HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10011996 - C65 Ij . (/
US
SE Contra ��__CCCC
;TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Costa
FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson . i''" o County
Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier 'co
SrA EesK
DATE: October 1, 1996
SUBJECT: REVIEW THE MERITS OF IMPLEMENTING A PUBLIC AUTHORITY TO
PROVIDE FOR THE DELIVERY OF IN-HOME CARE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Refer to the Finance Committee to review the merits and cost
factors of implementing a public authority for the delivery of in-home care support services.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The In-Home Supportive;Services Task Force is
requesting that the Board consider the establishment of a public authority to assist in the delivery of
In-Home Supportive Services in Contra Costa County including the establishment of a central registry
for finding in-home care providers.
The City and County of San Francisco established an In-Home Supportive Services Public
Authority in May, 1995, and the draft ordinance being presented for review by the In-Home
Supportive Services Task Force is patterned after the San Francisco ordinance. (Please reference
the attached information sheet regarding In-Home Supportive Services Public Authorities.)
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON October 1, 1996 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED: X OTHER:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS:
X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ----------------- )
AYES: NOES:
I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY
OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ATTESTED
October 1, 1996
XRS
OR,CLERK OFT ARD
AND COUNTY DMINI OR
BY
cc: John Cullen, Director, Social Services Department
Kathleen Dorosz, In-Home Supportive Services Task Force
Supervisor DeSaulnier
Supervisor Torlakson
SEP-25-1996 15:25
. .., 5104273142 P.02,,07,
PUBLIC AUTHORITIES
An Innovative Way to Improve the
Ira.-Horne Supportive Services Program
heli-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program provides personal assisian#services to eli-
gible aged, blind, and persons with disabilities who are unable to remain safely in their own
homes without such assistance. The types of senices available through the IESS program are:
domestic and related services, such as meal preparation and cleanup;personal care smices. such
as bathing and dressing; essential transportation; protective supervision, such as observing the
recipient's behavior.to safeguard against injury; and paramedical services necessary to maintain
the recipient's health.
The Independent Provider Mode of IHSS delivery,the least costly mods of service delivery,is the
mode most preferred by IHSS consumers and is the mode serving the vast maj ity of consumers
Throughout the State. The chief drawbacks of the Independent Provider IHSS Program are the
frequent inability of consumers to quickly locate workers; the lack of a refen2l/registry System to
do background cheeks and .link consumers with workers who have been screened for skills, train-
ing and references; and that the workers cam on1v the minimum wage and have no vacation or
health benefits.
To address these drawbacks a coalition of consumers, workers, county and state representatives
designed the IHSS Nblio Authority Model and passed the necessary legislation. The Public
Authority is an innovative model to improve aad enbance'the IRSS Independent Provider Mode
and perform the following functions:
• Assist consumers m finding flomecare workers through a registry/referral system;
• Investigate the qualifications and background of IHSS workers;
Provide access.'to training for workers and consumers;
0 Create the means for Homecare workers to choose to be represented by a union for the
purposes of collective bang, political and legislature advocacy;
s Any other functions related to ensuring that qualified personnel are available to perform IHSS.
Unlike the contract:mode, the Public Authority is a consumer-directed In-Homme Supponive
Services program. Ccesumers have the following rights clearly established in she statutes:
• The right to si"cant input into policy and program development;
• The right to select, terminate, and direct the work of their providers;
Continued on orhar side
y SEP-25-1956 15:26 5104278142 P.83/E]
0. The right to detemine work schedules and supervise providers; 4�6
0 The right to hixt a family member if desired;
• The right to a din.ely replacement of providers in emergencies;
• The right to use or not to use any registry of providers;
• The right to have consumer-oriented tt-aining available on how to be an employer of providers.
The principle of mainmining consumers' rights is one of the most important elements of the
current Independent,Provider Mode. Consumers have aggressively defended the right to main-
tain direct control over the ability to select their own provider and then supervise that provider.
The contract mode clearly removes that right, limiting consumers to the employees of the con-
tractor. But the.Public Authority Mode was designed by consumers, workers, and county and
sta.#e representatives to improve the IRSS program. The coalition between these key stakehold-
ers allows issues and problems to be resolved in ways that achieve the goats of ail interests.
Because counties establish the ordinances that govt Public Authorities and establish the bud-
gets, counties are able to prevent cost-overruns.
Ea conclusion, Public Authorities benefit the IHSS program because:
• Consumers have a clear, recognized voice through the statutory advisory bodies; and
f uthezmore the law provides an alternative governance structure where the Board of
Supervisors can'establish a separate body with a majority of the votes being consumers of
IHSS.
• The Public Authority is the only mode of service that recognizes the import=ce of
official consumer involvement in the derision making process.
• Additionally, the Public Authority is the only reform►process for the IHSS program where
consumers, workers and management work as a te=in support of each other's goals and
principles.
TOTAL P.14
TOTAL P.03