Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board public meetings in 2024
15 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Board will meet to approve minutes, hear public comments, and discuss new business. Key items include an executive session for a personnel matter, a proposed bylaw change, and review of financial and compliance reports. The next meeting is scheduled for January 21, 2025.
- Executive session for personnel matter
- Proposed bylaw change
- Board monitoring summary report for November 2024
- Next meeting date: January 21, 2025
The Governing Board removed David Hoey from the board for failing to meet attendance requirements. The board also updated the by-laws regarding voting procedures and appointed new officers for Secretary and Treasurer.
- Removed David Hoey from the Board (unanimous)
- Approved changes to the voting section of the by-laws (unanimous)
- Appointed Karisma Jones as Board Secretary (unanimous)
- Appointed Michelle Douglas Hartley as Board Treasurer (unanimous)
- Accepted the Executive Director Report (unanimous)
- Accepted the November Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
- Scheduled next meeting for January 21, 2025, at 5:30pm (unanimous)
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Governing Board will meet to discuss the annual report from the Behavioral Health Director. The board will also review executive limitations regarding financial condition, communication, and budgeting.
- Annual Report presented by Behavioral Health Director Wendy McDowell
- Review of Executive Limitations: Financial Condition & Activities, Communication and Support to the Board, and Financial Planning and Budgeting
- Review of Governance Process: Board Job Description
- Board Monitoring Summary Report for October 2024
- Board Compliance Monitoring Tool for November 2024
The Board accepted the Annual Behavioral Health Services Report and the Executive Director's report. Members voiced support for establishing a Regional CIT Training Program for law enforcement and supported reducing budgeted Self-Generated Revenues from 1.2 million to 1.0 million dollars for FY 25-26.
- Approved October 21, 2024 minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted Annual Behavioral Health Services Report
- Approved Executive Director Report (unanimous)
- Supported reduction of FY 25-26 budgeted Self-Generated Revenues from 1.2M to 1.0M
- Supported establishment of a Regional CIT Training Program
- Accepted Board Job Description policy without changes (unanimous)
- Accepted October Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Governing Board will meet to discuss and act on financial reports, including a legislative audit, and governance policies such as executive limitations and staff treatment. The meeting includes approval of prior minutes and public comments.
- Review of Financial Condition & Activities (Page 5)
- Discussion of Communication and Support to the Board (Page 7)
- Legislative audit of Financial Conditions and Activities
- Review of Treatment of Staff policy (Page 4)
- Summary of Annual HSIC Meeting and Board Monitoring Report for August 2024
The Governing Board approved the Executive Director's report and accepted several district policies without changes. The board was informed of a ransomware attack on September 2nd that locked computer files but did not result in a breach of confidential information.
- Approved agenda (unanimous)
- Approved August 19 and September 16, 2024 minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted Executive Director Report (unanimous)
- Accepted Chairpersons Role, Accountability of the Executive Director, Global Linkage, and Unity of Control policies without changes (unanimous)
- Accepted August Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Board will review an annual report presented by Behavioral Health Director Wendy McDowell. The meeting includes discussions on executive limitations regarding financial conditions and legislative audits, as well as governance processes.
- Annual Report presentation by Wendy McDowell
- Discussion of Financial Condition & Activities
- Review of Board Compliance Monitoring Tool for September 2024
The September 16 Board meeting was canceled by Board Chair Crystal Rabo. The cancellation was due to a health emergency involving the Executive Director.
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Governing Board will meet to discuss executive limitations regarding financial condition, board support, and grants and contracts. The board will also review the strategic plan indicators and the delegation of authority to the Executive Director.
- Review of Financial Condition & Activities
- Discussion on grants and contracts focus
- Strategic Plan Indicator’s Update
- Delegation to the Executive Director
- Board Monitoring Summary Report for July 2024
The Governing Board approved the agenda, the July 15, 2024 meeting minutes, and the Executive Director's report. The board also reviewed the July Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report and the Louisiana State Health Improvement Plan behavioral health goals.
