've been working on throughout the school year and the workshops, and⦠really putting those to the test. So those all started.
16:05:47 Two weeks ago. Um, so the last few⦠couple of months have been a very hectic, getting everybody.
16:05:55 Squared away with employers and paperwork and things like that, but it's⦠Exciting to see everybody start, and how excited the students are, and the families are, and the
businesses are, so⦠Um, but yeah, that's pretty much my update.
16:06:09 So far? So yeah.
16:06:12 I think, on Monday for you, the agreement for us at Jefferson County Public Health to have one of these students work.
16:06:21 Here. So, yeah, that's great. All right, I'll look forward to reviewing that.
16:06:25 Um, is that it for Cascade Community Connections?
16:06:30 Yes, pretty much, but I did just want to give a really big shout out to Sam.
16:06:34 Sorry, Sam, for doing this to you again, but she had 20 job placements last week, and that is.
16:06:40 For anybody who's ever done job coaching, a huge feat. So, yeah, it's really, really amazing.
16:06:45 Wow, congrats with that, Adam.
16:06:48 And we're so happy to be able to provide this service, and we⦠Got 20 high school students their first summer job, and they'll be getting their first paycheck at the end of
this month, so⦠It's really, really exciting.
16:07:03 That is it for us.
16:07:02 That's fantastic. I have a⦠Right. Um, next program is Column Mosaic Parent to Parent. Did we have Laura Radke here in the room? Not today. No? Okay. And then, uh, Department
of Social and Health Services?
16:07:18 Any representative? I know Karina said she wasn't able to make it. She had some conflicts. She did want me to share, um, Pollen County is doing something called Project Safer,
which, um, it's in partnership with, I believe, the police department and.
16:07:35 Fire Department, um, working on making sure that police have training on how to approach.
16:07:42 Somebody with IDD who may be in a dysregulated state, because it's kind of different than, um, than a lot of other.
16:07:52 You know, more crime-related, it was, um⦠brought out of a very negative interaction that has kind of turned into something positive. Um, and so they're doing a big, three
day⦠I don't really know if you remember much about an example, it's not sticking in my mind, but it's a weekend in August. Well, the video tutorial fair, they're gonna have a, yeah,
a booth set up. Maybe that's what it is.
16:08:18 And we, uh, we as Jefferson County, the Sheriff Department, and EMS, we have, um, meetings set up.
16:08:25 Throughout the coming year to work with Clown to get Project Safers in our generation. Yeah, I know brings everyone pretty involved in that program, so she'll be really excited
to hear that there's talk about that. Yeah, Jefferson's been asking for something like that for a long time, so it's okay. So, it looks like it's special assistance for emergency response,
and⦠They strive to improve encounters between community members who experience intellectual and developmental disabilities, and members of our police.
16:08:52 Fire and emergency personnel. Individuals, families, care providers, and community partners collaborate to ensure inclusive and secure emergency interactions.
16:09:02 By supplying first responders with details regarding approaching preferences. Community needs⦠sorry, communication needs and strategies. This initiative aims to enhance safety
for all parties involved.
16:09:17 If I could just say that in⦠fewer words, based on my understanding so far.
16:09:23 So, if⦠there is an emergency, whether it's a fire alarm going off, or a major disaster.
16:09:32 Um, the people who are going to come respond and help you out, they⦠want to know if there's anything that they should bring in terms of special equipment, special knowledge,
um.
16:09:46 They need to know when they show up that a person needs a certain way to, like, communicate or, um, they have a specific health need.
16:09:54 Um, they can go to a secure database, they can look online.
16:10:00 And, um, they can find information about that person, so⦠you know, come knowing way more about the situation.
16:10:09 Rather than just showing up and being like, who is this? What's going on? So, like, to 911 that somebody's acting violently.
16:10:17 That they have that so the person doesn't end up being arrested, put in jail.
16:10:23 And I'm hoping, personally, if we⦠I mean, around here, we're always talking about disaster preparedness, um⦠that say some folks who⦠maybe don't have a lot of their
own personal community are out there, but they're people who rely on services, orâ¦
16:10:40 You know, for the hint that someone knows that they're there.
16:10:44 You know, if their support systems aren't close by, that someone knows that they're there and they need help.
16:10:51 Well, I think Kelly, you were doing work with that little bit of coffee, with customer tech hubs. Yeah.
