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CASS HUMAN SERVICE ZONE BOARD MEETING <br />April 8, 2024 <br />MINUTES <br />With quorum present, Chair Bollinger called the meeting to order at 1 :00 p.m . <br />Present: <br />Absent: <br />Presenter: <br />Commissioner Jim Kapitan (via Teams), Julie Haugen (via Teams); Dan Madler; <br />Senator Kyle Daviso n (via Teams); Jen Sahr; Rick Steen (via Team s); Brian Hagen; <br />Gail Bollinger <br />Carey Fry; <br />Gail Bollinger, Zone Director; Samantha Duitsman, HR and Operations <br />Administrator; Chelsey Niklas and Susan Harris, Adult Protective Services; Carissa <br />Cowley, Family Services Department Manager; Shaina Huovinen, Economic <br />Assistance Program Manager <br />I. Approval of Minutes <br />Mr. Madler made a motion to approve the Ma rch 4, 2024 Meeting minutes. Mr. Hagen <br />seconded. Motion carried. <br />II. Program Spotlight -Chelsey Niklas and Susan Harris, Adult Protective Services <br />Present were Chelsey Niklas and Susan Harris, two of the four team members that make <br />up the Adult Protective Services (APS) Unit for Cass Human Service Zone. Jeremy Parrow <br />and Lyndsey Olson were unable to attend. The APS Unit covers all counties is Region V of <br />North Dakota and investigates concerns of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of individuals <br />who are 18 years of age or older. Anyone with concerns regarding an adult can file a report <br />with the Central Intake Unit in Bismarck. The person's capacity is assessed by a professional <br />and if deemed incapacitated, the APS Unit will work with the client to establish the care <br />and support they need in efforts to mitigate the risk of abuse, neglect, or exploitation from <br />recurring. Scams and financial exploitation are the most common issues they encounter, <br />with a family member often being the subject in the latter of the two. <br />The biggest challenges the APS Unit encounters in their work are lack of funding and <br />increasing complexity of cases. The funding is often rega rd ing services for which the client <br />is expected to pay a portion of it. Many do not meet the threshold for financial assistance <br />yet do not have the additional funds to pay for therapy or treatment out of pocket. While <br />they cannot force treatment or services in most situations, there are times when there is <br />imminent danger identified and APS is able to push for services through a civil <br />commitment or by obtaining guardianship. <br />Ms. Niklas and Ms. Harris clarified APS team members do not take on the role of guardians. <br />They explained the State requires them to first seek out a family member that could take <br />on the responsibility. If none are identified or available, then they contact other local <br />agencies and independent guardians that offer the service, of which there is a shortage of <br />guardians and very often, waiting lists. Guardians are responsible for overseeing all <br />decisions made on the client's behalf, including medication approvals, living <br />arrangements, and assets. <br />They talked about the many successful cases they have had as well. Despite the <br />circumstances, Mr. Parrow was recently acknowledged in a client's obituary, thanking him