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.. <br />CASS COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES BOARD MEETING <br />August 1, 2022 <br />MINUTES <br />With quorum present, Chair Bollinger called th~ meeting to order at 1 :00 p.m. <br />Present: <br />Absent: <br />Presenter: <br />Commissioner Duane Breitling; Commiss ioner Rick Steen; Ca rey Fry; Brian Hagen; <br />Julie Haugen; Dan Madler; Michelle Kommer; Gail Bollinger <br />Gail Bollinger, Zone Director; Heather Collins, HR/Operations Manager; Matthew <br />Gebhardt, Child Welfare Consultant & Technical Support for Family Services <br />I. Approval of Minutes <br />Commissioner Steen made a motion to approve the July 5, 2022, Board minutes. <br />Commissioner Breitling seconded it. Motion carried. <br />II. Role of the Board -Handout <br />In the Board Packet, members were provided a handout with a chart outlining the roles of <br />Human Service Zone Board, County Commissioners, Zone Director, and DHS. This is <br />follow-up to the presentation Kristen Hasbargen, DHS Director of Zone Operations, gave <br />in January to the board. Chair Bollinger felt it would be a great resource for all Board <br />members to have. Board members stated this was a helpful tool and clarifies everyone's <br />roles well. <br />Ill. Guest: Mr. Matthew Gebhardt -Child Welfare Consultant & Technical Support -Family <br />Services <br />Chair Boll inger briefly introduced Matthew Gebhardt. It was explained that Mr. Gebhardt <br />is assisting the Cass County Human Service Zone on a contractual basis. He has 25 years <br />of professional experience in Child Welfare. Mr. Gebhardt assisted with the <br />implementation of the Safety Framework Practice Model in North Dakota. Focus areas for <br />Mr. Gebhardt is to provide review, evaluation and training related to child welfare and <br />enhancement of knowledge of the practice model, and coach department supervisors. Mr. <br />Gebhardt shared that his focus is to assist the agency in providing a more consistent <br />practice, continue to assist in developing the leadership team, and build a solid system to <br />ensure the safety of all children in the community. He will focus on training workers to <br />help strengthen their skills and assist with case backlog. It is anticipated that Mr. <br />Gebhardt's will assist with the on~oarding of the Family Service Manager in mid- <br />September <br />IV. Personnel Update <br />Ms. Collins provided the Board with 2nd quarter turnover data. In the month of July, the <br />Zone welcomed five new staff, there was one internal promotion, and received eight <br />resignations. There are currently five new employees scheduled to start in August, the <br />majority in Economic Assistance, and there are 16 other positions in various stages. <br />It was asked if employees have been completing the exit interviews. Ms. Collins explained <br />employees are offered the chance, but it is not required. From her understanding, the <br />departures are in part to advancing careers and more compensation. The new exit survey <br />created by the statewide workgroup that Ms . Collins was a member of will be implemented