N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F S T A T E H U M A N S E R V I C E S F I N A N C E O F F I C E R S Fiscal 2011 Newsletter Badlands to Goodlands Inside this issue: Officers 2 Regiona l Directors 2 Committee Cha irs 2 Upcoming Tra ining 3 Conference Images 4 Conference Images 5 Recent training results 6 The 62nd annual conference of the National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers was recently held on the high plains of North Dakota. Southerners (like your editor) were certainly glad to attend just to escape the record heat in our home states. Eighty degrees and no humidity was a welcome change from one hundred eight degree record temperatures... The theme of the conference was Badlands to Goodlands: Surviving Tough Budgetary Times. The topics were timely and appropriate given the current economy and the stress all have seen on State budgets and finances. One hundred forty six attendees from thirty two states attended this year s conference. The event was kicked off with a keynote address made by Ed Schafer, the 30th governor of North Dakota and most recently, the 29th United States Secretary of Agriculture. Sessions followed over the next four days with topics including legal issue updates, the view from Washington, ARRA, child welfare, information technology and the impact of health care reform on the Medicaid system. As always, the opportunities to network with fellow finance officers was a highlight of the conference. Whether commiserating the status of state budgets or brainstorming the best methods to improve performance or increase available funding, the relationships developed in HSFO pay huge dividends for our States, Departments and Divisions. Congress Passes Continuing Resolution for Fiscal Year 2011 Fiscal year 2011 started October 1st, 2010, but Congress has yet to pass any of the 12 separate fiscal year 2011 appropriations bills that will fund about one-third of the U.S. government for the next year. Democratic leaders in Congress have decided to bring up the bills in a lame-duck session after the November election. In the meantime, the House and Senate sent to the President for his signature, a continuing resolution which provides temporary fiscal year 2011 funding through December 3rd, 2010 for all programs and agencies that receive appropriations funding.
National HSFO Officers, Directors, Committee Chairs Named at Bismarck Conference National Officers (pictured at left) President Vice President Secretary Treasurer Historian Region I Region II Region III Region IV Region V Region VI Region VII Region VIII At Large I At Large II Jerry Berry Deena Brown Hank Fitzer Brenda Weisz Dague Clark Regional Directors Simone Roy Doug Robinson Terry Bryant Mary Fernald Karen Fricke Cheryl Thompson John Hanson Michelle Grose-Bray Melissa Lange Jodi Osborn Maryland North Dakota Hew Hampshire Hew Hampshire Alabama Ohio Wisconsin South Dakota Alaska Idaho Arrangements Auditor By-Laws Continuing Education Development Federal Issues Membership Newsletter Nominating Program Resolutions Sponsor Development Time & Place Training Committee Chairs Rick Brennan Hank Fitzer Doug Robinson Renee Close Melissa Lange Harry Roberts Simone Roy Greg Crawford Mark Story Jeff Reynolds Vonnetta Allenbaugh Michele McDonald Jim Fredyma Jason Sanchez Richard Brennan Maryland Kentucky Delaware New Hampshire Louisiana Maryland New Hampshire New Mexico
Upcoming Training Opportunities The National Association of State Human Services Finance Officers (108558) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Web site: www.nasba.org. Expression of Sympathy HSFO wishes to express its condolences on the recent passing of Anne Benson of New York State, Past-President of the HSFO organization.. Advanced Grants Administration Course objectives will present: Primary areas of Accountability in the grants administration process Quality in grants administration and performance, and what factors impact it Performance, and the primary approaches to improving performance Partnerships and shared responsibilities in the grants process In this new era of realigning funding sources for behavioral health services, transitions resulting from Mental Health Parity, implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Agency administrators and financial leaders must develop the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate an array of complex requirements and evolving service demands. Timeliness and effectiveness of service delivery and financial support are of vital concern. This Training seminar will focus on such issues facing administrators, financial Newsletter Risk assessment in the grants monitoring process Meaningful ways to communicate with stakeholders regarding performance Quality in grants administration and performance, and what factors impact it Performance, and the primary approaches to improving performance Partnerships and shared responsibilities in the grants process managers and professionals today. Learning Objectives: What are the available funding sources, and what challenges do they present? What is the fiscal impact related to Health Care Reform and the Mental Parity/ Addiction Equity Act? How can you assess clinical and administrative functions? How can you assess provider network IT capacity and financial health? Risk assessment in the grants monitoring process Meaningful ways to communicate with stakeholders regarding performance OCTOBER 18-20, 2010 MARDI GRAS CASINO & RESORT CHARLESTON, WV HOSTED BY RICK BRENNAN. TRAINING BEING PRESENTED BY SEQUOIA CONSULTING. FIRST OFFERING. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Financing What are effective strategies associated with funding psychotropic medication costs? What are strategies for rate setting and contracting for services? NOVEMBER 8-10, 2010 CROWNE PLAZA LOUISVILLE AIRPORT LOUISVILLE, KY HOSTED BY RICK BRENNAN. TRAINING BEING PRESENTED BY PCG CONSULTING. FIRST OFFERING.
Images From Bismarck, North Dakota
What happens when President s go bad! The fugitive is brought to JUSTICE... Yes, they really meant Pitchfork Fondue! Fort Abraham Lincoln
Little Rock Training Well Received DHS recently sponsored an extremely successful HSFO training seminar entitled, Grants Administration - Fundamentals. The course explained essential grants administration principles and techniques for federal grants. The intent was to create value for individuals with varying levels of backgrounds and experience in the field of grants administration, from beginners through the more experienced, covering programmatic and fiscal areas of responsibility. HSFO tailored the course to meet the needs of financial officers like you, who work in a state or local human services agency. The training was delivered in a group-live format designed to provide conceptual explanations and practical guidance to the most current and pressing problems in managing programs. Training topic were illustrated through extensive use of case studies from various states, and interactive discussion of lessons in the real world. Thirty nine attendees from five states (, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, and ) attended. Sequoia Consulting trainers Karen Kinder, Deb Fault, and Joe Kauzlarich presented the training. Take a look at some comments from attendees noted below. Jessica I actually really enjoyed the training and I m very glad that I went. I was surprised at how much I learned about grants. I learned the most from just talking with the others at the training and the group discussion activities. The speakers did a good job at leading the discussion, but it really helped to be in the training with so many different people from a variety of levels. There was always someone in the group that could answer any question or give a real example based on experience. I also think that the materials will be helpful in the future. Kim Attendee Comments It was a rare opportunity to have so many of the key players in grants all in the same room. We were all able to get a more well -rounded view of how we all play a part in this process. I was able to connect personally with people I knew only through e- mail. The mix of a varied audience, coupled with the quality of practical experience of the trainers made this a worthwhile investment of my time away from work during this busy season. Linda The interactive format of this training coupled with the open nature of most of the exercises allowed us to explore the topics more thoroughly than in any training I have ever attended. Far more time was spent sharing ideas and experiences as groups and subgroups as opposed to sitting listening to a speaker flip through slides. We were able to really see the entire process from the viewpoints of program, fiscal and audit. Also, everyone was so engaged in the process, that often during breaks, people from one table were crossing to other areas to discuss something that had been said in session and the discussions continued on during lunches. I think when a training is able to create that kind of enthusiasm, that pretty much speaks for itself. I learned the most from just talking with the others at the training and the group discussion activities.