Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board public meetings in 2025
14 substantive meetings from 2025, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board will convene on December 15, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in Shreveport to conduct procedural items, approve prior meeting minutes, and receive monitoring reports. No substantive policy decisions or new contracts are listed on the agenda.
The Governing Board approved the meeting agenda and the minutes from November 17, 2025. Members reviewed the November Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report and rescheduled the January meeting. No other substantive policy or funding decisions were made.
- Approved meeting agenda (unanimous)
- Approved November 17, 2025 minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted November Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
- Rescheduled January meeting to January 20, 2025, at 5:30pm
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board will convene to approve the minutes from its October 20, 2025 meeting and discuss financial conditions, board job descriptions, and compliance monitoring. No substantive decisions or dollar amounts are listed on this procedural agenda.
The Board unanimously approved policies regarding financial conditions, activities, and board job descriptions. Members reviewed the proposed FY26-27 continuation budget and upcoming facility projects. The Board also approved topics for a presentation at the Annual HSIC meeting.
- Approved agenda (unanimous)
- Approved October 20, 2025 minutes (unanimous)
- Approved policies on Financial Conditions & Activities, Communication and Support, and Financial Planning and Budgeting without changes (unanimous)
- Approved Board Job Description policy without changes (unanimous)
- Approved topics for the Annual HSIC meeting presentation
- Accepted October Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Governing Board will meet to discuss executive limitations, financial conditions, and staff treatment. The board will also review governance processes and compliance monitoring tools.
- Financial Conditions & Activities
- Treatment of Staff
- Global Linkage and Unity of Control governance processes
- Board Monitoring Summary Report for September 2025
- Board Compliance Monitoring Tool for October 2025
The Governing Board accepted the Global Linkage and Unity of Control policies without changes. The board also approved the September Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report. Member Trudie Abner resigned from the board effective immediately.
- Approved agenda (unanimous)
- Approved September 15, 2025 minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted Global Linkage and Unity of Control policies without changes
- Accepted September Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
- Set next meeting for November 17, 2025, at 5:30pm
- Accepted resignation of Trudie Abner
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Governing Board will meet to discuss executive limitations, financial conditions, and strategic plan indicators. The agenda includes a guest presentation from the Executive Director of the Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse.
- Guest speaker Janet Miller, Executive Director of Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse
- Review of Financial Conditions and Activities Legislative Audit
- Strategic Plan Indicators Update ED Report
- Board Monitoring Summary Report for July 2025
- Board Compliance Monitoring Tool for September 2025
The Governing Board unanimously approved the Executive Director's report on financial conditions and strategic plan indicators. The board also accepted policies regarding the Chairperson's role and the accountability of the Executive Director without changes.
- Approved agenda (unanimous)
- Approved July 21 and August 18, 2025 minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted Executive Director's report on financial conditions and strategic plan indicators (unanimous)
- Accepted Delegation to the Executive Director, Chairperson’s Role, and Accountability of the Executive Director policies without changes (unanimous)
- Reviewed and accepted July Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
- Set next meeting for October 20, 2025 at 5:30pm
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Board meeting scheduled for August 18, 2025 has been canceled. All agenda items originally planned for August will be taken up at the next regular meeting on September 15, 2025.
- August 18, 2025 board meeting canceled
- All August agenda items moved to September 15, 2025 board meeting
The Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board meeting scheduled for August 18, 2025, was canceled. Board Chair Crystal Rabo canceled the meeting due to a personal health request by Executive Director Douglas Efferson.
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Board will review financial conditions, non-appropriated funds, and executive limitations. The meeting also includes a discussion of governance processes and the June monitoring summary report.
- Review of Financial Condition & Activities
- Discussion of Non-Appropriated Funds
- Board Monitoring Summary Report for June, 2025
- Completion of Board Compliance Monitoring Tool for July, 2025
The Governing Board unanimously approved the Global Governance Commitment and Governance Style policies without changes. The board also accepted the executive report covering financial conditions, non-appropriated funds, and the implementation of House Bill 559.
- Approved agenda (unanimous)
- Approved June 16, 2025 minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted executive report on financial conditions and activities (unanimous)
- Approved Global Governance Commitment and Governance Style policies without changes (unanimous)
- Accepted June Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Officer Nominating Committee is meeting to discuss committee business. The primary focus is the recommendation of a panel of officers for July 1, 2025.
- Recommended Panel of Officers for July 1, 2025
The Officer Nominating Committee met to determine recommendations for board leadership positions. The committee identified individuals willing to serve in officer capacities and selected a slate of candidates to recommend to the full Board.
- Recommended Crystal Rabo for Board Chair
- Recommended Yolanda Clark for Board Vice-Chair
- Recommended Karisma Jones for Board Secretary
- Recommended Michelle Douglas Hartley for Board Treasurer
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Board will meet to elect officers for the upcoming term and review financial and compliance reports. The meeting includes public comment and approval of previous minutes.
