rodsullivan.org
SULLIVAN'S SALVOS
July 27, 2017
Sullivan’s
Salvos 8/1/17
In this edition:
*Medicaid Cuts Are Evil!
*Budget Amendments
*Soul Fest
*Did You Know?
*Medicaid Cuts Are Evil!
As
you know, Republicans in the US House and Senate continue to push for cuts to
the Medicaid program. This is near and dear to me, as I spent several years
working with Iowa’s Medicaid program.
What
you need to understand, is Medicaid only covers people who are extraordinarily
poor! Most of the people covered are children. The next biggest group is people
who live in nursing homes. There are many people with disabilities who receive
community-based services. Throw in a few pregnant mothers, and that is it!
NO ONE in this group has any money to put toward their medical
care! That is precisely WHY they are on Medicaid! These are our poorest, most
vulnerable citizens. When we talk about a “safety net”, this is it!
I really believe it is time to call the proposed cuts to Medicaid
exactly what they are: EVIL. I know, I know. I am going to get a lot of
blowback for this. But we need to really look at this behavior!
I looked evil up in the dictionary. The first three definitions
listed are:
1. morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked.
2. harmful; injurious.
3. characterized or accompanied
by misfortune or suffering; unfortunate; disastrous.
Each
of those perfectly describes the GOP plan to reduce Medicaid. To really do
something evil, you need to have a good idea of the result of your actions.
These Republican lawmakers know what is going to happen if they pursue these
cuts. When you know what will happen, and do it anyway? That is evil.
Most
of us were raised to believe some very basic teachings. Most fundamental of all
was, “That which you do to the least among us, you do to me.” Cutting Medicaid
is probably the single, least-Christian thing a Legislator can do. Yes, I am
judging here. But I’d rather these folks simply changed their ways on earth
rather than spend eternity in Hell. It would be better for everyone.
So,
I am just going to say it – the Republican plan to cut Medicaid is evil. Pure
and simple evil. And I think we need to call it that.
*Budget Amendments
You
know the old saying, “Damned if I do, damned if I don’t”? That must certainly
reflect how Johnson County’s Department Heads feel when it comes to their
budgets.
A
bit of background: County budgets are due to the State by March 15, but because
of publishing and public hearings schedules, decisions start getting made in
January.
In
order for the Board to make these January decisions, Department Heads are
required to get their proposed budgets in by October. That makes budgeting
tricky. A budget submitted in October of this year will cover a period that
runs all the way to June of 2019. That means Department Heads need to project
out almost two full years!
In
recognition of this, State law has long allowed a process for amending these
budgets. There are fall and spring amendments, both of which allow the County
to move money around. You cannot increase taxes during this time, but you can
add or subtract reserve funds. Every county does a fall and spring amendment;
Johnson is no different.
For years, Department Heads were terrified of having a budget
issue. If that happened, they were going to get called onto the carpet, on
television, and upbraided. It simply wasn’t a good process for anyone.
So Department Heads would pad their budgets. You add an imaginary
$250,000 in expenses, and underestimate your revenues by another $250,000. Now
you have $500,000 “just in case”, and you don’t need to worry about being
called out.
This approach has some issues. When a Department Head
misrepresents the actual figures, we are making decisions based on bad
information. That inevitably leads to bad decisions.
I didn’t care for this. I thought it would be a much better
process if we had more accurate budgets submitted. In exchange, the Board
needed to be understanding if we received an amendment request.
So what has happened? Department Heads held up their end of the
bargain – budget projections are now much closer to actual numbers.
Problem is, the Board has not kept its’ promise. Department Heads
who come to us requesting money for an unbudgeted expense get excoriated. That
is not the promise we made.
I hope the Board can see fit to allow Department Heads to come to
us with requests without being treated poorly. That is the only way this system
can work.
*Soul Fest
The Iowa Soul Festival is a
celebration that features the dance, music, food and art of the African and
African-American communities. This event is designed to highlight the positive
influences that the culture has on Iowa City, the Creative Corridor and Eastern
Iowa. This event will feature locally, regionally and nationally recognized
artists. Enjoy live entertainment, soul food, African-American inspired art, a
FUN Zone for the kids, and much more!
