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Minutes Children Services Committee Meeting 12/10/03 |
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1. Review Agenda, Approve Minutes and Set New Agenda Items |
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Present: Brenda Jackson, Donn Gunderson, Karen Hoyle, Connie Oxendine, Wanda Bullard, Patrick Betancourt, Bobby Cagle, Joyce Gardner, Denise Shaffer, Rita Bland, Susan Osborne, Pam Grantham, Beckie Kimbrell, Adgenda Turner, Margaret Johnson, Bertram Wilson, Joyce Edwards, Cyndy Benson, JoAnn Lamm, Rebecca Brigham, Linda Galacci, Kent Davis, Tracy Turner, Sara Mims |
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Conclusion: Brenda Jackson presided and called the meeting to order. She asked for a motion to approve the November 12, 2003 Minutes and the Agenda for today's meeting. Karen Hoyle moved that the Minutes and Agenda be approved as presented. Pam Grantham seconded the motion which carried unanimously. |
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Action Items: • None |
Person Responsible: N/A |
Deadline: N/A |
2. Jeanne Preisler, NC Kids |
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Discussion: Jeanne Priesler of the NC Kids program appeared before the Committee. NC Kids has a g rant application before State DHHS to provide funding for a program to promote and support the adoption of children in North Carolina. The project would coordinate regional adoption support teams, centralized this function, develop a Statewide Adoption Commitment Team, and to report to Children's Services Committee periodically. She asked for a letter of support and feedback from Committee members. JoAnn Lamm reported that the funding involved is federal Stable Families funding designated specifically to provide money for adoption promotion and support. Other agencies could be submitting proposals for these same funds. . |
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Conclusion: Brenda Jackson invited Committee members to provide feedback directly to Ms. Preissler and asked for volunteers for a representative from the Committee on NC Kids advisory team, should they receive funding. |
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Action Items: • None |
Person Responsible:
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Deadline:
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3. JoAnn DV Policy |
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Discussion: JoAnn presented the new Division policy on Domestic Violence when found as part of a CPS case . Donn Gunderson asked if the Division knew how much extra time the new policy with its checklists and questionaires would add to the handling of each case. He noted that his staff liked the new material and that the policy was very good. There had not been any analysis of its impact on workloads. He expressed concern about the impact of such a major policy addition on those counties that are already seriously understaffed. Donn Gunderson made a motion that the Committee recommend to the Director's Executive Board that the Division review and update caseload size standards to include not just DV policy but the various risk and safety assessments that have been added to the handling of each case since the last caseload standards study. Karen Hoyle seconded the motion which carried unanimously. There was a discussion about how much of the policy material is "Best Practice" compared to what is actually policy requirement. JoAnn stated that the requirements are included in pages 13 through 36 of the Policy but that this manual is used for multiple functions including training and orientation. It was suggested that a different type style or that the policy requirements be bolded. JoAnn expressed a concern that workers would read the bolded sections and ignore the rest. Denise Shaffer suggested a listing of required sections or a checklist. Concern was registerd by a number of Committee members about the policy requirement that suggested to many that an Agency would never to substantiate against the non abusing parent for failure to protect. Concern was expressed that if the non-abusing parent neglected or abused the child outside of the domstic violence concerns that DSS could not substantiate. JoAnn agreed to clarify the language in that section. A concern was expressed by Rita Brand that the policy and checklist leads counties to referring cases to DV resources that do not exist in many counties. The concern was that this set the counties up for liability. A motion was made by Denise Shaffer to adopt the policy with the proposed changes. The motion was seconded by Adgenda Turner and was approved unanimouly. There was a concern expressed about the effective date and training the staff before implementing. July 1, 2004 was suggested as an effective date. Sherry Bradsher stated that it is a political reality that a 6 month's delay in implementation would not be acceptable to the groups that worked on this. It was then suggested that there be a training blitz for all Child Welfare Supervisors first prior to March 15, 2004 with the supervisors being expected to orient staff with an effective date of March 15, 2004 for the policy. It was also suggested that there be list serv access for staff and supervisors to be able to pose and receive answers questions on the policy. Bobby Cagle moved that the policy become effective March 15, 2004 and that all supervisors be trained prior to that date. A second was made by Susan Osborne and the motion carried unanimously. |
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Conclusion: 1. Caseload size standards to be reviewed and updated. 2. DV policy approved as amended.(language on substantiation on the non-abusing parent clarified and check list of required policy) 3. The policy be made effective 3/15/04 with training of all CWS supervisors to take place before that time. |
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Action Items: • See Conclusion |
Person Responsible: JoAnn Lamm, Co-Chairs |
Deadline: ASAP |
4. JoAnn Lamm- AOC Data Base Project |
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Discussion: JoAnn announced that the Division is to send out a letter to all 100 counties advising them of the initiative and the volunteer counties are being recruited to develop the access and iron out any kinks in the process. |
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Conclusion: |
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Action Items: • None |
Person Responsible: Sara Mims |
Deadline:
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• House Interim Committee B. Jackson |
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Discussion: Brenda announce that there will be more meetings of the legislative committee in January. Directors and staff are invited to attend. |
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Conclusion: |
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Action Items: • |
Person Responsible:
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Deadline:
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• "Housekeeping" Details and an Announcement |
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Discussion: 1. It has been requested that if we move chairs into our meeting room we are to put them back after the meeting. 2. Rebecca Brigham announced that she has resigned to take a positionj with the UNC School of Social Work as Director of their field placement program. |
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Conclusion: |
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Action Items: • None |
Person Responsible:
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Deadline:
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7. Urine Testing Letters |
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Discussion: Adgenda Turner asked a question about the policy letter on urine testing. In Onslow County the Health Department handled the blood testing and she wanted to know if this met the requirement that the testing be done by certified labs. JoAnn Lamm & Chris Sinha agreed to check into this and provide a clarification. |
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Conclusion: |
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Action Items: • JoAnn Lamm |
Person Responsible:
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Deadline:
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