City of Columbia, Missouri  
Meeting Minutes - Final  
Human Services Commission  
Department of Public  
Health and Human  
Services  
Tuesday, March 12, 2024  
7:00 PM  
Regular  
Training Room 1  
1005 W. Worley St.  
Columbia, MO 65203  
I. CALL TO ORDER  
8 -  
Present:  
Stacy Ford, Joy Cook, Rachel Cooper, Alexandria Teagarden-Monk, Elijah Thorn,  
Michael Nguyen, Lisa Spear and Melissa Clarke  
2 - Kimberly Getzoff and Barbie Banks  
Excused:  
Ford called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.  
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA  
Teagarden-Monk moved to approve the agenda, and Cooper seconded the motion. The  
motion passed unanimously.  
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES  
Thorn moved to approve the minutes, and Teagarden-Monk seconded the motion. The  
motion passed unanimously.  
Attachments:  
HSC Draft Minutes 02-13-24  
IV. PRESENTATION  
A. Boone Impact Group  
John Baker with the Community Foundation of Central Missouri discussed his role as  
Executive Director, a position he has held for 12 years. During his tenure, he focused on  
raising funds to distribute and effectively managing the finances of the funds received by  
the Foundation. The Community Foundation has played a significant role in bringing  
people together and helping with visioning and strategizing. Their primary objective is to  
raise and distribute funds for charitable causes. They do this in two main ways. The first  
Como Gives, a local campaign sponsored by the Community Foundation of Central  
Missouri. In addition, the foundations’ business model revolves around creating charitable  
and donor-advised funds. They invest the money to grow it over time, and the fund owners  
can retain advisory privileges over the end use of that money. The Foundation offers  
different types of funds, such as scholarships, designated, unrestricted, and field of  
interest funds. People can donate money, appreciated securities, real property, or other  
types of assets. Donors can assign ownership of these assets to the Community  
Foundation and get the maximum tax advantage possible. The Foundation has a  
21-person board. Susan Hart is the current chair, Rebecca Jones is the vice chair, Amy  
Watson is the treasurer, and Scott Miniea is the secretary. As Baker is retiring this year,  
the board is seeking a replacement at this time.  
Attachments:  
Boone County- Human Services Presentation 3.12.24  
City of Columbia Housing Programs Manager Jennifer Deaver provided an overview of the  
HUD Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funding administered by  
her office using a PowerPoint presentation. A RFP for the upcoming funding will be  
issued next week. CDBG and HOME funds are provided on a reimbursement basis for  
projects. The City of Columbia requires an active agreement with final approval by HUD.  
These funds will be made available in 2025 The CDBG funding can be used in four areas:  
public facilities, affordable housing, economic and workforce development, and  
neighborhood revitalization stabilization. HOME funds can only be used for affordable  
housing development. The application process ensures that projects benefit low- to  
moderate-income individuals and households, as required by HUD. Deaver said there  
have been improvements in how the Housing division vets projects to avoid stranding  
money.  
Hollis said his division and the Housing Programs division work closely together to avoid  
duplicating efforts. For example, both groups fund Job Point, but the Housing division  
funds vocational training, while the social services funding is used for transferable soft  
skills.  
Attachments:  
CDBG and HOME Preapplication Workshop Slideshow  
Rebecca Thompson, the new director of the City's new Housing and Neighborhood  
Services Department, discussed how affordable housing can be made more attainable by  
utilizing funding creatively. She said their current focus is improving existing programs,  
such as the home repair program, for which they have a million dollars in ARPA funding  
allocated.  
Veterans United Foundation president Erik Morse provided an overview of the foundation  
and explained that it is funded entirely by the employees of Veterans United Home  
Loans. He said a single funder can’t solve community issues, which is why he has  
enjoyed being a part of the Boone impact Group. By participating in the Boone Impact  
Group, VUF can aligns its private funding with the community partners to address  
community needs. Morse discussed the advantages of private funding when used in  
collaboration with other community groups. Morse said they help with requests that  
cannot be handled by other funders. The VU Foundation has raised $135 million in the  
US, with headquarters in Colombia and branches in Springfield, St. Louis, and Kansas  
City. VUF invests in both short-term and long-term projects, with the understanding that  
large investments may not provide immediate returns. The foundation funds long-term  
projects related to upward mobility, such as housing, early childhood support, literacy,  
and transportation. It's focused on investing in solutions to address unique challenges  
and sustain projects. Morse anticipates exponential impacts from leveraging the ARPA  
funding opportunity in the coming years.  
