January 16, 2026 Minutes

Human Services Advisory Commission - Meeting Minutes

Meeting: January 16, 2026

In Attendance: Perry Buck, Stacey Casteel, Ernest Cienfuegos-Baca, Stephanie Foos, Stephanie Gausch, Jodi Hartmann, Andrea Hernandez, Enita Kearns-Hout, Kelly Martinez, Vincent Ornelas, David Reyes Jr., and Adam Turk

Absent: N/A

Department of Human Services (DHS) Staff in Attendance: Karin Crandell, Julie Witkowski, and Sara Adams

Recording Secretary: Sara Adams

Welcome

The meeting was called to order at 8:15 a.m.

Presentation

Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Overview – Meredith Skoglund and Donnica Fagan presented an overview of the Area Agency on Aging (AAA). The AAA is part of the Home & Community Support Division, alongside Adult Protective Services and the Case Management Agency. The AAA department consists of a team of 12 employees whose mission is to help individuals maintain independence and dignity within their community. They reviewed several programs available to clients, including meal services and transportation assistance, which support this mission. 

Introductions

Perry Buck (Weld County Board of County Commissioners) and Vincent Ornelas (Greeley Housing Authority) were introduced as new Board Members.

Review of Minutes from October 24, 2025 

Motion to approve the minutes from October 24th, 2025, was made by Enita Kearns-Hout and seconded by Stephanie Gausch. The minutes were unanimously approved.

Orientation

Karin Crandall did a quick review of the orientation.

  • Duties, Responsibilities and Bylaws – Key responsibilities of board members include attending meetings; providing input and recommendations; reviewing the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), as this board is required for the grant; assisting with budget recommendations and approvals; approving reports; and helping assess and plan for the needs of the community. Additionally, the committee serves as the Placement Alternative Commission (PAC), which reviews Core contracts through a subcommittee.
  • Membership Structure – The committee is required to have 12 to 15 members and must be structured as a tripartite board, with one-third consisting of public officials or their designees, one-third representing the low-income client sector, and the remaining members from the private sector of the community. Within these categories, preferred representation includes professionals such as accountants, attorneys, and medical and mental health providers, as their expertise is valuable when reviewing Core contracts. The board meets quarterly and is required, by both the bylaws and the Department of Local Affairs, to meet at least four (4) times per year. A quorum is achieved with 50% plus one (1) of the current members.  There are currently three (3) openings.
  • Volunteer Hours – Volunteer hours completed by board members are reported in the annual Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) report. Karin has requested that members track their board-specific volunteer hours throughout the year, including time spent in board and subcommittee meetings, using the provided Volunteer Hours Tracking Sheet. She will need all board members completed tracking sheets for 2025, which can be submitted directly to her.
  • Confidentiality Statement and Conflict of Interest Policy – Each board member is required to complete and sign these forms annually. The Confidentiality Statement pertains to information obtained during board and subcommittee meetings. The Conflict-of-Interest Policy should be carefully reviewed, and any potential conflicts must be disclosed in the designated section of the form. Karin noted that these forms were included in the board members’ packets for review, completion, and signature. Completed forms should be submitted to her.
  • Whistleblower Policy – The Whistleblower Policy is available on the County website, and a hard copy has been provided to board members. This policy informs members of their rights to report concerns, including violations of law, gross mismanagement, waste of funds, abuse of authority, or issues that may pose a substantial risk to public health or safety.

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)

Expenditure Report – John Kruse presented the CSBG Expenditure Report as of November 2025. He reported that, after 11 months, $151,521 remains. The largest expenditure of CSBG funds is allocated to Adult Protection Services (APS) for salaries and benefits supporting 10–11 employees. While APS has its own funding source, it does not fully cover these costs. Additional expenditures for Emergency Services include assistance with rent and utilities. In December 2025, DHS received an additional $94,774 in funding. This amount is higher than what was received in December of the previous year and is not included in the current year’s allocation, as it is designated for the 2026 calendar year.

Contracted Services Update

Sara Adams provided an update on DHS contracted services for the fourth quarter of 2025 and the end-of-year totals. The Department received one application through the 2025 RFA, which was reviewed by the Review Team.  The team determined to reject the application because the proposed service areas—Family Time Visitation and Parent Coaching—are currently adequately served, and no additional provider is needed at this time. 

Division Audits/Evaluations/Reports

Elizabeth Cerrillo, Assistance Payments Operations Manager, provided an overview of the recent Management Evaluation (ME) review, which took place in July 2025 and occurs once every three (3) years.  Prior to the visit, the Department received questionnaires to gather information from various program areas, including program integrity, administration, and Medicaid eligibility.  Once completed, the questionnaires were submitted to Medicaid along with requested documentation, such as photos of the lobby and posted notices.  These materials were reviewed before scheduling the in-person visit, during which evaluators met with supervisors, participants, and staff who completed the questionnaires.

Following the visit, a preliminary report was issued, which may include items requiring clarification, such as requests for clearer documentation. The Department has ninety (90) days to respond to any such requests. The final report was received in December 2025 with no findings, reflecting a high level of excellence in performance and execution.  Weld County was the first county in the State to receive a no-findings outcome. 

Department Updates

Department updates were received from:

  • Karin Crandall requested volunteers to assist with the Community Needs Assessment for the CSBG grant, with the goal of developing a comprehensive assessment of community needs.  The completed Needs Assessment is scheduled to be presented to HSAC in July 2026.  While not required, the Department aims to meet all Organizational Standards, including two (2) that were not previously met, to ensure a thorough evaluation of community needs.

    Volunteers: Andrea Hernandez, Enita Kearns-Hout, Ernest Cienfuegos-Baca, Stephanie Gausch, and Stephanie Foos.

  • Julie Witkowski – DHS recently held its pinning ceremony in front of the Board of County Commissioners, recognizing 31 employees who reached milestone years of service (10, 20, and 30 years). Staff retention has significantly improved over the past five years. Internally, DHS also hosts a separate ceremony to recognize and celebrate employees who have not yet reached those milestones but still deserve recognition.


Community Updates

Community updates were received from:

  • Andrea Hernandez (The Weld Trust)
  • David Reyes Jr. (School District 6)
  • Vincent Ornelas (Greeley Housing Authority)
  • Stephanie Gausch (Weld Food Bank)
  • Kelly Martinez (Weld County Public Health & Environment)
  • Ernest Cienfuegos-Baca (United Way of Weld County)
  • Adam Turk (Greeley Police Department)
  • Enita Kearns-Hout (Catholic Charities serving Weld County)
  • Jodi Hartmann (High Plains Housing Development Corp.)

Meeting Adjourned

Meeting adjourned at 10:01 a.m.

 

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