WIBOSCOC Committees

committees

The Committees are formed in an effort to meet the COC plan as outlined by HUD through the COC Interim Rule. These committees are working on tasks that add to the organizational foundation of the BOSCOC. It is expected that each local coalition will have representation on each of the committees, so information can be shared at the local coalition level. Each committee is chaired by at least 1 Board Member. **minutes have been archived for 2014-15 and can be found on the Archive page.
Please send meeting minutes to the following email address: jens@gbcc.me

Committee Role/Purpose
In accordance with the WI Balance of State CoC Restated Bylaws, Article VI, section 1:
There are 4 standing committees: Executive, Nominating, Finance & Audit, and System Performance. The Board has passed by resolution 7 additional committees: Coordinated Entry, Discharge Planning, Emergency Shelter & Diversion, Gaps & Needs, Public Awareness, Veteran Advisory Board, and Youth Advisory Board.

In accordance with the WI Balance of State CoC Restated Bylaws, Article VI, section 7:
Each committee shall have or promptly develop a written charter. The charter shall include a specific description of the duties, responsibilities, and procedures pertaining to the committee’s operations. The charter shall be submitted to the Board of Directors for review and, upon approval by the Board of Directors, shall constitute the charter of the committee.

Committee Charters

Coordinated Entry Committee
Emergency Shelter & Diversion Committee - Is now a work group under the Coordinated Entry Committee and their charter
Discharge Committee
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee
Fiscal & Audit Committee
Gaps and Needs Committee
Nominating Committee
Public Awareness Committee
System Performance Committee
Youth Advisory Board
Veteran Advisory Board

Committees contact information has changed for 2023. Here is the updated list.

(1) Coordinated Entry
Chair: Wendy Schneider wendys@cwcac.org
Co-Chair: Marissa Heim: marissa@goldenhousegb.org
Co-Chair: Stephena Smith: stephena.smith@usc.salvationarmy.org
Staff Support Person: Ryan Graham
Staff Support Person: Holly Sieren
Description: Through collaboration with the BOS CE System Specialist, the committee is responsible for evaluating the coordinated entry process, making policy recommendations and changes to the procedures. Key projects and tasks are done at the workgroup level, including: (1) Implementation – addressing questions, issues & concerns; serves as a resource for BOS staff and assists with technical assistance or training needs; (2) Marketing – ensuring materials are accessible and available, identify gaps and enhance outreach strategies; (3) Youth – identify and address specific youth-related issues & concerns; (4) Veteran - identify and address specific Veteran-related issues & concerns; (5) DV - identify and address specific DV-related issues & concerns; (6) Prevention – review policy & implementation; (7) Evaluation – evaluate the quality & effectiveness of the CE system; (8) Other Systems of Care – develop policy & training for non-traditional partnerships to expand CE reach in communities and encourage participation. Help identify & address concerns, problem solve approaches and potential barriers.

CE Committee Charter - updated March 2023

(2) Discharge Planning
Co-Chair: Kristi Bechtel
kbechtel@lacrossecounty.org
Staff Support Person: Meredith McCoy
Staff Support Person: Ryan Graham
Description: The role of this committee is to research and develop guidance for local coalitions on institutional discharges into homelessness. The 4 main institutions include: foster care system, mental health, hospital, and county jail system. Each of these systems of care have their own policies, procedures, and expectations for discharge planning. The committee is responsible for better understanding these systems of care, discharge planning process, issues and concerns faced by those exiting to homelessness, and create better awareness of local coalitions, coordinated entry, and resources. Committee members shall work with the other systems of care workgroup of the CE committee on expanding access to coordinated entry.

Policy for Discharging into Homelessness Toolkit Supporting Documents

(3.) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Co-Chairs: Michael Etheridge
metheridge@thehavenofmanitowoc.org
Tamarra Coleman colemant@shalomcenter.org
Staff Support Person: Kate Markwardt
Description: The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee strives to address, explore, educate, learn about, and respond to the diversity of the human experience. We prepare our WI BOSCOC membership to successfully understand diverse perspectives and backgrounds by promoting critical thinking, empathy, and a deeper appreciation of others. We create an inclusive, equitable, culturally competent, and supportive environment with model behavior that enriches our community. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee will guide and hold the institution accountable in the integration of diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of the work within the WI BOSCOC

(3) Emergency Shelter & Diversion - Moved to CE committee workgroup
Chair: Stephena Smith stephena.smith@usc.salvationarmy.org
Co-Chair:
Staff Support Person: Ryan Graham
Description: The committee has 2 major tasks. First, create CoC-wide shelter standards to be compliant with ESG. Review current shelter policies & procedures to identify areas of improvement. Implement housing focused, low barrier & trauma informed care into the shelter system & standardize waitlists or tracking of unmet needs. Research, develop, implement & train on shelter best practices. Evaluate outcomes, review system performance & monitor progress. Second, create a systematic diversion process emphasizing problem solving & client choice to reduce the number of people entering the homeless system. Identify best practices, research, gather data & develop training. Implement on a smaller scale, use lessons learned to replicate across BOS.

