OVERVIEW
California state law amended the Welfare and Institutions Code to require that counties with caseloads of more than 500 IHSS consumers act as, or establish, an employer of record for individual providers of in-home supportive services (IHSS) by January 1, 2003. The law also required each county to establish an IHSS Advisory Committee.
On September 12, 2000, the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors directed the Human Services Department to establish an IHSS Advisory Committee. This committee will provide advice and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on issues related to in-home support service delivery, policy and funding.
The IHSS Advisory Committee will also be responsible for recommending the preferred employer of record for the IHSS program in Sonoma County. An employer of record is considered the employer of the individual IHSS providers for the purposes of collective bargaining over wages, hours, and other conditions of employment.
- The IHSS Advisory Committee will be appointed by November 2000
- Advisory Committee members will serve one or two year staggered terms
- All Committee meetings will be open to the public
State laws also requires that the IHSS Advisory Committee include
- A fair and open selection process
- Up to eleven (11) members
- At least 50% of the members must be current or past users of personal assistance services, paid for through public or private funds
- At least two (2) members must be current or former IHSS caregivers (workers)
- No more than one (1) member can be a County employee
WHO WILL SERVE ON THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE?
The Board of Supervisors is looking for a team of ten (10) motivated, caring people to serve on the IHSS Advisory Committee. We are seeking the following:
5 Members who are current or previous users (consumers) of personal assistance services, paid for through public or private funds who are representative of the Sonoma County IHSS caseload
- people over 60, approximately 45%, and
- younger people with disabilities, approximately 55% Countywide geographic representation is desired.
2 Members who are current or former IHSS caregivers (workers).
2 Members with experience in program development; administration and fiscal management who represent or advocate for home care service delivery organizations and their consumers.
1 Ex-officio member from the Human Services Department of Sonoma County.
All Committee members will be eligible for reasonable reimbursement of expenses for actual and necessary expenses authorized by the IHSS Advisory Committee including personnel or equipment that may be required to accommodate the special needs of committee members, such as
Advisory Committee members will also be eligible for per diem compensation at a rate of $35 for half-day meetings (up to 4 hours), and $70 for full-day meetings (over 4 hours of service in a single day). Ex-officio County employees who serve as Advisory Committee members shall not receive per diem compensation.
WHO DOES THE IHSS PROGRAM SERVE?
The In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program is a county-administered program mandated by the State. The Human Services Department's Division of Adult and Aging Services manages the IHSS program in Sonoma County.
The Sonoma County IHSS program serves over 2,300 low-income seniors, people with disabilities, and people who are visually impaired who need assistance in order to live safely and independently in their homes.
- 52% of the recipients are seniors over the age of 65
- 65% of recipients are people with disabilities (on SSI)
- 30% of recipients are considered to be severely impaired
- 5% of the recipients are people who are visually impaired
WHAT KIND OF SERVICES DOES IHSS PROVIDE?
Those eligible for the program receive a wide array of services including domestic assistance such as housecleaning, meal preparation, laundry and shopping; personal care services such as feeding and bathing; transportation; protective supervision; and certain paramedical services ordered by a physician. In Sonoma County |
