The Next

Strong Families/Safe Children Meeting

will be held on

June 12, 2008

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM

 

Bay Strong Families Safe Children

Meeting Minutes

February 14, 2008

Present:  Jheri McAfee, CORY Place, Chairperson; Stephanie Blaylock, Successful Futures; Deb Kipfmiller, NEMCSA; Janine Kravetz, BASIS; Nola Leinaar, Saginaw Valley 4Cs; Marge Marchlewicz, Bay County Family Court; Jill Worden, Riverhaven Coordinating Agency

Staff: Trisha Charbonneau-Ivey, HSCC/SFSC Coordinator

 I. Call to Order and Introductions – Chairperson Jheri McAfee called the meeting to order at 1:40 PM. 

Approval of Meeting Minutes from December 2007 – Jill Worden made a motion to approve the minutes from the December 13, 2007 meeting.  Janine supported the motion.  The motion passed. 

Approval of Meeting Minutes from January 2008 – Nola Leinaar made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 17, 2008 meeting.  Roger Pickering supported the motion.  The motion passed.

 II. Update on 2007/08 Contracts

Trisha provided an update on the contracts as provided by Kim Bejcek. 

Adoption Promotion and Support - This contract is getting close to approval, Kim is awaiting a response from OCRS and then it should be ready for signatures.

Girls’ GREAT Program - Kim received Marge’s final pro-rated budget and this needs one final approval before signatures. ($11,375.00)

Day Treatment Program - This pro-rated amount  is the same as Girls Program.  ($11,375.00)

Successful Futures - We received the CM-100 back, and have to make changes.  These changes will likely need to be in the form of a modified template from OCRS under the title of “Healthy Start.”

Home Based Parent Education - The Bay Arenac ISD is unable to hire the person slated to operate the program as an ISD employee therefore this program cannot move forward. 

Proposed Teen Parent Program - Trisha recapped that at the meeting in February the group decided that if we were unable to pursue the Home Based Parent Education Contract that we would pursue a Teen Parent Program. Roger graciously provided Kim with a copy of the program that LCFS is offering in Clare County.  Kim also has another program template that she will be reviewing on her return from vacation to evaluate the unit rates of  each and to provide us some feedback as to how to proceed. 

Trisha will contact Kim about the process for establishing Letters of Agreement.  The group       suggested that this may be one way to utilize the uncommitted SFSC funds.

The group also discussed doing a Regional Correlate Chart to determine if this is particularly a   regional problem.

The group further discussed the impact of not expending all SFSC dollars from a State   perspective. The question remains as to whether this will jeopardize Michigan’s federal allocation of SFSC dollars.  Trisha will contact Jacob Bennett from Congressman Kildee’s office to try to get some clarification on the ramifications of not expending all SFSC dollars.  It was suggested that Senator Barcia’s office also be contacted as he sits on the  Appropriations   Committee.  The group expressed concern that legislators are aware of the reasons that funding is not being expended to insure that they are aware of the ongoing need for these funds and roadblocks to their expenditure.

III.       Reports

Coordinator’s Report  -Coordinator attended the Statewide Technical Assistance meeting.  Jocelyn Vanda and Jim Nye were present and talked about the additional staff that DHS has been authorized to hire.  They were very excited about the opportunity and wanted the openings to be shared with people in our network. They are concerned that there will be a problem finding this sizable number of staff in such a short period of time. 

Although Helen Webber  was scheduled to attend she was unable be there due to an illness.  Jim agreed to take questions back to her, and then forward Helen’s responses through Mary Ludtke. The entire group expressed their concerns about the contract process.  One member mentioned that his Collaborative has a seat at the regional rating committee table for DHS.  I expressed that this isn’t the case in our community but we would appreciate the opportunity. Trisha asked Jim Nye if he would be willing to express our desire to OCRS. 

Michigan’s Children published in their newsletter of February 11th that Governor Granholm’s recommendation is to keep the current funding level for SF/SC.  The funding level has decreased by 12% since 2001.   Trisha distributed this overview to the group.

Trisha has not received any communication on a due date for our year end report for SF/SC.  This was mentioned to Jim Nye at the TA meeting.  Trisha has been working with Kim to verify all of the expended amounts and the accuracy of the report. Trisha thanked the group for the wonderful reporting as this has been integral to the completion of the report.  Coordinator will share a copy of the report once the data and report format has been verified.

 IV.       Review of Legislative Luncheon Strong Families Safe Children Presentation - Trisha reviewed the Legislative Luncheon Evaluation responses which were included in the meeting packet.   A suggestion from the group was to follow-up with Legislators at the next meeting to discuss their progress on the issues presented at the February Meeting.                          

V.                 Discussion about Letter of Request to DHS - Trisha presented a draft letter in follow-up to a meeting held with Bernell, Ellen, and Jheri. Bernell asked that we put our requests in writing regarding the group’s request to have a representative allowed to help with the rating of formal bids for Bay County SFSC contracts.  The group decided unanimously that this communication could be sent. 

VI.              Adjournment – With no further business to come before the group the meeting adjourned at 2:45 PM (Next Meeting – April 10, 2008).

 Respectfully Submitted,

 

Trisha Charbonneau-Ivey

HSCC/SFSC Coordinator