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CSC Minutes 09/18/1992 Children ' s Services Council of Collier County Minutes/Transcript September 18 , 1992 The Children' s Services Council of Collier County Meeting of September 18, 1992 Council Members Present Council Members Absent Delores G. Dry Alma Cambridge Hon. Cynthia Ellis Mary Ellen zum Felde Lavern Gaynor Bea Harper Dr. Thomas Richey Melinda Riddle Burt Saunders Ron Webster A meeting of the Children' s Services Council was held on Friday, September 18, 1992 , 9 :00 am. , Collier County School Board Room. The invocation was given by Dr. Thomas Richey, followed by the pledge of allegiance and roll call. Bea Harper, chairman, announced her resignation as chairman of the Council due to personal family reasons, but will continue to serve as a council member. Dr. Richey made a motion with regret to accept the resignation and recognized Mrs . Harper for her leadership of the Council; Burt Saunders seconded the motion. The motion was passed unanimously with regret. Burt Saunders made a motion for Judge Cynthia Ellis, vice chairman, to serve as chairman; seconded by Ron Webster and passed unanimously. Dr. Richey suggested the executive director, Paul Pinson, explore among the Council members who would consider serving as vice chairman. The minutes were corrected to indicate Burt Saunders did not attend the August 7 , 1992 meeting and were then approved as presented. The August treasurer' s report was presented by Lavern Gaynor. Cash on hand July 31, 1992 , $7 , 114 . 36; income $15, 058 . 99; expenses $5 , 761 . 64 ; balance on hand August 31, 1992 , $16,411 . 71. The report was approved and filed for audit. Executive Director' s Report: Paul Pinson expressed regret that Alma Cambridge ' s term of office had expired. He then announced a salute to honor Dr. Richey for his years of service as superintendent of schools, was being given on October 2 , 1992 , at the Vineyards, and personally expressed deep thanks to Dr. Richey for his personal friendship and guidance. It was reported the golf tournament event scheduled for October had been rescheduled for December due to the hurricane; also, that the Children ' s Services Councils of Brevard and Charlotte Counties had suffered defeat during the September primaries. Under new business of the agenda, item "f" was added to include Nancy German. and each Council member was encouraged to attend the Children' s Services Council of Florida 1992 Annual Conference scheduled for October 20 and 21, 1992, Orlando, Florida. Mr. Pinson ended his report with an Executive Summary outlining the accomplishments of the Council during its two-year life span which, all added up, is the formation of a beginning of a children' s agenda for Collier County. A motion was made by Mrs. Dee Dry that Mr. Pinson represent the Council at the Orlando Conference on October 20 and 21, and that Council members also consider attending the event; seconded by Cynthia Ellis and passed unanimously. Annual Audit/Compliance: At the end of each year, the Council has a one-year period in which to conduct an audit. N. Rex Ashley, CPA, has kindly donated his time and expertise to audit the Council ' s first year of operation within the time limit set forth. All of the financial data is in his possession. The county controller' s office has a letter setting forth Mr. Ashley' s willingness to assist the Council. In addition to the audit, several other types of reports are required which have also been submitted. We have responded to each request of the controller' s office. We are in full compliance. Chris Worel, board member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Lee County, made a presentation on behalf of a potential Big Brother/Big Sister for Collier County. The program has been in operation for seventeen years in Lee; its primary function is to match adults with children who will provide companionship for and present a positive attitude toward the children. Dedication and commitment to the children are vital ingredients of the program. It was recently decided to explore the potential of establishing BB/BS in Collier County under the Lee County charter and efforts to involve Collier County residents have been successful. Twenty persons are willing to serve on an Advisory Board; 70 applications to serve as matches for children have been received. This unexpected response presents a challenge for funding with which to screen the 70 applications and provide the necessary liability insurance required for the volunteers. The Lee County group is funded by the United Way and those funds must remain in Lee County. The Advisory Board is now focusing attention on raising funds in Collier County. Mr. Worel reported on the work last year of Lee Buch, principal, Lake Park Elementary School, who successfully matched eleven minority children last year. Big Brother/Big Sister is now hoping to merge with Mr. Buch, expand the program through K-5 in other elementary schools and assist with the screening and insurance process. Roy Terry, coordinator of physical education, presented a Middle School Activity Program for after school . The program was developed in the course of last years school year because of the need expressed by students, teachers, and parents. A committee was formed and a program developed to include each of the six county-wide schools; unfortunately, the timing was not appropriate for funding requests. Mr. Terry distributed copies of the program to each council member and described in depth, the purpose, goal, philosophy, general organization and annual cost of $180, 000 . The program will be divided into enrichment activities and intramural