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Apache Junction social services panel to be queried on funding gaps, best practices

Posted 4/2/20

If there is a gap in funding for social services, the Apache Junction Health and Human Services Commission hopes to find it.

The group plans to host a panel discussion on health in Apache …

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Apache Junction social services panel to be queried on funding gaps, best practices

Posted

If there is a gap in funding for social services, the Apache Junction Health and Human Services Commission hopes to find it.

The group plans to host a panel discussion on health in Apache Junction, specifically centered on those experiencing homelessness, people who are very low-income and anyone with mental-health and addiction issues.

The panel would be held at the next Mayor’s Breakfast, which is slated for May 13, but could be postponed to a later date, Heather Patel, the city’s program and resource manager, said at a recent meeting of the Health and Human Services Commission.

“So the idea here is to bring together different viewpoints, different organizations that provide health-related services in our community and do a panel and just ask them some questions,” she said.

The Health and Human Services Commission conducts public hearings to determine the needs of city residents with regard to public health, provision of human services and care of the elderly, handicapped and developmentally disabled.

“The commission here has talked several times about, ‘What are the health needs in our community?’ So you know what it is you want to address --- so that you know what our needs are --- so this is an avenue for you to get that information,” Ms. Patel said at the commission’s March 26 meeting.

The commission brought up questions that could be asked of panelists.

Commissioner Syri L. Gerstner said she would ask about low-income housing and emergency shelters.

“Why don’t we have them here? And where can we get someone to start the initiative? Is there a law or something that we can’t? I’d just like to have more information,” she said.

That would be a great question for healthcare providers, Ms. Patel said.

“Because some of them do get funding through AHCCCS and other areas to get people housed,” she said of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. “So that is a great question to ask, absolutely.”

Commissioner Judy Borey said panelists should be asked if there are any empty buildings in Apache Junction that could be converted to shelters.

“Definitely that would be a discussion point, which would be a part of the same train of thought, probably,” Commission Chair Mary Erickson said.

“So basically, the panel, being healthcare providers, what are they doing to impact housing for their clients and for other people who are --- whether a mental-health issue or a substance-abuse issue or whatever it is; their clients, how are they helping get them housed?” Ms. Patel said, summing up Mrs. Borey’s question.

Another question should be about jobs training, Commissioner Borey said.

Who the agencies are partnering or collaborating with and how they are making a difference should also be asked, Commission Chair Erickson said.

“It also helps not doing the duplication of whatever each organization is doing. It makes the money spread a little further because you’re not duplicating the same,” Commissioner Borey said.

The opening question to the panel can be on what they see as the community’s greatest strength in services and what is the largest gap, Commission Chair Erickson said.

“I think it would open it up to everybody to address from their perspective, be they mental health, physical health looking at social services. Different eyes have different priorities and so I think that would be something that could open up the conversation,” she said.

Discovering the gaps will be important for the commission, Ms. Patel said.

“I think I agree with you as far as finding those gaps, seeing what each type of agency is providing to these different populations. I think that’s mostly going to be informative for you and then that will help whether or not in the next round of funding the commission chooses to have a focus area. So this sort of information will help impact your decisions for future funding or participation in the community, what you want to focus on,” she said.

Vice Chair Sharleen Daniels, who was attending the meeting remotely, said she had a question that was already mentioned.

“I was in agreement with your statement on asking them where they see some needs that we’re not meeting,” she said.

Other questions brought up by commissioners include:

  • How do agencies get information to clients that do not have the Internet or access to a newspaper, or who live in the mountains around the community?
  • What types of services are there to prevent people from becoming homeless?
  • Is there street outreach for people who are homeless and, if so, who is doing it and how are they doing it?
  • What services are there for people who are homeless and on the streets?
  • What types of support services are there for people who are homeless?
  • What services are there for people who are homeless and have literacy, education or speech issues?
  • What services are needed for people with addiction and mental-health issues?

The commission’s next meeting is 6 p.m. Thursday, April 23, at the City Council Chambers, 300 E. Superstition Blvd.