CSC Minutes 06/24/1992 Children ' s Services
Council of Collier County
Minutes/Transcript
June 24, 1992
The Children' s Services Council of Collier County
Meeting of June 24, 1992
Council Members Present Council Members Absent
Delores G. Dry Alma Cambridge
Judge Cynthia Ellis Dr. Thomas Richey
Bea Harper Ron Webster
Lavern Gaynor
Melinda Riddle
Burt Saunders
Mary Ellen zum Felde
A meeting of the Children' s Services Council was held on Friday,
June 24, 1992, 9: 00 AM, Collier County School Board.
The meeting was chaired by Bea Harper.
The meeting opened with a welcome from Chairman to Melinda
Riddle, new gubernatorial appointee and Mary Ellen zum Felde,
re-appointee.
The invocation was delivered by Chairman Harper.
The minutes were approved as presented. Motion made by Melinda
Riddle; seconded by Delores Dry. Passed unanimous.
The treasurer' s report was presented by Mary Ellen zum Felde.
Cash on hand as of April 30, $2,689.22; May income, $1,047 . 02 ;
May expenses, $2,605. 00; cash on hand May 30, $1, 131.24 . Cash on
hand as of June 24 , $37 . 76.
Paul Pinson, executive director, reported that through the good
efforts of Judge Cynthia Ellis, Ginny Stevens of David Lawrence
and others, the Sexual Abuse Treatment Program has been taken
under the wing of the David Lawrence Center; that he and Gene
Vaccaro, Florida Sports Park, were working on a fund-raising plan
to take place in several months from which the CSC would benefit
with the help of volunteers selling tickets -- two alternatives
are being considered, one a family fun-day type of event and one
a tag-on event -- more details will be forthcoming; and that,
the Council staff would be moving into new office space (rent
free at the courtesy of Banc Florida) on Friday, June 26 -- the
new location is: 3999 Tamiami Trail, No. , 33940 (corner of the
Trail and Park Shore) and the telephone number remains the same:
649-8222 . The need for a copier machine and printer was included
in the report.
Ginny Stevens, Judge Ellis and Delores Dry, each augmented Mr.
Pinson' s SATP report by commenting that reactivating the SATP
program was a cooperative effort with support from the Child
Protection Team and HRS; that the program should be expanded for
there are additional needs to be addressed; and that, the SATP
has been included in the HRS current budget request.
In the absence of Meg Steinbeck, legal counsel for the Council,
Mr. Pinson referred to her letter addressing the subject of an
annual audit of CSC' s financial records. A copy of the letter is
attached to these original minutes. Her interpretation of the
statute is as follows:
"The Florida Statute requires an annual "independent audit" in
the absence of a state audit. The annual audit requirement is
not contingent upon voter approval to levy taxes. However, the
County Ordinance appears to limit audits, other than state
audits, to audits conducted by the internal auditor for the Clerk
of the Board of County Commissioners. In view of the foregoing,
I recommend that the Council request the Board of County
Commissioners to cause the internal auditor for the Clerk of the
Board to conduct the annual audit of the Council ' s records. This
audit will fulfill the requirements to conduct an annual audit
and will not require the expenditures of Council Funds. "
Election of Officers: Office of the Chairman: Bea Harper was
nominated by Judge Cynthia Ellis, seconded by Delores Dry,
nominations were closed and an unanimous vote was made for Bea
Harper. Office of the Vice-Chairman: Judge Cynthia Ellis was
nominated by Bea Harper, seconded by Burt Saunders, nominations
were closed and an unanimous vote was made for Judge Cynthia
Ellis. Office of the Treasurer: Bea Harper nominated Mary Ellen
zum Felde, seconded by Lavern Gaynor, nominations were closed an
an unanimous vote was made for Mary Ellen zum Felde.
The C.A.D.E.T. Program (Collier Action For Delinquent Endangered
Teens) , a program designed to focus on second-time juvenile
offenders, was presented to the Council for its adoption. Ginny
Stevens, David Lawrence Children' s Center, and Sgt. Jim Hansen,
Collier County Sheriff ' s Office made the presentation. A copy of
the program is attached to the original of these minutes. Mr.
Pinson prefaced the report by stating the presentation simply
derived from the perception of the Council to focus upon concrete
programs which will generate community support required for the
Council to remain as a viable organization.
Ginny Stevens refreshed the memory of the Council by referring to
Sgt. Hansen' s first appearance before the Council at which time
C.A.D.E.T. was called the Juvenile Justice Staffing Board. Mrs.
Stevens explained the C.A.D.E.T. program is under the direction
of a volunteer board comprised of private citizens involved with
social services and agency personnel involved with second-time
offenders. The Board meets on a monthly basis and the program is
ready to be implemented with two exceptions: the C.A.D.E.T. Board
requires certification from Judge Reese, Ft. Myers (Judge Cynthia
Ellis is assisting with this procedure) , and insurance which is
being explored.