16:10:58 Here. So, it sounds like⦠so will there be, like, a data collection phase to that? Like, I would be reporting about my son⦠Yeah, there's a response form on their website
where you can actually submit.
16:11:09 The information, and then it looks like there's⦠this is⦠is it just the beginning of the program? It is just beginning for them, and yes, you self-select. You're not going
to have your information taken without your consent or knowledge.
16:11:23 We have to opt in. And we would have the opportunity to figure out if it needs to be adjusted for Jefferson. Yes, yeah. And learn from their experience. Yes, I actually talked
to the.
16:11:34 Coalition for Inclusive Emergency Planning, who, um, at all County Prepared to Stay, and.
16:11:40 He was skeptical about, actually, the state⦠this kind of database. Um, so I'm sure there's things for us to consider for some homes, even though it sounds great, maybe there's.
16:11:52 But yeah, I think what Karina wanted me to relay is they are going to have a pretty big presence at the Collin County Fair if anyone happens to be.
16:12:02 Going to the Palm County Fair, stop by that, and you can learn a little bit more about the program. Isn't there a free ticket? There's.
16:12:10 Giving⦠I think they're giving free tickets. To the fair. Yeah, something. If you're volunteering, and yeah. If you want to pre⦠if you want to go and you want a free ticket.
16:12:19 Let me know, and I'll get one. Okay, anybody else from⦠or any other reports from DSHS?
16:12:28 Rodney, do you think there's anything else that⦠Not good news.
16:12:37 Um, anybody from Gathering Place? I don't see anybody online, but, um, and I'm sorry, Claudia, I⦠took Olympic Neighbors off the previous agenda, and I forgot to put you back
on this one, so, um, do you have any updates, Claudia?
16:12:51 Um, um⦠As we move forward to build two adult family homes in Fort Hadlock.
16:12:59 Uh, with Habitat, we're just starting to have conversations to get input from community members.
16:13:05 Um, as we compile that information, we'll begin sharing more and, um, having more meetings to engage the community.
16:13:15 But if anyone, um, that I haven't spoken to is interested in finding out more at this time, they can reach out to me.
16:13:23 Claudia at OlympicNeighbors.org. Um.
16:13:28 And things are going well at our adult family home. We're full, everyone's really active, they're⦠uh, living busy, full, meaningful lives. Um, our staff are doing an amazing
job, and we also.
16:13:43 Um, have amazing supports from Cascade and⦠and The Gathering Place for our residents.
16:13:49 Um, and then I just wanted to let you guys know that we have our annual Summer Bash fundraiser this Sunday.
16:13:58 At the Bishop Hotel courtyard at 1pm. It's a free event to get in.
16:14:04 There's, uh, 3 bands playing. An auction, a raffle, lots of ways to donate, and even if people can't donate, it's just a fun time to come out.
16:14:16 And show support.
16:14:19 Fantastic. 1 o'clock this coming Sunday at the Bishop Hotel. Thank you. Awesome.
16:14:23 Yes.
16:14:28 Okay, any other program updates that we miss? Does anybody else want to share anything about what's going on in their program?
16:14:37 Okay, so do you want to go through any in particular on your coordinator update? Yeah, I guess I'll just go through quickly on some of this.
16:14:45 You know, we missed our last meeting, it's pretty dated, but just so you know, um, the beach wheelchair and walker are officially owned by the Port Townsend School District.
Yes, great outcome. Thank you for being the stewards to that, Shelby.
16:15:01 Um, we participated in all County Preparedness Day, we distributed 36, um, emergency go-bags to folks experiencing.
16:15:11 Intellectual and developmental disabilities, and it was also just a huge success in terms of we had our whole.
16:15:16 A whole section to ourselves about folks. Who, um, help those with disabilities during emergency, um.
16:15:24 And the Benji project partnered up with us to create sensory activities for folks. It was, yeah, it was great.
16:15:31 I've just been continuing to meet with all sorts of folks, local, regional, state partners, and we've had wonderful connections.
16:15:38 Um, back in the early spring, Linda Farris was a public health hero, and⦠Along with the other folks who work at Gathering Place, and we were all happy to honor them.
16:15:52 Um, as folks may or may not know, at the moment, and I haven't had an update in a couple of weeks, but at the moment, their funding is a little uncertain for their new building.
