Human Services Committee

September 14, 2006 at 8:30 am

 DRAFT MINUTES

 

Committee Present:  Sandy Price, Chairperson; Carol Tytler, Vice Chairperson; Merwin Armstrong, Kay Breed, Mike McKee, Don Spaulding, John Troy

Others Present:  Scott Schrader, County Administrator; Marilyn Brown, Legislative Chairman;  Ric VanDonsel, County Attorney; Kristen Monroe, DDS Commissioner; MaryEllen Neville, Director of Administrative Services; Carol Deloff, Director-Office of the Aging; Nancy Mazzone, Fiscal Officer-Office of the Aging; Jane Goldner, Probation Director; Judy Davison, Director-Employment & Training Grant Administration; Robin Sandwick, Director-Employment & Training; Casie Campo, Intern-Office of the Aging; Corey Preston, Cortland Standard

The meeting was called to order at 8:30a.m. by Chairperson, Sandy Price

MOTION BY JOHN TROY – 2^ND BY MERWIN ARMSTRONG TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 10, 2006 MINUTES WITH A MINOR CORRECTION (THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 9:43A.M – NOT 8:43A.M.) – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR - PASSED

                       

RESOLUTIONS:

Area Agency on Aging

1.    Amend Budget (Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly Program - EISEP) – MOTION BY JOHN TROY – 2^ND BY CAROL TYTLER – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion:  There was an increase in funding.  This program provides home care so that the elderly can stay home.

2.      Amend Budget /Nutrition (Nutrition Program Contracts) – MOTION BY JOHN TROY – 2^ND BY CAROL TYTLER – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion:  This revenue was also increased.

3.    Amend Budget (Title IIIE) – MOTION BY MERWIN ARMSTRONG – 2^ND BY JOH TROY – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion:  NONE

4.    Accept Bids/Authorize Purchase /Nutrition Miscellaneous Groceries and Frozen Foods – MOTION BY JOHN TROY – 2^ND BY MERWIN ARMSTRONG – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion:  NONE

 

Social Services

5.    Authorize Agreement (Imaging Services – NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance) – MOTION BY MIKE MCKEE – 2^ND BY JOHN TROY – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion:  This will provide an enterprise document repository and image capture services for the local Departments of Social Services.  This is a revenue intercept and no county funds are needed.  The documents can be destroyed after copying.

 

Employment & Training

            NO RESOLUTIONS

 

Youth Bureau

            NO RESOLUTIONS

 

Human Service Committee Sponsored (Pulled from August 24, 2006 Legislative Session by Committee Chairperson, Sandy Price

6.    Appoint Members-Cortland County Continuum of Care Committee – MOTION TO RE-INTRODUCE AS WRITTEN BY JOHN TROY – 2^ND BY KAY BREED – ALL VOTED IN FAVOR – PASSED

Discussion:  Human Services Committee Chairperson, Sandy Price pulled the resolution at the August 24, 2006 meeting because the Human Services Committee had never approved the resolution the way it was presented at Legislative Session.  The Human Services Committee supported the efforts of the Continuum of Care Committee but never discussed creating a Legislative sponsored committee.  Carol Tytler felt that the Legislature should be represented on the Committee since the County is sponsoring it and if the County is going to be managing public funds that is another reason to be on the Committee.  Kay Breed felt that if there already is a Committee why do we have to have another.  Kay further inquired who wants this second Committee.  The County Attorney and Legislative Chairman had met to discuss including the additional Committee as part of the Resolution.  Human Services Chairperson, Sandy Price was not advised of this.

 

 

DISCUSSION/ PRESENTATIONS:

 

Area Agency on Aging:

 

Carol Deloff gave the Committee a brief overview/update on the following events:

• March for Meals –  The Cortland County Area Agency on Aging Nutrition Program received a Gold Award in the amount of $2,000 from the National Meals on Wheels Association for their fund raising efforts.
• Feinstein Challenge – Mr. Feinstein challenges communities to combat hunger – The amount of $284.00 was given to the Nutrition Program.
• The Area Agency on Aging has been informed (verbally) that Wal-Mart is donating $1,000 to the Meals on Wheels Program
• Memory Walk – The Memory Walk be will held September 17, 2006 at Lusk Field House.  This event is done in conjunction with the Alzheimer’s Association.  The Area Agency on Aging will received ½ of the funds that they raise that day (Carol Deloff provided a Brochure).
• Enrichment Day – This is sponsored by the Cortland County Area Agency on Aging and the Center for Aging and Human Services at SUNY Cortland.  It is being held on October 13, 2006 at the Corey Union Building at SUNY Cortland (Carol Deloff provided a Brochure).

 

Social Services:  

 

• Juvenile Delinquent Account Analysis – Jane Goldner, Director of the Probation Department briefly discussed the Probation Department’s involvement with JD’s (Juvenile Delinquents) and PINS (Persons in Need of Supervision) and Kristen Monroe provided a detailed analysis of the Juvenile Delinquent Account as follows:

 

Juvenile Delinquent Account Analysis

September 1, 2006

 

• This account covers the costs of all non-secure detention and all levels of foster care costs for Persons In Need of Supervision (PINS) and Juvenile Delinquent (JD) children who are not eligible for federal Title IVE or Emergency Aid to Families (EAF) foster care money.