(4) Executive
Executive Committee
Chair: Lisa Haen lhaen@khds.org
Description: The committee is comprised of 5 members: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and President. The committee strives to enhance the effectiveness of the work of the Board of Directors and performs such additional functions as the Board of Directors from time to time may specify. In addition, in order to deal with an emergency situation when a meeting of the Board of Directors cannot conveniently be held, the Executive Committee is authorized to exercise all powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the affairs of the Corporation except for the election of officers and Directors.

(5) Fiscal & Audit
Chair: Kathleen Fisher kfisher@hebronhouse.org
Additional Board member: Millie Rounsville mrounsvilles@northwest-csa.org
Staff Support Person: Carrie Poser
Description: The committee must consist of not more than 5 members, at least 2 of whom shall be Directors. The Treasurer shall serve as the chair. The committee is responsible for acting in an advisory capacity to the Board with respect to financial and audit matters, to assist in assessing the fiscal health of the BOS. The committee shall review the financial operations of the BOS, prepare or cause to be prepared annual operating and capital budgets and financial plans, perform such other financial reviews as are deemed reasonable and appropriate, and report regularly to the Board. The committee is responsible for overseeing the BOS’s annual financial audit process and for performing such additional functions as the Board of Directors from time to time may specify.

(6) Gaps & Needs
Chair: Michelle Friedrich m.friedrich@swcap.org
Co-Chairs: Peter Kilde
Staff Support Person: Meredith McCoy
Description: The role of this committee is to plan, organize & execute the CoC-wide annual gaps survey to both current & former clients, providers & community partners. The committee shall analyze the results of the surveys & report to the CoC Board and present findings at a full membership meeting annually. The committee shall look at ways to increase involvement with the survey, enhance the questions and ensure broad dispersion. The committee is tasked with using the findings to gather additional information, problem solve & identify best practices. The committee shall make recommendations to the Board regarding ways to fill the gaps that exist in the BOS, assess for trends & commonalities among local coalitions as well as identify unique regional needs.

(7) Nominating
Chair: Mike Bonertz mikeb@advocap.org
Co-Chair: Tara Prahl prahl@pillarsinc.org
Staff Support Person: Carrie Poser
Description: The committee shall work to develop and conduct a process that will identify and solicit qualified organizations to become Members of the Corporation and qualified individuals to serve as Directors of the BOS (except Directors nominated by Local Coalitions) and members of committees and task forces and will present such individuals for election or appointment by the Corporation. The committee shall perform such additional advisory functions as the Board of Directors from time to time may specify.

(8) Public Awareness & Advocacy
Chair: Jessica Locher
jlocher@echojanesville.org
Co-Chair: Rosanne Northwood
rnorthwood@ywcalax.org
Staff Support Person: Kate Markwardt

Description: The role of this committee is to increase awareness and education of homelessness-related issues and needs. This can include advocacy at the local, state, and Federal level; letters to the editor, articles, press releases; and the use of social media.

(9) System Performance
Chair: David Eberbach David.eberbach@icalliances.org
Co-Chair:
Staff Support Person: Leigh Polodna
Staff Support Person: Meredith McCoy
Description: The committee is responsible for measuring progress toward ending homelessness in the BOS. The committee is tasked with (1) setting criteria, performance standards & benchmarks for CoC & ESG funded projects; (2) reviewing progress toward ending homelessness including totals & sub-populations; (3) identifying training needs; (4) in collaboration with ICA, review data quality & provide technical assistance; (5) working with local coalitions on SPM, helping to create goals and benchmarks at the coalition level; (6) evaluating projects, local coalition & CoC-wide outcomes; and (7) report to the CoC Board and membership. The committee must include ICA and at least one other Director.

(10) Veteran Advisory Board
Chair: Robin Adams robin.adams@wdeoc.org
Co-Chair:
Staff Support Person: Holly Sieren

Description: The committee is comprised of those interested in Veteran-specific issues and solutions to end homelessness. The goal is to end Veteran Homelessness, as defined by USICH, by bringing together a variety of Veteran-specific organizations, so a more comprehensive plan can be developed for the BOS.

VAB Charter - updated May 2023

(11) Youth Advisory Board
Chair:
Co-Chairs:
Staff Person: Leigh Polodna
Description: The youth advisory board serves two roles. First, the action board shall be comprised of youth, under the age of 24, interested in participating and working on the creation of a youth system network. This group of youth shall review policies & procedures, provide perspective & feedback, use their expertise to educate the BOS on needs & issues facing youth experiencing homelessness.