Members Present: 01-Grant Nyhammer, 02-Lucia Jones, 03-Barbara Eskildsen, 04-Joanne Thomas, 05-Michael O’Donnell, 06-Lynn Niewohner, 07-Julie Hubbard, 08-Joy Paeth, 09-Tracy Barczewski, 10-Shana Holmes, 11-John Smith, 12-absent, 13- Jonathan Lavin.

Minutes of past meeting by: Shana Holmes, Secretary. Minutes: January 27, 2015. Motion: Move to approve the minutes as presented. MOTION: Joanne T. SECONDED BY: Michael O. APPROVED.

Treasurer's Report – Barbara Eskildsen. Discussion: City of Chicago outstanding dues. MOTION: To accept report as read. MOTION BY: Lynn N. SECONDED BY: Michael O. APPROVED.

Legislative Committee: Michael discussed outreach to Legislation; letter must be signed by 25th, outreach in regards to OAA. The hearing for N4A is this evening. An online option to submit slips of support is available. Michael spoke about a bill to support. Put on hold Senate Bill 1211. Spoke about HB 3752 and the arena around support from I4A at the APS meeting attended by Barb E. The Illinois Association of Area Agencies on Aging (I4A) representing the 13 AAAs in Illinois respectfully asks you to sign on to Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) letter requesting a 12% increase in funding for all Older Americans Act programs in FY2016. The deadline for signing the letter is March 25, 2015.

Motion: To accept & support the bill presented by David Leach. Republican from Peoria: HB 3753 – Aging innovative mental health; Illinois Act on Aging Amendment, Public and Private Non-profit entities. MOTION BY: Michael O. SECONDED BY: Joanne T. APPROVED.

MOTION: To support Senate Bill 1211. MOTION BY: Michael O. SECONDED BY: Barb E. APPROVED.

OASAC Report by Jon L: Last meeting with Director Holton; aging waivers and personal attendees vs. homecare workers was discussed with Carol Aronson (Shawnee Alliance) who voted against it. APS/Persons with Disabilities-our data availability and ability to share are difficult to attain.

LIHEAP Report by Julie H: PIPP program getting a lot of attention (PIPP program ending) not all will be taken off but most will be affected clients were paying 6% of their income). Conference calls involved with notification of clients and within a majority of utility companies. Letters will be sent out in March but won’t take effect until July.

CCPAC Report by Tracy B: SHIP grants were sent out and are decreased, due back to IDOA on the 19th. Death records were discussed.

n4a Update by Jon L: ASA pier group Tuesday evening in the Conference Hotel, expanded elder care helpline. Dues will be increasing by statute. Mike will be stepping down as grassroots leader. Jon mentioned Joy has been invited in the past to continuously send out information for the grassroots as coordinator and take Michael's place.

MOTION: Designate Joy P. to be grassroots coordinator. MOTION BY: Jon L. SECONDED BY: Tracy B. APPROVED.

Government Strategies Report by: Terry & Maureen. This week and next will be critical to respond to bills; reforms and cuts are being reviewed and made. A conversation of balance within Fiscal Year 2016 budget will need to take place. The budget will be hard to predict at this point with a lot of speculation. Perhaps by the beginning of the Fiscal year a budget will be presented. Any budget that passes will have to be Bi-Partisan: Speculation of sweep with perhaps a 2½ % cut, not sure until paperwork is released.

Discussion of No Wrong Door by: Carrie Blakeway (Lewin), Marla & Betsy. Goal is to have a face-to-face meeting consisting of AAA's and the Lewin group, possibly later this spring. Level 1 screening and UAT are topics of discussions/initiatives. ADRN has become a Statewide initiative in the Area Plan and within the next 3-year area plan. It is an Aging initiative (mainly because of BIP) the No Wrong Door approach/UAT, and merges those together. What would we like to accomplish when we have a meeting with the Lewin group was discussed. Issues that are expressed in the ADRN is one set of reporting tools among shared CILs, definitive roles, training, is certification current, a list of activities that will identify the same services no matter what AAA a client would visit. ADRN initiative needs directed with certainty and structure from IDOA, DHS, and each partner involved. CILS have been paying for and becoming SHIP certified on their own. A goal is what the buy is in for persons joining within this network with ultimate outcome are to get grants together and bring more revenue to our partner agencies. The No Wrong Door and BIP are same but different in their focus of persons being served and tied within Level 1 screening tool. QUESTIONS: Will the State initiative be ADRC or No Wrong Door? And, who will deliver the NWD services? Who will credential those who deliver the services?

White House Conference on Aging by: Joanne T., Lynn N. & Tracy B. A survey was solicited by Joanne through survey monkey and the responses were passed around with comments asked to be added. These questions will be used for a response at our Public Information Document and then submit the answers to Joy by May 26th. Barbara will be putting the final questions together and send them out to all the AAA Directors.

Review of By-Laws by John S., Barb E. and Julie H. – Recommendation: To propose to the amendment to the I4A By-Laws. This is the first reading. Amendment 1) The formation of the Executive Committee functions 2) Item 6A moves to 4B moving explanation of what officers do to read coherently where officers are explained.

Discussion: Action items would have to be ratified by entire membership. The committee stands by those stated in the By-Laws (i.e., Executive, Education/Training, Planning/Legislative). Executive shall be the officers of the Board of Directors.

MOTION BY: Committee. SECONDED BY: Lynn N. APPROVED.

Planning to maximize efficiencies among AAA's: Mike O., Shana H., Joanne T., and Jon L. – The cost effectiveness of what we do (i.e., HDM’s), in terms of working at the Community level to maximizing efficiencies was analyzed and reviewed. Asking all AAA's to show how they have achieved and maximized efficiencies within their PSA with an online survey which will be sent via email by Michael/Joanne. Cost effective measures discussed:

• The costs of equipment (asking for fixing or replacing items to minimize costs), efficiency in preparation and delivery of home delivered meals, controlling costs of raw foods/production of meals, coordination with food banks.
• Healthy aging collaboration is a flexible effective way to promote independent cost efficient ways to maintain a healthy life.
• Senior Medicare Patrol, joint purchasing (computers, vehicles, freezers and other nutrition), training/cross-training,
• Joint programmatic reviews, in-service for existing staff, alliances for better/lower cost health.
• An Ohio model showed a restructure of network, Directors/CEO’s may be a high target due to high cost but looked at other consolidation options and models that other States have used. Ohio had a more comparative analysis in conjunction with Illinois, the option of using an L.L.C.
• Appeals have taken a lot of time and dollars. Would like to search for a cost effective route to obtain appeal officers.

Software update by Joy – Conversation was held with Betsy and Scott, would there be a way to take Harmony on as an option (which was proposed to us). The IT Dept. is having a challenge with the development system due to only purchasing a small piece of software. IT isn’t able to discuss further about the NAPIS due to working on UAT. Scott is making great lengths within the Dept. leaving software as a major efficiency issue. IFC data system does handle a more broad case management but excludes OAA services being built in.

ADJOURNED AT 4:35 p.m. MOTION: Adjourn meeting. MOTION BY: Lynn N. SECONDED BY: Michael O. APPROVED.

MINUTES COMPLETED BY: Shana A. Holmes, I4A Secretary