- Approved the meeting agenda (unanimous)
- Approved July 15, 2024 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved Executive Director Report (unanimous)
- Accepted July Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Board will review financial conditions, non-appropriated funds, and executive limitations. The agenda also includes a governance process discussion and recognition of an outgoing officer.
- Review of Financial Condition & Activities
- Discussion of Non-Appropriated Funds
- Governance Process review regarding Global Governance Commitment and Style
- Board Monitoring Summary Report for June 2024
- Recognition of Outgoing Officer
The Board decided that all non-appropriated fund expenditures now require board approval. Members also updated the Governance Style policy to change how new board members are recruited. The June Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report was reviewed and accepted.
- Approved requirement for board approval of all non-appropriated fund expenditures (unanimous)
- Accepted Global Governance Commitment policy without change (unanimous)
- Eliminated sections 15.7.3, 15.7.4, and 15.7.5 of the Governance Style policy (unanimous)
- Updated Governance Style policy to state 'The Board will assist in recruiting new members' (unanimous)
- Accepted June Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
- Approved agenda (unanimous)
- Approved June 17, 2024 minutes (unanimous)
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Officer Nominating Committee is meeting to discuss committee business. The primary purpose is to determine the recommended slate of officers for July 1, 2024.
- Recommended Slate of Officers for July 1, 2024
The Officer Nominating Committee met to review member eligibility and interest for officer positions. The committee developed and decided to recommend a specific slate of officers to the full Board.
- Recommended Crystal Rabo for Board Chair
- Recommended Trudie Abner for Board Vice-Chair
- Recommended David Hoey for Board Secretary
- Recommended Karisma Jones for Board Treasurer
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Board will review executive limitations regarding financial condition and communication. The meeting also includes the presentation and election of a slate of officers by the Nominating Committee.
- Election of a slate of officers
- Review of May 2024 Board Monitoring Summary Report
- Review of June 2024 Board Compliance Monitoring Tool
- Discussion on cost of governance
The Board unanimously elected a new slate of officers and approved an attendance waiver for member D. McCoy through September. The Board also accepted the Executive Director's report and the May Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report.
- Approved attendance waiver for D. McCoy until September meeting (unanimous)
- Elected Crystal Rabo (Chair), Trudie Abner (Vice-Chair), David Hoey (Secretary), and Karisma Jones (Treasurer) (unanimous)
- Accepted Executive Director Report as presented (unanimous)
- Accepted May Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
- Approved May 20, 2024 meeting minutes (unanimous)
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The board will consider approval of minutes and hear public comments. They will discuss executive limitations including financial condition, communication and support to the board, and emergency executive director succession. Governance process items include review of the board member code of conduct. Board business includes appointing an officer nominating committee and approving the next meeting date.
- Review Financial Condition & Activities (page 5)
- Review Emergency Executive Director Succession (page 6)
- Review Board Member’s Code of Conduct (pages 11-12, 21)
- Appoint Officer Nominating Committee
- Approve next meeting date: Monday, June 17, 2024 at 5:30pm
The Governing Board accepted the Executive Director's report and approved the Board Member’s Code of Conduct policy without changes. An Officer Nominating Committee was established to finalize nominations on June 17. The board also reviewed compliance monitoring reports.
- Approved agenda (unanimous)
- Approved April 15, 2024 minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted Executive Director Report (unanimous)
- Approved Board Member’s Code of Conduct policy without changes (unanimous)
- Appointed Crystal Rabo, Karisma Jones, and David Hoey to Officer Nominating Committee
- Accepted April Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Executive Director Evaluation Committee reviewed board member comments and HR information. The committee decided to recommend a merit increase for the Executive Director, contingent upon staff also receiving merit raises.
- Recommended 6% merit increase for Executive Director Doug Efferson effective July 15, 2024 (contingent on staff merit raises)
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The ED Evaluation Committee will meet to discuss a recommendation regarding the Executive Director's evaluation and compensation. The meeting is scheduled for April 15, 2024, at the Shreveport Behavioral Health Clinic.
