July 18, 2023 — Tulare County Board of Supervisors

Documented by Dani Huerta

Here’s what you need to know

  • Donna Ortiz, Health and Human Services Agency director, gave a presentation on CalAIM and Child Welfare Services updates. An in-field crisis response supporting those with mental health or substance abuse issues will be implemented in December of this year or January of next year. It will include clinical and nonclinical responses. Updates for Child Welfare Services this year have been a call center for emergency calls, a child assessment team for case planning, a redesign of the court reporting process and training.
  • Patricia Sanchez spoke during public comment and said she experienced falsified documents and forged signatures involving adopting her child. She asked for each board member to do something about it.

Follow-up questions

  • What will the board do in response to Patricia Sanchez’s issue with falsified documents?

Board of Supervisors

  • Larry Micari – vice chair, District One
  • Pete Vander Poel III, District Two
  • Amy Shuklian, District Three
  • Eddie Valero, District Four
  • Dennis Townsend – chair, District Five
  • Jason T. Britt, county administrative officer
  • Jennifer M. Flores, county counsel
  • Melinda Benton, chief clerk

The Scene

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting was held simultaneously both in-person and streamed via YouTube at 6 p.m. on July 18, 2023. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation led by Anna Hernandez of the Diocese of Fresno Catholic Charities.

Actions

  • Board of Supervisors matters
    • Micari
      • Last week he had a meeting with the Resource Management Agency Director, ribbon-cuttings in Exeter and a Kings Tulare Area Agency on Aging (KTAAA) meeting.
    • Valero
      • Last week he met with Delve Colony about creating a nonprofit, toured Dinuba Library, attended an Antelope Valley-Woodlake-Tulare meeting regarding flooding, went to a Wilsonia Leadership meeting, and attended a cabin owners meet-and greet, 
      • Upcoming is a Kings Basin Water Authority meeting, Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) meeting, National Parks Service and Mineral Kings Association update, and he will be going to Austin, Texas with Townsend for the National Association of Counties Conference.
    • Shuklian
      • Last week she attended the new murals groundbreaking and a 99 Coalition meeting.
      • Upcoming is a Homelessness Task Force meeting, Tulare Kings Police Academy graduation, League of California Cities dinner, San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority meeting, Fire Department graduation and an Enchanted Playhouse fundraiser.
    • Vander Poel
      • Last week was a KTAAA meeting.
      • Upcoming is a meeting with the HHSA director, speaking with the Tulare Kings Building industry Association, and attending the Fire Department graduation. 
    • Townsend
      • Last week was a Rural Counties Representatives of California meeting. 
      • Upcoming is a Mighty 190 Committee meeting, National Association of Counties Conference.
  • Presentation on the progress and priorities of the Health and Human Services Agency.
    • Donna Ortiz, HHSA Director, gave the presentation.
    • CalAIM
      • Stands for “California advancing and innovating Medi-Cal”
      • Serves Medi-Cal enrollees who are homeless, high utilizers of hospitals, adults and children with behavioral health needs, incarcerated adults and youth transitioning back into communities, adults at risk of institutionalization, youth enrolled in the California Children’s Services, youth enrolled in child welfare services, and services for postpartum or high-risk pregnancies.  
    • Priorities
      • Increase placement options and the need to meet level-of-care needs
      • Advocate for ongoing support of mandated services and local needs
      • Support integration across programs
      • Mandate realistic funding that is sustainable
      • Provide support for funding opportunities offered by federal and state grants.
    • An in-field crisis response supporting those with mental health or substance abuse issues will be implemented in December of this year or January of next year. It will include clinical and nonclinical responses.
    • Care coordination with those involved in the criminal justice system will be implemented in January 2024. Inmates will be signed up for Medi-cal and receive medication when they leave, including follow-up appointments.
    • Expanding coordination of care focused on children services
      • Phase One involves counties creating a memorandum of understanding outlining the responsibilities of local entities concerning children in foster care who have experienced trauma. It is a five-year plan involving various agencies such as probation and developmental services.
      • Changes implemented to Child Welfare Services this year have been a call center for emergency calls, a child assessment team for case planning, a redesign of the court reporting process and training. A new state Child Welfare Services database is expected to be implemented soon.
      • Focus on a “Child and Family Wellness” system that uses a whole family approach. The Tulare County HHSA is partnering with the San Diego Social Policy Institute to contract services.
  • (Approved) Consent Calendar (Items 4-23)
    • Chair Townsend commented on items 4-7 thanking those appointed to various county committees.
    • Approved
    • Some of the approved items included the reaffirmation of existence of an emergency due to the failure of the irrigation well at Ledbetter Park (item 12), the approval of the installation of a stop sign on Road 68 at Avenue 424 (item 21), and the reaffirmation of a local emergency due to damages to various roads, bridges and infrastructure from the March 2023 storm (item 22). 
  • There were no board matter requests

Public Comment

  • Ashley Solace with Leadership Academy said in the program they learned about public service and is grateful for all she has learned.
    • Tammy Sergeant spoke about the tours she has been on with Leadership Academy.
    • Mateo Fernandez said they have learned a lot about leadership and community activism.
  • Patricia Sanchez said she was the victim of falsified documents and forged signatures involving the adoption of her child. She said she wanted the county to open an investigation regarding her documents. She asked for each board member to do something about it.
  • Anna Hernandez, Diocese of Fresno Catholic Charities, has partnered with FEMA regarding floods in the area. They have set up a temporary disaster relief center in Visalia.
  • Christopher Rinfro said Pixley is still upset about overpasses on Highway 99 that have caused about eight accidents. He said it was not discussed with the Pixley Town Council. He also talked about issues regarding his property.
  • Joe Soya said he appreciated the county’s response to the flooding but feels they could do better in responding to natural disasters. He asked for “justice for Journey” and thanked the board for having a late meeting that he could attend.

If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at fresnodocs@fresnoland.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.

Support our nonprofit journalism.

$
$
$

Your contribution is appreciated.

The Fresno Documenters are a group of local residents who are trained and paid to attend and take notes at local public meetings where officials decide how to spend public money and make important decisions...