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Minutes Children Services Committee Meeting July 9, 2003 |
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1. Review Agenda, Approve Minutes and Set New Agenda Items |
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Present: Brenda Jackson, Donn Gunderson, Cyndy Benson, Denise Shaffer, Beckie Kimbrel, Patrick Betancourt, Joyce Edwards, Rita Bland, Bertram Wilson, Colleen Turner, Adgenda Turner, Margeret Johnson, Karen Hoyle, Kaye Green, Wanda Neidig,Mike Herzing, Dannette Smith, Tom Brewer Keith Davis, Judi Akers, JoAnn Lamm, Chris Sinha, Kevin Kelley, Gale Bullard, Adolph Simmons Jr., Tammy Johnson, Sara Anderson Mims, Davis Atkinson, Belinda Sims, Faye B. Harris, Connie Polk, Debra Jones, Stoney Blevins. |
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Conclusion: Minutes From 6/11/2003 were presented and discussed. Motion to approve Colleen Turner, seconded by Rita Bland. Approved unanimously. |
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Action Items: • N/A |
Person Responsible: N/A |
Deadline: N/A |
2. State Maternity Home Fund Application-Vicky Church |
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Discussion: A revised Application form (DSS 6187) was presented for review and input from the Committee. The new form has been piloted in Mecklenburg and Edgecombe, with positive comments received. According to Ms. Church there are 250 applications for State Maternity Home funds per year with 90% of referrals coming from Child Welfare sections of DSS's. |
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Conclusion: The Committee had not had time to study the form and instructions in advance so no action was taken at this time. |
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Action Items: • Send out via E-Mail to Committee Members. Reconsider in August. |
Person Responsible: Vickie Church |
Deadline: 8/13/03 |
3. Legislative Overview and Update-JoAnn Lamm |
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Discussion: JoAnn Lamm has staff introduced, includes AG rep. per new reorganization of the Division. JoAnn noted that under the new organizational scheme, Work First policy would be a part of her responsibility. She asked that the Director's Association give consideration to changing its committee structure. As it now stands, staff in her Division have three committees(Children's Services, Economic Independence, and Employment Services) to report to. Legislation: JoAnn reported $950,000 in additional TANF money to train staff, including WF Staff; additional funding for Special Needs adoptions; $50 increase per month per child for Foster Care. Changes to the State computer system are underway. Special Childrens incentive fund was kept at the existing level. JoAnn passed out copies of the Divisions Child Welfare Bill. (SB 421) In addition to including technical changes, the bill includes the Worker Entry section, long sought by Representative Russell Capps (sect. 4.1). The bill had been changed to include provisions similar to r Capps bill, which had gotten sidetracked. (Rep. Capps Bill was patterned after the Stumbo lawsuit case). JoAnn and other advocates met with Rep. Clary, who had put the new language into what was the Division's legislation JoAnn states that the Section 4.1 now reflects current DSS practice, clients can refuse entry without court order. The key victory for JoAnn and DSS's was that the language now reflects "reasonable belief" instead of "probable cause" as the standard of proof that has to be met in getting the Court order. Consent for entry can come from baby sitter, even if it is a minor. JoAnn stated that in most circumstances the DSS worker should probably not enter until you have the permission of the head of the household. While this is a bit murky, but that this is OK because if it were made more specific the bill would be Representative Capps version. JoAnn stated that North Carolina may be only state with this legislation. Legislators have been hearing fron constituents that the DSS workers harrass, coerce, threaten families with child removal to gain compliance. Section 4.2 mandates training for CPS SW's on family centered practice and family privacy, freedom from duress. It was suggested that this bill will require training for AOC personnel, clerks magistrates? JoAnn thought that this was a good idea, but that she had not gotten that far as yet, and stated that local DSS staff will have to help train local officials. This bill will shortly be transferred into policy that will also address best practice issues. Multiple Rrsponse is family friendly, should dovetail nicely with the thrust of this bill. Language on forms in safety assessments will have to change. Safety assessments will need to tie into only those issues identified in the investigation. An example was given where the allegation was that the child left alone, but if the protection piece has parents agreeing not to hit their child it could be viewed as being coercive. |
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Conclusion: Policy needs to be specific in terms of good practice. Training for supervisors is critical. Policy to come before the Committee. |
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Action Items: • Law translated into policy, brought to Committee. |
Person Responsible: J. Lamm |
Deadline: 8/13/03 |
4. Committee Scope of Work-Co-Chairs |
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Discussion: 1. Child Welfare Program Improvement Plan, MRS, SOC 2. Training Needs. 3. Domestic Violence Policies 4. Policy Review Processs 5. Impact of policy on workers in terms of extra work, paperwork 6. NEW Ways to use IV-E policy, DV policy, staff impact federal requirements. Need for understanding of the Program Improvement Plan and what it means in the big picture sense. There is a disconnect between policy, training and practice. Need to be bottom up worker centered and family centered. (Through the Eyes of the child, part of the MRS training practice.) Implementation of policy needs to be done decently and in order so that it does'nt over burden the line workers. Allow us to have input on priority. Stoney Blevins stated that there is a need for a certification process for CPS SW's including standardized minimum starting salaries. MRS to 23 additonal counties to rollout soon. |
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Conclusion: There are many complicated and varied issues on the table being driven in large part by the Federal PIP. Workers are feeling overwhelmed by all of the changes which have added to their workloads. |
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Action Items: • JoAnn to provide a list of all the items that the PIP requires. • Scope of work Developed. |
Person Responsible: JoAnn Lamm Co-Chairs |
Deadline: 8/1/03 |
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