Trinity County Grand Jury
• 2003-2004
Health and Human Services Committee Final Report - In Home Support*
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 2 findings
F1
In an environ of shrinking budgets, limited funding, unfunded mandates and increased scrutiny by state and federal agencies, IHSS offers both shelter to our needy and a bargain to badly battered County health system providers. The relatively small sum going to caregivers proves doubly beneficial as the economic "ripple effect" energizes households and communities within the County.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
Develop and maintain clear channels for feedback from IHSS clients and caregivers to assure quality care. Provide incentives to caregivers for increasing their proficiency of client care.
R55-04
FROM: Trinity County Board of Supervisors Response to 2003-2004 Trinity County Grand Jury Health and Human SUBJECT: Services Committee Report on In-Home Support Services September 14, 2004 DATE: The Board of Supervisors submits these responses to the 2003-2004 Grand Jury report on In-Home Support Services by their Health & Human Services Committee. FINDING #1: The Board of Supervisors agrees with Finding #1 and understands the importance of caregivers. RECOMMENDATION #1: It is the intent of the Board of Supervisors to insure clear channels of communication between the County and IHSS clients and caregivers. This can be achieved through the IHSS Advisory Committee as well as through negotiations with caregivers through their union. It is also the intention of the Board to provide incentives to better trained caregivers and this will be accomplished as scarce funding allows. FINDING #2: The Board does not agree with this finding. It would seem the isolation and dependence of IHSS clients could foster abuse by caregivers no matter where the clients live be it a rural or urban setting. -59- WILLIAM CHAMBERS BILLIE MILLER RALPH MODINE HOWARD FREEMAN ROBERT REISS DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 2 DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT 4 DISTRICT 5 2. RECOMMENDATION #2: This recommendation is being implemented in part. State and Federal laws require monitoring of client services and the Health and Human Services Department is meeting legal requirements. Additional services to clients such as "visiting friends" can be beneficial however funding is not presently available for these services. The County does, however, take an active role in supporting the Trinity County Commission on Aging which is addressing this and other issues facing seniors. RM: :
F2
The rural nature of the County and subsequent isolation raises the potential for abuse and fraud within client-caregiver relationships (cabin-fever).
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
The County should endeavor to determine what monitoring demands this places upon HHS and assist them in obtaining resources to meet this need. This will reduce the need for increasing State oversight of County functions (and fixing what ain't broke). The County should support a volunteer program of "visiting friends" to provide additional social support and observation in the homes of clients. Conclusion: Through the remarkably professional efforts of a dedicated Health and Human Services organization, IHSS has provided our community maximum care (more bang for the buck). We will become increasingly reliant upon this model as more costly, less viable health systems evaporate and self-destruct. Increasing state oversight and subsequent demands upon County resources are a primary threat to the success of the program. Unless our seated Supervisors are asleep at the switch, they will immediately address this matter by asking the Director of the Trinity County Health and Human Services Department how their body might best serve the organization, thus ensuring the health of a dynamic system. IHSS must respect the privacy of clients and caregivers, but we attest to the fact that we have some remarkable successes within our County. Our thanks go to: Linda Wright, Director, Trinity County Health and Human Services Department, James Curran (retired), Adult Services Supervisor/Deputy Veterans Service Officer/Public Guardian, and Donna Pate, CalWorks Employment Program Supervisor, Trinity County Department of Health and Human Services for their professionalism, dedication and assistance in this matter. Responses Required: All of the recommendations listed above are directed to the Board of Supervisors or their designated staff. Under Penal Code 933, the following entities are required to respond to the listed findings within the time period indicated: Recommendation Respond In:
R55-04
FROM: Trinity County Board of Supervisors Response to 2003-2004 Trinity County Grand Jury Health and Human SUBJECT: Services Committee Report on In-Home Support Services September 14, 2004 DATE: The Board of Supervisors submits these responses to the 2003-2004 Grand Jury report on In-Home Support Services by their Health & Human Services Committee. FINDING #1: The Board of Supervisors agrees with Finding #1 and understands the importance of caregivers. RECOMMENDATION #1: It is the intent of the Board of Supervisors to insure clear channels of communication between the County and IHSS clients and caregivers. This can be achieved through the IHSS Advisory Committee as well as through negotiations with caregivers through their union. It is also the intention of the Board to provide incentives to better trained caregivers and this will be accomplished as scarce funding allows. FINDING #2: The Board does not agree with this finding. It would seem the isolation and dependence of IHSS clients could foster abuse by caregivers no matter where the clients live be it a rural or urban setting. -59- WILLIAM CHAMBERS BILLIE MILLER RALPH MODINE HOWARD FREEMAN ROBERT REISS DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 2 DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT 4 DISTRICT 5 2. RECOMMENDATION #2: This recommendation is being implemented in part. State and Federal laws require monitoring of client services and the Health and Human Services Department is meeting legal requirements. Additional services to clients such as "visiting friends" can be beneficial however funding is not presently available for these services. The County does, however, take an active role in supporting the Trinity County Commission on Aging which is addressing this and other issues facing seniors. RM: :
Conclusions 1
-
CL1Through the remarkably professional efforts of a dedicated Health and Human Services organization, IHSS has provided our community maximum care (more bang for the buck). We will become increasingly reliant upon this model as more costly, less viable health systems evaporate and self-destruct. Increasing state oversight and subsequent demands upon County resources are a primary threat to the success of the program. Unless our seated Supervisors are asleep at the switch, they will immediately address this matter by asking the Director of the Trinity County Health and Human Services Department how their body might best serve the organization, thus ensuring the health of a dynamic system. IHSS must respect the privacy of clients and caregivers, but we attest to the fact that we have some remarkable successes within our County. Our thanks go to: Linda Wright, Director, Trinity County Health and Human Services Department, James Curran (retired), Adult Services Supervisor/Deputy Veterans Service Officer/Public Guardian, and Donna Pate, CalWorks Employment Program Supervisor, Trinity County Department of Health and Human Services for their professionalism, dedication and assistance in this matter. Responses Required: All of the recommendations listed above are directed to the Board of Supervisors or their designated staff. Under Penal Code 933, the following entities are required to respond to the listed findings within the time period indicated:
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Trinity County
County
Trinity County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.