16:16:04 So, it's not happening, none of them are happening. Yeah, so that's good. Um, but, you know, you know, I'm here to offer any supports I can in my role. Andre did get in grant
for $15,000. What? I did.
16:16:19 It's a BECU, the Boeing⦠employee credit union with, uh, people helping the people. Oh, great. Award every year.
16:16:29 I've put in about gathering studies and what they do for us, and I was one of the 15 finalists, so I got 15,000 was still, uh, opportunity. I'm going to Tukwila.
16:16:43 Um, on the slide deck. Yeah, radio, and then they're gonna⦠we're gonna be able to⦠broadcast the video out for the people to vote, and then to people's vote.
16:16:53 And if we win the people's vote, we get⦠maybe an additional $30,000. But can we help you remotely? I'm not⦠Well, after the video, I'll find out more on Alise. And then
there's another opportunity for just BECU staff.
16:17:09 Or employees, and they'll vote on which one's the best, and instead of the⦠There'll be another 50⦠a different⦠we can't get two of these, but⦠You get another $40,000.
I thought, thank you. Yeah, that's it too much. Family does so much for this community.
16:17:27 Yeah. Anyway, um⦠Well, that's uplifting. Um, okay, I'm just going, doing presentations everywhere. Um, yes, the⦠Mona, it was an honor to see how much, um, Cascade is doing
and has been doing, um, since the beginning of their organization to really provide quality, direct services, and to constantly expand in this group. So, um, we're so lucky to have
you here. Yeah, really.
16:18:01 Okay, so I'm sorry, a couple more things that weren't on my list, uh⦠Well, thank you once again, Kelly, for your service on this board. Um, you know, it's been signing Kim
Rafferty resigned. This means we have two board vacancies, so I welcome the applications from, uh, Amber and tell me your name again. Sorry, Robin, Amber and Robin, if you want to apply
to be board members, I would be very happy.
16:18:23 About that. And, um⦠I did have it on here, I knew he brought up Katie's, just, like.
16:18:29 Be aware of artificial intelligence and folks who may seek. Artificial intelligence as a way to have a relationship, um, because it is becoming more and more sophisticated and
insidious.
16:18:43 For everyone. Um, I would say seniors are also a targeted population.
16:18:49 Um, so, yeah. Are you seeing any particular information about how people are.
16:18:56 Is that typically someone is seeking out an AI companion? Or is it⦠are you starting to see evidence that.
16:19:06 Ai companions are starting to seek out people. Well, that is over on social media, on socials on Facebook or something. Okay. So there's Salalitz. Yeah. Okay. And I couldn't
figure out why⦠um, you know, like, what do they get out of it? What is the AI like? I was thinking, is this⦠isâ¦
16:19:27 Is the person I work with paying into? Like, what's the benefit for the⦠Because what was happening is, it's like a friend, or a⦠romantic, they think, and then⦠If they're,
you know, explaining, I feel really down, I feel really bloat already, I⦠the person said, well, go kill yourself.
16:19:45 Oh, wow. I mean, the other thing I canâ¦
16:19:47 There is, like, a lot of limits to, like, how many messages you can do per month, so there⦠like, even ChatGBT has a free version, but you can only do.
16:19:56 X amount of messages back and forth per month, and then after that, you have to pay.
16:20:01 So, there are people that are getting into, like. Relationships, and then they're.
16:20:06 Wanting to engage more and more beyond the free version, and then they are paying money.
16:20:14 Okay. Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
16:20:11 As well, it's spending lots of money on the relationship. So that's another⦠another⦠in addition to what Katie said, which was super, like, serious.
16:20:19 The other thing to think of is that, you know, if you're the classic grooming behavior, and then.
16:20:25 You get someone to trust you, and then they give you your⦠they give them their financial information, and then they've got access. And there's a lot of that going on anyway,
like, there has been, really, since COVID, a lot of financial exploitation happening continuously, all the time. There's people being⦠Yeah.
16:20:42 Yeah, so that's a good awareness to make sure people are your department and APS really can't.
16:20:49 Effective services with the financial stuff, they really can't⦠surprisingly really doing much about it, so that's continuous, too.
16:20:58 It's a good, good, um, awareness. Um, so, I have a⦠to⦠since we have⦠we have 9 minutes left in our agenda, I don't think there's anything left on the agenda, is that
right? Um, I have just a⦠couple of quick questions, just from.