Hollis applauded Morse's leadership and commitment to partnership. Hollis said many  
large private foundations prefer to operate independently, but under Morse’s leadership  
the VU Foundation has collaborated closely with other local funders. Hollis expressed his  
gratitude for Morse’s efforts and cited the example of the financial support VUF provided  
in helping to keep the soup kitchen open during the pandemic. There were nights when  
they had no volunteers, and VUF stepped in to pay local restaurants to keep their  
workers employed and make food available at the soup kitchen. Hollis said VUF has also  
made significant investments in big projects like the Opportunity Campus.  
Joanne Nelson, Director of the Boone County Community Services Department provided  
an overview of their work using a PowerPoint presentation. They oversee the Boone  
County Children’s Services Fund, which is used to purchase services for families and  
children in Boone County. The department also administers the Boone County Domestic  
Violence Fund, which is used to fund services for victims of domestic violence. The  
Children's Services Board funds programs under 11 service areas, including prevention  
programs, early childhood training, before and after school programs, and child care  
programs. Through various programs, they aim to make a difference for children, youth,  
and families. The board operates like a 501(c)(3) organization with its mission statement,  
bylaws, and funding statement. The department's responsibility is to ensure that every  
dollar is accounted for, and they take measures to monitor the use of funds. There are  
upcoming RFPs for children's service and an ongoing project to improve upward mobility  
and promote affordable housing.  
Attachments:  
Boone County- Human Services Presentation 3.12.24  
The Missouri Foundation for Health (MFFH) community liaison, Chelsea Zabski provided  
an overview of their work using a PowerPoint presentation. She discussed their role in  
meeting and engaging with the community to understand their needs. They see  
themselves as advocates, partners, conveners, and collaborators. The foundation aims to  
eliminate underlying causes of health inequities and transform systems to help individuals  
and communities thrive. They value equity, integrity, humility, and commitment and bring  
these values to everything they do. Zabski discussed several strategic initiatives funded  
by MFFH. These initiatives include behavioral health, firearms, suicide and violence  
prevention, infant mortality, and justice. MFFH collaborates with grassroots groups to  
encourage collaboration and grant applications. They have an opportunity fund open until  
April 30, which seeks ideas that will impact health equity and systems change. The  
organization is also a nonpartisan research and reporting organization that provides  
nonpartisan, factual information. They also provide advocacy training for nonprofits.  
Attachments:  
MFH General Presentation Updated 03.11.2024  
The Heart of Missouri United Way was not able to attend the meeting, but shared a  
PowerPoint presentation which was displayed by staff. The United Way follows a  
community impact model, which means they look at various issues and invest in solving  
them. United Way serves three counties, Boone, Cooper, and Howard. They shifted to  
using an equity lens a few years ago, which aligns with the committee's goal to address  
equity issues. The United Way addresses three issue areas: education, health, and  
basic needs. They use community volunteers with expertise, such as accountants and  
attorneys, to review the applicant organizations, while their community impact committee  
volunteers review the proposals. These volunteers and the volunteers board set priorities  
and monitor performance. The United Way is committed to the Boone Impact Group  
partnership and uses the common taxonomy, outcomes, indicators dashboard, and  
funding system.  
Attachments:  
Human Services Commissioners Mtg 3.12.24  
V. OLD BUSINESS  
A. FY2025 RFP Social Services  
Hollis will provide a draft RFP in advance of the April meeting.  
VI. NEW BUSINESS  
VII. ELECTION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION  
REPRESENTATIVE  
Teagarden-Monk moved to nominate Michael Nguyen as the representative for the  
Housing and Community Development Commission. Thorn seconded the motion. The  
motion passed unanimously.  
VIII. REPORTS  
A. Housing and Community Development Commission Representative  
Report  
There was no report as there was not a representative at that time.  
Hollis discussed the city's affordable housing and homelessness initiatives, including a  
forthcoming report and potential summit on affordable housing and homelessness.  
B. Staff Report  
Hollis updated the Commission on the search for a new funding management system.  