Soul Fest
happens Friday, August 4 and Saturday, August 5 in downtown Iowa City. For more
details, see: https://summerofthearts.org/sota-events/iowa-soul-festival/
*DID YOU KNOW?
One in five Iowans receives some type of Medicaid service. (Source: Iowa
Medicaid.)
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
mentioned.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
July 13, 2017
Sullivan’s
Salvos 7/18/17
In this edition:
*No Salvos Next week!
*Foster Care Follow Up
*Johnson County Fair
*Wealth Transfer
*Did You Know?
*No Salvos Next Week!
No
Salvos next week, as I will be attending the National Association of Counties
Convention in Columbus, Ohio. I hope to come back with some good ideas for the
people of Johnson County!
Expect
your next issue, dated August 1, to show up in your inbox around July 28.
*Foster Care Follow Up
I
wrote last week about the many problems with Iowa’s foster care system, and how
staffing cuts are the root of all these problems. This prompted a response from
Ro Foege, former Democratic State Legislator from Mount Vernon.
For
those who do not know, Ro was a wonderful Legislator who had a long career as a
social worker and educator. He was THE go-to person in the Legislature on any
human services-related issue. I have known Ro since I was a kid, and he was an
idol and a mentor for me.
Last week I
mentioned foster kids transitioning to adults. In fact, Ro Foege wrote that
bill. It became known as PALS—Preparing for Adult Living Skills. As a kid, Ro
actually spent time in an informal foster home and considered foster family
care services as one of the motivating factors in his becoming a Social Worker.
Ro noted that it was an era of bipartisan cooperation, and Dave Heaton provided
the Republican support needed for passage.
Ro
even included photos of the bill signing with Gov. Vilsack, June 2, 2006! Ro
went on to say, “This is one of those accomplishments that made campaigning and
fund-raising and walking in parades worth while. Thanks for accurately describing
the current state of sad affairs of the Iowa Child Welfare system.”
Thanks,
Ro – for everything!
*Johnson County Fair
The
Johnson County Fair runs from Monday, July 24 through Thursday, July 28. This
is a great opportunity for the whole family to take a step back toward our
agricultural roots!
I
love the way the Johnson County Ag Association manages the County Fair. I am
particularly fond of the fact that there is never an entry fee, and parking is
free. In many counties, you would pay $10 to park and $5/head admission, if not
more. That is $30 minimum for a family of four before you have even done
anything!
The
Board of Supervisors started a “tradition” four years ago of holding our weekly
Thursday meeting on the main stage at the Fair. While we have yet to draw a big
crowd, it has been a fun change of pace.
Yes, it is typically hot out there. But that is why they sell ice
cream! So, please stop out and enjoy the Fair. You’ll be glad you did!
For the full daily lineup of events, see: http://www.johnsoncofair.com/entertainment.html
*Wealth Transfer
I
wrote the piece below in March of 2010. It is still quite valid today.
There
is a change coming to rural parts of the US, including the rural portions of
Johnson County. This is a quiet, slow-moving, and devastating change. No, it is
not disease, insects, or some other plague. It is wealth transfer.
Most
folks do not realize it, but the US is undergoing the most massive transfer of
wealth in the history of the planet. There are lots of people in their 80s and
older, and many of them are nearing the end of life. As they age, their assets
are being passed down to the next generation. On the farm, this becomes a huge
problem.
For the most part,
the folks inheriting the wealth are not farmers, and they do not live in the
small communities where the farm sits. Why does that matter?
Let’s use a
hypothetical Lone Tree couple as an example. While this is all made up, the
example should ring true. You have an 85-year-old couple who farmed 300 acres
outside of Lone Tree their whole lives. They have two adult children – a son in
Des Moines and a daughter in Chicago. Five adult grandkids are spread around
the US.
The
Dad coached little league, spent ten years on the Board of the local bank,
served twenty years as a Fremont Township Trustee, and is a member of the Lone
Tree American Legion. The Mom was a Cub Scout Den Mother, a 4H leader, a Deacon
in the Presbyterian Church, and a regular volunteer with Lone Tree Schools.
The couple was
active in church activities, and even in older age could be counted on to
support every school fundraiser. Every time the Lone Tree Volunteer Fire
Department held a pancake breakfast or chili supper, they slipped an extra $20
into the donation box.