- Election of officers via the Officer Nominating Committee slate
- Review of Financial Condition & Activities report (page 4)
- Review of Board Monitoring Summary Report for May 2025
- Approval of minutes from May 19, 2025
- Next meeting scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2025
The Governing Board unanimously approved the Cost of Governance and Agenda Planning policies without changes. The board also accepted the Officer Nominating Committee's recommendations for board leadership positions. The May Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report was reviewed and accepted.
- Approved Cost of Governance and Agenda Planning policies without changes (unanimous)
- Approved Crystal Rabo as Board Chair (unanimous)
- Approved Yolanda Clark as Board Vice-Chair (unanimous)
- Approved Karisma Jones as Board Secretary (unanimous)
- Approved Michelle Douglas Hartley as Board Treasurer (unanimous)
- Accepted May Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
- Approved agenda and May 19, 2025 minutes (unanimous)
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Governing Board unanimously approved the Board Members’ Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy without changes. The board also accepted the Executive Director's report and the April Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report.
- Approved Board Members’ Code of Conduct and Conflict of Interest Policy (unanimous)
- Approved Executive Director Report (unanimous)
- Accepted April Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
- Approved agenda (unanimous)
- Approved April 21, 2025 meeting minutes (unanimous)
- Appointed Karisma Jones as Officer Nominating Committee Chair
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The ED Evaluation Committee will meet at the Shreveport Behavioral Health Clinic. The committee is scheduled to review a recommendation regarding the Executive Director's evaluation and compensation.
- Recommendation for Executive Director Evaluation/Pay
The Executive Director Evaluation Committee met to review board member comments and HR information. The committee recommended a merit increase for the Executive Director, contingent on staff also receiving raises.
- Recommended 4% merit increase for Executive Director Doug Efferson effective July 15, 2025, contingent on staff merit raises
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Board will meet to discuss new business, including executive limitations and financial reports. The board will also enter executive session for an executive director evaluation and pay decision, and consider a non-appropriated fund request for an elevator at the Shreveport Behavioral Health Clinic.
- Executive session for personnel issue and ED evaluation committee recommendation
- Executive Director evaluation and pay decision
- Non-Appropriated Fund Request for SBHC Elevator
- Review of financial condition and compensation reports
- Board monitoring summary and compliance tool for March and April 2025
The Board approved a non-appropriated fund request for elevator repairs and a merit increase for the Executive Director. Members also accepted the Board Committee Principles policy and the executive director report.
- Approved Non-Appropriated Fund Request of $91,212.05 for Shreveport Behavioral Health Clinic elevator repair (Unanimous)
- Approved 4% merit increase for Executive Director Doug Efferson effective July 15, 2025 (8-1)
- Approved Board Committee Principles policy without changes (Unanimous)
- Approved executive director report (Unanimous)
- Approved March 17, 2025 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Governing Board will meet to discuss financial conditions, executive limitations, and the governance process. The board is also scheduled to appoint an Executive Director evaluation committee.
- Review of Financial Condition & Activities
- Problem Gambling Awareness Month Proclamation
- Appointment of ED Evaluation Committee
- Stakeholder Survey Review
- Board Compliance Monitoring Tool for March 2025
The Governing Board approved a proclamation supporting the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling and Problem Gambling Awareness Month. The board also accepted the ENDs Statement policy and the Executive Director's report.
- Approved Board Proclamation supporting Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling (Unanimous)
- Accepted ENDs Statement policy without changes (Unanimous)
- Accepted Executive Director Report (Unanimous)
- Approved February 17, 2025 meeting minutes (Unanimous)
- Accepted February Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
- Appointed Karisma Jones, Crystal Rabo, Sara Ebarb, and Yolanda Clark to the ED Evaluation Committee
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Governing Board will meet to discuss executive limitations and governance processes. The board will review performance monitoring and accountability to owners. The meeting includes the approval of minutes from December 2024 and January 2025.
- Review of Executive Limitations regarding financial condition, board support, and treatment of customers and providers
- Discussion of Strategic Plan Indicators Update
- Monitoring of Executive Director performance
- Approval of Stakeholder Survey Form
- Review of Board Monitoring Summary Report for December 2024
The Governing Board unanimously approved the Executive Director's report and accepted policies regarding the monitoring of Executive Director performance and accountability. The board also approved the agenda and previous meeting minutes.
- Approved agenda (unanimous)
- Approved December 16, 2024 and January 21, 2025 minutes (unanimous)
- Accepted Executive Director Report as presented (unanimous)
- Accepted Monitoring Executive Director Performance and Accountability to Owners policies without changes (unanimous)
- Reviewed and accepted December Board Compliance Monitoring Summary Report
Northwest Louisiana Human Services District Governing Board
The Northwest Louisiana Human Service District Board will discuss and potentially act on several oversight items, including the district's financial condition, customer treatment policies, and executive director performance. The board will also consider approving a stakeholder survey form and a board compliance monitoring tool. The meeting includes time for guest and public comments.
- Review of Financial Condition & Activities (page 5)
- Review of Communication and Support to the Board (page 7)
- Review of Treatment of Customers (page 3)
- Stakeholder Survey Form approval
- Board Monitoring Summary Report for December 2024
The January Board meeting was canceled by Board Chair Crystal Rabo due to a severe winter weather event. No other actions were taken.