 

2006 Budget Request -                      $657,000

2006 Adopted Budget -                     $580,000

2006 Budget Projection -                   $780,000

 

2005 Expenditures -                          $654,534

 

Detention Statistics – children enter detention from initial PINS and JD petitions or from violation petitions if they were placed on Probation supervision or in foster care.

 

2006 January – August -            38 placements * (annual projection is 57)

 

2005 -                                       42 placements **

 

2004 -                                       25 placements

 

* The average length of stay for each detention placement in 2006 is 30 days. 

** The average cost of one night at Good Hope in 2005 was $444

 

PINS and JD foster care placements – children enter foster care from initial PINS and JD petitions or from violation petitions if they were placed on Probation supervision.  The numbers below reflect all PINS and JD placements even if they are eligible for federal reimbursement and are paid for out of another account.

 

2006 January – August -            14 children (annual projection is 21)

 

2005 -                                       21 children

 

2004 -                                       12 children            

 

PINS Diversion Statistics

                                                                        1^st 6 months

                                                                        2006  (proj.)        2005                  2004

Total Intakes                                                     84            (168)        142              115

Petition Immediately                                          13            (26)           47                 75

Diversion Adjusted                                            22            (44)          49                 19

Diversion Not Adjusted                                     22            (44)           36                 18                      

Total Petitions filed                                            27            (54)          58                 78

Diversion Continued (unknown result)                22                              3                   0

 

 

 

PINS Services

 

1. Senior Probation Officer and Senior DSS Caseworker – These individuals work together to perform PINS intake and diversion services.  They provide direct services as well as making referrals for other necessary services.
2. Family Wraparound Services provided by Mental Health - The purpose of this program is to engage families with children at low levels of risk for the purpose of connecting them with necessary services.  The model is based on family conferencing and helping them to identify and follow through on service needs.  The direct services provided are limited to short term advocacy by parent mentors.
3. Liberty Resources – This is an intensive preventive services program that is staffed with Masters level social workers to work with children and their families when the risk of out of home placement is very high.
4. Family Counseling Services – This is an intensive in-home counseling based service provided by a Masters level social worker who is able to address mental health as well as substance abuse issues.  It has been funded with a Division of Criminal Justice grant and has not been dedicated to children in PINS diversion, but has also served children who are on Probation.
5. Respite Services – These services are provided by DSS and allow children to stay in a certified foster home for up to 21 days while remaining in the custody of their parents.  While children are placed in respite, Liberty Resources becomes involved to assess and address family issues.  This program has been operational since May 2006.

 

Concerns

 

1. Children are going to detention too often.  We need to provide viable alternatives to families and Judges, and we need to have Judges remand children to detention only when there is a risk that they will not return to Court.
2. Children who go to detention are staying too long.  We need to find ways to hold court hearings for children in detention more quickly.
3. Children with unmet mental health issues are going to detention and entering foster care.  Detention is being used as a default placement for children who are not being adequately treated for mental health issues.  Children who are in need of inpatient or residential care for mental health needs are ending up in foster care as a means to receive these services.  We need to create necessary services for children so that they do not have to enter foster care for the purpose of receiving intensive mental health care.

 

After some discussion, Chairperson, Sandy Price said that this is an important issue and would like the Committee keep it in mind for further discussion in the future.  Sandy further suggested that a Sub-Committee be formed to work with Jane Goldner and Kristen Monroe on JD and PINS issues.

 

Employment & Training Grant Administration Office (60 Central Avenue-1^st Floor):

 

·        Space Needs:    Judy Davison provided a written summary of space needs in her department.  In the summary she indicated that their current space suits their needs very well.

 

Employment & Training Office (99 Main Street):

 

• Space Needs:  Robin Sandwich provided a written space needs report outlining the reasons for the need of additional spaces at the 99 Main Street One Stop Career Center (This detailed report is available from the Clerk of the Legislature or by contacting Robin Sandwich at the Employment & Training Office).
• Summer Youth Programs Update – The program went very well.  140 kids were in the program.  Local Businesses were very supportive and also donated prizes for the participants at the end of the program.  Robin gave some examples of youth successes and also shared some thank you letters written by the kids.
• 2006 Employee Achievement & Employer Recognition:  This is an award to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of employees with disabilities who have achieved success in the workplace.  Robin Sandwich distributed information and a nomination form.

 

Departmental Budget Reviews:

 

• Chairperson, Sandy Price asked Committee members if they would like a special Human Services meeting to discuss the budget.  Committee members indicated that they would like to handle the budget review by contacting the department head or the County Administrator if they have any questions or concerns.  No special budget review meeting was scheduled.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:33a.m.

Minutes Prepared By Angie Wyatt, Confidential Secretary to the County Administrator

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