activities; implemented by school personnel; and administered and funded by the Children' s Services Council through grants and the private sector. A time line of Fall 1993 has been established for all six schools, with an interim six-months period beginning January 1, 1993 in which to raise funds for a six-week test session in three schools. Two community groups are currently interested in the project. It is hoped there will be individual groups who will adopt a school per year and provide funds and support for that specific school, or, one large club such as Kiwanis, who would adopt all six schools. The $180,000 will be divided up with $60 , 000 coming from grants and $20, 000 from each group. After a discussion of the program and the Council ' s current cash position, a motion to endorse the program and instruct the executive director to work with Mr. Terry on the grant application with developments to follow, was made Judge Cynthia Ellis; seconded by Burt Saunders; passed unanimously. Sgt. Jim Hansen, reported on the C.A.D.E.T. program. The first draft of the multi-agency information sheet is completed and an assimiliation of that is being run through to correct any changes in the form. The Chamber of Commerce is still willing to be an integral part of the program. Their hesitancy stems from insurance liability which is currently being researched. Mid-November is still the target date to activate the program. Paul Pinson reported on the proposed the Children' s Service Information Center program. Initial cost of $7 ,705 . It was staff ' s intent to fund the program from the September golf tournament proceeds; it is still a possibility to do so in December. The Community Foundation might possibly look upon it with favor. In addition to the service information provided, the program will serve as a needs assessor of services and keep the Council true to its original mission to be collaborative and provide a comprehensive service overview for the entire community. After Mr. Pinson' s remarks, the importance of a name, collaboration with existing information and referral systems, and the program as a centralized system for children rather than a generic centralized system were brought into discussion. Staff has contacted existing systems such as Project Help, Briggs Health Resource Center, Child Care of SW Florida; the program is not designed as a generic centralized system. A motion to endorse the program and instruct staff to continue its efforts for funding was made by Bea Harper; seconded by Judge Cynthia Ellis; unanimously passed. Melinda Riddle reported a legislative committee had been formed for the purpose of sharing some of the legislative obstacles service providers must contend with. A gathering of applicable rules, regulations, statutes classified into two areas has begun: the provision of services and funding. The intent is to compile an outline of the various levels of legislation that exist so it rommir can be determined where these different laws overlap and contradict one another, and then ultimately effect legislative change. It is a very ambitious program. Nancy German, mother of Adam who was killed last year on a Collier County construction site, told of her experiences that led into a personal investigation of construction site code violations and the final results that revealed there were no codes nor ordinances to violate. Mrs. German worked diligently to get safety ordinances established that will prevent dirt from being piled higher than six feet and require it to be enclosed within a chain link fence; require all excavations be barricaded and all heavy duty equipment/machinery be enclosed within a chain link fence. She is waiting for the ordinances to be placed on the docket and is confident they will be approved. Mrs. German is now expanding her work on behalf of children' s safety. A comment from the audience indicated many children with problems came from divorced families, and suggested that the counseling support groups organized to help these children could possibly include retirees who have had experience. It was also suggested that kids be included in the fund-raising process and be charged with specific activity responsibilities. Melinda Riddle stated there were some counseling programs on the drawing board through the court system, such as mandatory family counseling for families going through divorce, and suggested research be made of just what type of counseling services are available. Judge Ellis said she would check on the program Mrs . Riddle referred to and report at the next meeting. Dee Dry, HRS District Administrator, reported on the impact made upon her office and staff by the needs of the "Andrew" disaster area. Forty three employees are either helping the Federal Emergency Food Stamps program or providing public health services . Office staff is working overtime to process over 35, 000 regular food stamps. A shortage of staff compounds the problem. 90 developmentally disabled persons from the disaster area are being housed. Case loads are beginning to increase, particularly in Immokalee where people are relocating with family and friends, etc. etc. There is a heightened increase in mental illness, yet state law requires the department to downsize institutions for these mentally delayed individuals. Of necessity, changes are being made in district administration. A new person will be assigned to serve on the Children' s Services Council. Charlotte and Brevard counties were defeated in the September primaries and gang prevention funds are no longer available. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectful) submitted,) 1 4N 10/9/92 Mary Ellen zum E'elde