Sgt. Hansen then highlighted the program stressing that
second-time juvenile offenders are the source of habitual and
career adult criminals, and that the Sheriff ' s Office has the
capability of red-flagging these kids. He explained from that
point on, C.A.D.E.T. generates a whole service of networking. . .an
information flyer will be sent out. . . and an intelligence system
will build a complete bio- profile of the kid. The C.A.D.E.T.
board is scheduled to meet twice a month. The kids will be
scheduled by HRS to appear before the Board; kids have the option
to do this or go to court. By the time the kids appear before
the Board with their parents, the Board will have received the
bio profile which will enable them to formulate strategies on how
to work with each kid. The Board will then interview the kid and
develop a comprehensive network program. The kids will be
monitored throughout the program.
Mr. Pinson explained that when C.A.D.E.T. is adopted, the program
will come under the legal auspices of the Council. In practical
terms the Council will become a focal office point for clerical
assistance, telephone, etc. and a source for funding. The
C.A.D.E.T. board does not have the ability to raise funds and
have funds flow into a non-profit organization. The Council does
have this capacity. He also described his role as coordinator of
C.A.D.E.T.
Council member, Burt Saunders, inquired about the Council ' s
ability to satisfactorily implement C.A.D.E.T. Mr. Pinson
replied that C.A.D.E.T. will not require intense funding in this
formative stage. Mr. Saunders stated that when several other
programs are adopted, there may be an opportunity for the Council
to appear before the Board of Commissioners for funding.
Council member, Delores Dry, asked if an evaluation component was
built into the program. Sgt. Hansen responded "yes" that after a
six months period or a years period the Board will be able to
report on how many of the kids are recidivist. Mrs. Stevens
emphasized the primary criteria for recidivism was "to stop kids
involvement with the law, " but that other results would be also
be tracked; ie. , early school attendance, status offender issues,
etc. Mrs. Dry advised there is the potential of HRS funding such
programs but that the evaluation component must be contained in
the program.
A motion was made by Mr. Saunders that the Council approve the
involvement of the Children' s Services Council as the
administrative agency for C.A.D.E.T. ; seconded by Lavern Gaynor
and passed unanimous.
The draft of an After School Program was then distributed by Mr.
Pinson to the council members for their review, with the
explanation the program had been endorsed by the Collier County
School Board, but not implemented due to lack of funds. The
program was described as a 4-day per week enrichment and
intramural program for after school care for middle schoolers in
all six middle schools. Roy Terry, author of the program
approached Mr. Pinson looking for potential endorsement and
involvement. Some exploration has begun with more information to
be reported at the next meeting. Mr. Pinson advised it was
another potential opportunity for the Council to network and
build liasons between private citizens and professional agencies
cooperating on behalf of the community' s children.
Mr. Pinson reported on his funding initiative dialogue with the
Naples Area Chamber of Commerce, the Masters Foundation, and
Delores Dry and Bob Ritz of HRS:
Mr. Pinson approached the Chamber as an organization seeking
support for children' s services and outlined several different
possibilities including the Minneapolis Plan. The Chamber is
supportive of the kind of things we are talking about -- they
think it is very saleable -- whether the Chamber officially
becomes some semblance of liason between the Council and the
business community is yet to be determined.
The Council was approached by John Masters of the Masters
Foundation who indicated a strong desire to become involved in
issues in which the Council is interested; particularly, juvenile
issues. A meeting was scheduled with Judge Cynthia Ellis, Larry
Raab of HRS, and Sgt. Jim Hansen. C.A.D.E.T. and many other
challenges associated with juvenile offenders were discussed. As
far as can be ascertained, the Masters Foundation is real and
work is being continued to develop their support.
Mr. Pinson had several talks with Mrs. Dry and Mr. Ritz regarding
innovative zones and has high, high hopes the Council will
qualify for funding under innovative zone legislation. Some
minor initiatives are also underway to qualify for another aspect
of legislation; ie. , Gang Prevention Councils. All that is
required is that a community or district create a Gang Prevention
Council, the process for which is to request a chief judge in a
district to appoint a group of individuals to serve as a Gang
Prevention Council. Once the appointmemt is made the group
qualifies for funding. This a pure example of implementing
prevention. To establish a Gang Prevention Council in Collier
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County, it is now timely for our Council to schedule a meeting
with Judge Ellis and Delores Dry and then contact Judge Reese who
will appoint a group. Our Council can be that group. Dade,
Broward and Duval Counties are already benefitting from the Gang
Prevention Council legislation.
Mrs. Harper inquired of Mrs.Dry the status of the Human Services
Board. Mrs. Dry reported the respective County Commissions and
School Board Chairman had appointed their representatives, but
the gubernatorial appointees had not yet been made; however, the
Nominating Qualification Review Committee is established and
taking an active role in the reorganization of the agency. Many
changes are being made throughout all of HRS.
As a new council member, Melinda Riddle was requested to give a
brief profile of her activities.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ellen zum Felde,
Secretary