16:21:15 Being new to this, um, this work. And that I might⦠this is⦠Okay, between you and I, we can say, this is an okay thing to ask.
16:21:25 So, I'm really interested. I've heard a few times in this meeting.
16:21:33 Um, some sort of references to services across the Olympic Peninsula.
16:21:39 And I⦠I wonder what your perspectives are, and however comfortable you might feel, knowing that we're in a public meeting.
16:21:48 Um, saying⦠Do you feel like⦠Services that are provided at the Olympic Peninsula level.
16:21:58 Maybe services that are based in Clatham County. Um, do you feel like those services actually reach Jefferson County in an equitable way?
16:22:08 That's what I'm⦠I'm getting that sense. And as a person who, you know, advocates at the legislative and budget level, that's something that I just⦠feel like I'm picking
up on, and⦠Um, I'm really interested.
16:22:23 To understand how we can advocate. To, you know, to make sure that the services that you're not.
16:22:30 Feeling like our reaching here could⦠we could be more effective at.
16:22:35 Having them reach Jefferson County. So, um, you know, that's a⦠It's just something to keep on our radar, and if there are places where we feel like, for example, it might
be more beneficial to.
16:22:48 To, um, you know, sort of localize the service in some way that they're talking about with Parents and Parents.
16:22:54 Um, if you're using a parent-to-parent provider that is based elsewhere, and you're really not.
16:23:01 Feeling the impact in the positive impact that we want to feel.
16:23:06 That's something to⦠to consider. Um, and my other question⦠I guess I'm just gonna put, like, the slightly uncomfortable questions out there, just⦠why not? I guess.
Um, and so I⦠the only thing that would be uncomfortable about this is that I don't⦠I don't want to put any providers on the spot here, but as.
16:23:27 As Bonnie is going to be tasked. With going away from this meeting and determining how best to use these.
16:23:35 Dollars, um, to provide. Family supports. Are there any providers in the room.
16:23:43 Who are either already providing family supports that we could leverage and.
16:23:48 And or are there any providers in the room who feel like they have capacity.
16:23:53 To add family supports, and⦠And I would say, even if you're not comfortable sort of thinking that through right now, or don't feel like you have the authority or whatever.
16:24:03 I would just encourage you to reach out to Bonnie. And say, you know, if you have ideas about how family supports could be provided, and this is a big⦠a big decision. It's
not a ton of money, but it'sâ¦
16:24:16 It is money that could really be leveraged in the community, and we want to make sure that it's leveraged the best way with the best impact.
16:24:24 And Bonnie's going to be tasked with really, kind of. Figuring out how best to use those dollars. So I would just reiterate that the ideas are really welcome, and I have funds.
16:24:34 Looking for them. Yeah, thank you, yeah. And I just⦠I do kind of want to reiterate that those funds aren't a lot. Everything is super expensive. And I don't know how experienced
folks are with how much things cost on a government⦠government, like, you know, how we work, butâ¦
16:24:52 Yeah, it's not a ton. However, even if we identify needs and resources.
16:24:59 That are currently underfunded. I would like to know about them, so that maybe we can find ways to get everything that's out there for us, you know? Yeah, absolutely.
16:25:09 You know, I just⦠I just saw⦠I also⦠I chair the Behavioral Health Advisory Committee that is an RFP committee that puts out dollars, the 1 tenth of 1%.
16:25:20 Um, the hard growth tax dollars that go out to support behavioral health services in the community. And we just got a report back from Juvenile Services that leverages $16,000
a year. It is not very much money, but.
16:25:34 The way they reported out the way that those dollars are impacting families and their, um⦠and they're contracting out with a behavioral health⦠a counselor, a family counselor.
16:25:47 And they're⦠they're having that, uh, those dollars go direct referrals to this family counselor.
16:25:53 And the ways that that has been impacting families is really remarkable for a very little bit of money. So, I'm just thinking of that example and the ways that families could
really be supported in meaningful ways.
16:26:07 We can actually support families in meaningful ways with $15,000 to $19,000 a year instead.
16:26:14 I just⦠I just want to make sure that Bonnie has really good ideas to choose from. Right. Right, yeah.