Bonterra is pushing Apricot for Funders users to switch to a different product, as they are  
officially sunsetting Apricot for Funders. The Boone Impact Group partners are  
considering seven or eight different systems. They are discussing this at each BIG  
meeting and are using a shared Google drive folder and documents to manage the  
process. The partners are vetting software options and if they appear to be workable a  
demonstration is scheduled with the entire group. The goal is to have something selected  
by the end of this summer. Hollis said that Apricot will be used for the City’s FY2025  
social services funding process while a new product is selected and built out.  
Hollis said there are still issues with the FY2023 final report for Services for Independent  
Living. He informed them of the need to wrap up the report issues immediately. Hollis  
said the providers who are new to the monthly invoicing process are doing well with it and  
they have been patient with and supportive to the two providers who have struggled with it.  
Hollis said he was instructed by leadership to request a 3.2% increase in social services  
funding for the FY25 budget based on CPI. This decision will be made by the City  
manager and if he approves, then by the City Council, as part of the budget process.  
Hollis said they are trying to establish the permanent mobile shower program, but are  
encountering issues with requirements being put forward by the law department. The goal  
is to open the program on April 15. They are also working on the agreement to allow RATI  
to sublicense the use of the Ashely St. Center to Loaves & Fishes with the goal of  
allowing Loaves & Fishes to start operating there on April 1. CoMo Mobile Aid has  
requested the use of the Ashley St. Center parking lot to operate a mobile medical clinic  
as they too have bene asked to move out of Wilkes Blvd. UMC. Hollis said they are  
negotiating a draft agreement at this time. Hollis said the RFP for improvement to the  
Ashely St. center is still pending. He said prepping the site for the pallet shelters is part  
of the scope of work, but he is unsure what the cost will be and if the City leadership will  
go through with the pallet shelters as that project will be very expensive and the  
community is in pretty good shape on shelter capacity now. Utterback told the  
commission that the next Project Homeless connection is on July 11th at First Baptist  
Church.  
Hollis said the DIVERT program is going well. They have worked with the IT Department  
to add a module to the police department RMS to allow officers to refer people to refer to  
the DIVERT program with one click.  
Hollis mentioned an article in The Missourian about the City’s pending mental health  
collaboration program. Hollis said the article omitted the fact that there is now a mobile  
crisis team provided by Burrell which is required in their contract with the state. Hollis  
said that recent discussions leaned away from the co-responder program and returning  
the original concept of building a building the City’s own mental health team as a third  
form of emergency response. He said that the issue with the co-responder approach is  
that it does not free police officers, which is why many communities have shifted away  
from the co-responder approach. Hollis said the mental health responders could always  
co-respond with police and fire, if needed. Hollis said at their last meeting about this  
program he reiterated the need to work with the state to ensure fair distribution of  
resources so that the City’s efforts are no supplanting the services Burrell is require to  
provide by the state. Hollis also said it is critical to collaborate across City departments  
and the county, particularly 911, to improve our community’s response to mental health  
emergencies. Hollis said under current City and County leadership, there seems to be  
the willingness to do so.  
Hollis said is planning to retire on Augus15 and said that there are plans to hire and train  
his replacement before he leaves.  
IX. GENERAL COMMENTS BY PUBLIC, MEMBERS AND STAFF  
Thorn inquired about a tour of the Opportunity Campus. Hollis said there isn’t much to  
see as it is still just an empty parcel. He suggested inviting Voluntary Action Center to  
the April meeting to provide an update on the Campus, to which the commissions agreed.  
X. NEXT MEETING DATE  
April 9, 2024  
XI. ADJOURNMENT  
The meeting Adjourned at 9:18 p.m.  
Recommended Action:  
[The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.]  
Members of the public may attend any open meeting. For requests for accommodations related to  
disability, please call 573-874-CITY (573-874-2489) or email CITY@CoMo.gov. In order to assist staff in  
making the appropriate arrangements for your accommodation, please make your request as far in  
advance of the posted meeting date as possible.  
USB DRIVES PROHIBITED: Due to cybersecurity concerns, flash drives and other media devices  
are no longer permitted for delivering files or presentation materials. A speaker who desires to  
display a presentation must upload the presentation, in advance, to the city network using an  
upload portal. To upload your files and learn more, visit CoMo.gov/upload. (Effective Jan. 1,  
2023)