After
long, full, wonderful lives, they pass away. The children in Des Moines and
Chicago are in the final ten years of their own careers; they cannot drop
everything to return to Fremont Township to farm. The 5 grandkids do not know
anything about farming, and the idea of living in rural Iowa scares them.
So,
the son in Des Moines decides to sell his half. The daughter in Chicago just
cannot bear to sell the family farm, so she decides to hire a farm manager and
rent out her half.
But
who gets what? Mom & Dad never really spelled it out. About half of the
ground is prime farmland, a quarter was hay and pasture, and a quarter included
the house, barns, and some woods. The daughter wants to keep the house, but
also wants the good land, because the rest is much tougher to rent. The son
wants to sell the good farmland, because it will bring a better price. They end
up chunking the family farm into three sections, two of which are sold and one
that is rented.
The son gets
$600,000 cash after the sale. He pays off his house in Des Moines, buys a new
car in Urbandale, and gives $20,000 to each of his three kids. Even after all
that, he has plenty to put in his Des Moines-based bank.
The daughter gets
$100,000 cash, and begins renting the land. A local farmer pays cash rent to
her. All the money is deposited in her Chicago-based bank.
Can you see what
happened? The land is still in Fremont Township, but the money is all gone.
Money now flows from Fremont Township to Chicago. The monetary capital has been
transferred.
Perhaps even more
importantly, the Legion lost a member; the bank and restaurant lost customers;
the fire department lost donors; and the school, nursing home, and church lost
volunteers. The human capital is gone.
I used a fictional
couple and Lone Tree as examples, but this scenario is playing out all over the
Midwest. Unfortunately, the story is often sad, and there are no good
solutions.
What can we take
away from this? I hope that younger locals will recognize how much this couple
has contributed to the community, and do their best to pick up the slack.
Meanwhile, if you have ideas, please share them. I think we need good
suggestions in order to avert a real crisis.
*DID YOU KNOW?
Over 70,000 people annually visit the Johnson County Fair.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a brief
update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
mentioned.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
July 7, 2017
Sullivan’s
Salvos 7/11/17
In this edition:
*Foster Care Challenges
*Solon Beef Days
*Community ID Celebration
*Did You Know?
*Foster Care Challenges
There
has been a great deal of discussion over Iowa’s foster care system. We have
witnessed a series of events that simply should never happen. What is going
wrong? Why? How can we fix it?
These
are important questions. Though the numbers wax and wane, Johnson County
consistently has about 150 children in foster care at any given time. That is a
significant number! How can we do better by these kids?
I
can answer all of those questions. Melissa and I have been foster parents since
right after we were married. We have provided care for just over 50 children
during that time. I also worked for DHS for several years, and spent several
more years in the private nonprofit sector. But a person need not be a foster
parent to figure this out. It all comes down to budget priorities.
The
Iowa Department of Human Services has cut almost 1200 jobs since
Branstad-Reynolds came into office. 1200 jobs! Think about that for a moment!
This Governor has overseen cuts equivalent to 12 employees in each of Iowa’s 99
counties!
Do
not discount this example. Iowa used to have a DHS office in every county. No
more. A concerned citizen used to be able to speak face to face to a social
worker. No more. A person who needed help could go to their county seat and
talk to someone. No more.
While
these people were not all child protective workers, they were still trained
social workers who lived in the community. Having those eyes and ears in your
community makes a HUGE difference!
Additionally,
the elimination of offices and cuts to other services makes child abuse much
more likely. I’m not making this up – the statistics are clear: people who struggle
with money, substance abuse, mental illness, and other challenges are much more
likely to abuse children.
When
I was a young social worker, I provided all sorts of services to families in
need. We worked on budgeting, food shopping, parenting, job hunting, dealing
with crisis, and much more. If I saw something of concern, my supervisor would
frequently make referrals to other services. All of it was paid for by the
State of Iowa, through DHS. And you know what? These interventions work! They
keep families together, and keep kids out of foster care. None of these
services exist any more. They have all been cut.
The
spokesperson for DHS says, “Yes, those supportive services were cut, but we
have not cut child protective services.” That is a blatant lie! DHS workers now
work crazy amounts of overtime, and cover huge swaths of territory. That
matters! It also functions as a cut in service!