16:26:21 I have one question about the funding. When you talked about this funding, this is money from the state, correct? Yes.
16:26:27 So what's happening with the millage money? Um, I don't have access to that. I know that, um.
16:26:35 So, millage is⦠I've been told by my finance team, or, you know, that that's not, um⦠what we call that money anymore, so what we refer to it now as, you know, it's property
tax money, so there's⦠And a lot of people in my role across the state county coordinators rely on being able to access property tax funds in order to.
16:27:01 You know, to help pay for things like this. Um⦠there are so many changes that have gone on, including our new and viral, but, um, there's other changes that have gone on
at a county level where.
16:27:13 Um, certain things are just being looked at. And differently before proceeding, as we always have. So, um⦠So, property tax dollars⦠I have such a very basic understanding
of this, but these⦠this money, formerly done as millage.
16:27:30 Is a fund that can be used. For specific purposes, including, I think, mental health.
16:27:37 Um. And⦠I think anyone in the county who has an appropriate use for that money can access that money.
16:27:47 Uh, so I think it's a matter of⦠really identifying, um, and communicating that to all county departments.
16:27:55 Here's this money, here's how you access it, here's what it's for, here's how you apply.
16:28:01 So, it's just going to be a more formalized process. So there is a chance that.
16:28:06 This year, they'll be like, okay, Bonnie, you got it sorted out, you have access to this fund, and all of a sudden I have some more funds to make use of. I just⦠it's notâ¦
Currently, what is millage? Is it a legislator's name? No, I don't know how that term came to be. I think it has to do with percentage of property tax, like, you pay, like, one mil,
that's the property tax you pay. Or it's $1.5 million, or whatever. Oh, you mean it⦠you think it's referencing the word million?
16:28:35 No, no, no, no. Thousand. You know, you pay, you know, if your house value is.
16:28:45 400,000 if the millage⦠That's millage. One, you pay⦠$4,000 of tax. Okay, interesting.
16:28:53 So you don't know about this yet. Historically, Anna did have millage money, for sure. When I was the DV coordinator at Skagit, I had a lot of intellectual money. It still exists,
it's there.
16:29:03 It's just being handled. I handle⦠it's being planned to be handled differently, you know, I don'tâ¦
16:29:10 And even⦠I just wanted to add one little thing, is even when Anna did have access to millage funds, it was very small.
16:29:18 Compared to⦠counties, um, across the state, and that's why.
16:29:24 We've had problems funding transition services and other services that exist in other places in the state, is because our millage funds are really small compared to bigger counties.
16:29:35 And so, even when Anna had it, it was a really small amount.
16:29:35 Yeah.
16:29:40 Really small. I don't know what that number is, butâ¦
16:29:40 But this is a skip⦠the bottom of it. Interesting. Okay, so yeah, the millage rate is the amount.
16:29:47 Of tax payable per dollar of a property's value. It's used to calculate profit tasks. Yeah, okay, thank you. That's a new word for me. That's probably one I should know. That's
probably why they're changing the term to property tax. We are, everyone else in the county stimulus, and it is true that, like, for example, in Clown.
16:30:08 They have the pay, and tens of thousands of dollars from that fund that they use for⦠Okay, well, let's look into that. Um, so we are at 4.30, and I do want to just say.
16:30:21 Um, Shannon Burns. Do you know Shannon from Juvenile Services? Oh, yes, yeah. She was the one. You came and did her presentation, right? Yeah, it was awesome. I think talking
to her about how she uses those family support dollars for juvenile services might be really worth.
16:30:38 The time. Okay. Because I'm telling you, I'm so impressed with the way that is helping families as in the juvenile Services, and for our various undead. So, thank you, everyone,
for being here. Do we have to vote on your name? I can just call to adjourn the meeting, but just before everybody goes off of their own conversations.
16:31:00 Uh, Kelly, if you don't mind, um, just because we haven't adjourned yet, I just want to remind everybody that this, uh, this⦠advisory board⦠advisory board, yes.
16:31:12 Is looking for a chair. So if anyone is interested in sharing, um, if you want to outreach to any of the other members, make sure to do that, and let Bonnie know if you're interested.
16:31:24 Um, or if you have ideas about who you should share, and then we can talk about that next time.
16:31:29 Thank you, and I will adjourn the meeting at 4.31. Thanks, everyone. Thanks for going online.