- Recommendation for Executive Director Evaluation/Pay
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Governing Board will meet to discuss executive limitations regarding financial activities, communication, and compensation. The board will also review the Executive Director evaluation and recommendations.
- Executive Director Evaluation/Pay
- Financial Condition & Activities review
- ED Evaluation Committee Recommendation
- Board Monitoring Summary Report for March, 2024
- Non-Appropriated Fund Request
The Governing Board approved a 6% merit increase for Executive Director Doug Efferson effective July 15, 2024, contingent on staff also receiving merit raises. The Board also approved a fund request to purchase a replacement vehicle. The Board member Committee Principles policy was accepted without changes.
- Approved 6% merit increase for Executive Director Doug Efferson effective July 15, 2024, contingent on staff merit raises (Unanimous)
- Approved $24,780.58 fund request to purchase 2024 Chevy Malibu (Unanimous)
- Accepted Board member Committee Principles policy without changes (Unanimous)
- Accepted Executive Director Report (Unanimous)
- Approved March 18, 2024 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board will meet to approve minutes, discuss financial conditions and communication, review a stakeholder survey, and address the executive director's performance evaluation. The board will also appoint an evaluation committee and approve the next meeting date.
- Review of stakeholder survey
- Comments collected for ED performance
- Appointment of ED evaluation committee
- Board monitoring summary report for February 2024
- Approval of next meeting date: April 15, 2024
The Governing Board unanimously approved the February 2024 minutes and the Executive Director's report. The Board decided to keep the ENDs Statement policy unchanged following a review of stakeholder survey results. An Executive Director Evaluation Committee was established with D. McCoy as Chair.
- Approved February 19, 2024 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted Executive Director Report (unanimous)
- Approved keeping ENDs Statement policy unchanged (unanimous)
- Established ED Evaluation Committee consisting of D. McCoy, Sara Ebarb, and Trudie Abner
- Accepted February Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The board will receive a presentation from Hope Connections on the Solid Ground Safe Haven, street outreach, and an app to track homeless encampments. Routine items include approval of minutes, a proclamation for Gambling Awareness Month, and updates on financial reports and strategic plan indicators.
- Presentation from Tate Kendall on Solid Ground Safe Haven and homeless encampment tracking app
- Board Proclamation for Gambling Awareness Month
- Approval of minutes from January 22, 2023
- Review of Financial Condition & Activities (Page 5)
- Executive Limitations and Governance Process updates
The Board approved a proclamation supporting the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling and the recognition of March 2024 as Problem Gambling Awareness Month. The Board also accepted the Executive Director's report and the Accountability to Owners policy.
- Approved proclamation supporting Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling and Problem Gambling Awareness Month (unanimous)
- Approved Accountability to Owners policy without changes (unanimous)
- Accepted Executive Director report on financial conditions and strategic plan (unanimous)
- Approved January 22, 2024 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Approved meeting agenda (unanimous)
- Accepted January Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board will meet on January 22, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. at the Shreveport Behavioral Health Clinic. The agenda includes approval of minutes, a presentation from a prevention specialist, and discussion of executive limitations and governance process. Board business items include review and approval of a stakeholder survey form, monitoring reports, and setting the next meeting date.
- Presentation from Serenitie Garner, Prevention Specialist
- Review and approval of Stakeholder Survey Form
- Board Monitoring Summary Report for December 2023
- Complete Board Compliance Monitoring Tool for January 2024
- Approve next meeting date: Monday, February 19, 2024
The Governing Board accepted the Executive Director's report and the Monitoring Executive Director Performance policy. The Board also approved the 2024 Stakeholder Survey Form with additions of check boxes and a QR code.
- Approved agenda (unanimous)
- Approved December 18, 2023 minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted Executive Director report (unanimous)
- Accepted Monitoring Executive Director Performance policy without changes (unanimous)
- Approved 2024 Stakeholder Survey Form with check boxes and QR code additions (unanimous)
- Accepted December Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report