And
cuts do not just hurt rural areas. In fact, cuts are probably more devastating
to the residents of urban counties.
We
had a friend who was a local Child Abuse Investigator for DHS. When he started,
he would give us lots of notice and lots of information on pending placements.
We would know the things we needed to know to provide care. Toward the end of
his career, it had devolved into a “drive-by”. He would literally call us on
the way to our house, drop off a child, and speed away to a call 4 counties
away. No one was well served by this.
DHS
still has a lot of employees; this is true. But there are not enough. And those
that are in place are horribly utilized. There are people in Des Moines who
create useless forms, just to force people in the field to fill out said form
and return it to its’ creator. It doesn’t matter. It does absolutely nothing to
keep a single child safer. It simply wastes valuable money on bureaucracy.
I
recently spoke to a local service provider who shared a fascinating anecdote.
His agency realized they were asking people to fill out forms that had over
1000 data points. This included your NAME 51 times! To their credit, this
agency has changed. They now use iPads, enter the info once, and update only as
needed. No one wastes time reviewing, filing, and storing paper. And clients
avoid having to fill it all out. I know DHS would say they cannot afford to do
this. I argue that they cannot afford NOT to do this!
We
just finished filling out all our paperwork to renew out foster care license.
The process is ridiculous! Rather than reams of paper, we need trained social
workers who will drop in on us unannounced. That is the intervention that
matters. That will keep children safe!
Each
foster child should be visited at least once per month, and at least half of
those visits should be unannounced. We need similar interactions with Medicaid
recipients and other DHS clients. Do away with paperwork, and put boots on the
ground!
We
have helped a few young people transition into adulthood. In the case of foster
children, this used to be a huge problem. These kids turned 18, then had
nothing. The Vilsack Administration turned this around, and put in place many important
benefits that remain with us today. Now foster children who age out can get
medical insurance, free college, and help with rent.
Despite
these funds, almost every foster child struggles when aging out of care. The
statistics are abysmal. Why? There aren’t enough workers to give these kids the
guidance they need. The money is worthless without caring adults to help the
kids work through challenges. We need more DHS workers!
There
is an old saying: “Don’t tell me about your priorities. Show me your budget,
and I’ll show you your priorities.” That was never more true than in our
current DHS fiasco. Governor Reynolds MUST add staff to DHS! There is NO other
answer!
*Solon Beef Days
The 46th annual Solon Beef Days runs Friday and
Saturday July 21 & 22 in Solon. Steaks, rides, entertainment, a parade, and
the now-legendary hay bale toss are just a few of the items on tap.
I
say this every year, and it is because it comes from a place of pride: I can
honestly say that I have been to roughly 42 of the 46 Beef Days. I wear it like
a badge of honor! Unfortunately, I’ll be away this year. Make this the year to
start your own streak!
For
all the details, including a full schedule of events, see: http://beefdays.com/
*Community ID Celebration
We
are celebrating the 2 year anniversary of the Community ID on Monday, July 17
from 2-5 at the County Administration Building.
There
are lots of cool things happening as a part of this: the Antelope Lending
Library will be there. There will be science activities provided by the UI STEM
group. There will be a kids’ tour of County government. There will be cookies,
popcorn, and cotton candy. And – this is pretty awesome - there will be one
free family pass to the Children’s Museum for every child ID issued during the
party!
*DID YOU KNOW?
The Iowa Department of Human Services has responsibility for the safety
of children and dependent adults, child care, child support, services for
people with disabilities and mental illnesses, insurance (Medicaid) for the
poor, food assistance, and much more.
Anyone
interested in learning more about County government should take a look at the
County website-
"Sullivan’s
Salvos" is sent once per week to any interested party. It will give a
brief update on issues of interest to Johnson County residents.
These messages
come solely from Rod Sullivan, and neither represents the viewpoints of the
whole Board of Supervisors nor those of groups or individuals otherwise
mentioned.
If you do NOT
want the weekly E-mail, simply reply to this message, and type
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you know
anyone else who might be interested, just forward this message. They can E-mail
me at rodsullivan@mchsi.com with "subscribe" in the subject line.
As always,
feel free to contact me at 354-7199 or rodsullivan@mchsi.com. I look forward to
serving you!
---Rod
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