CSC Minutes 11/06/1992 Children ' s Services
Council of Collier County
Minutes/Transcript
November 6 , 1992
The Children' s Services Council of Collier County
Meeting of November 6, 1992
Council Members Present Council Members Absent
Delores G. Dry Dr. Robert Munz
Hon. Cynthia Ellis Melinda Riddle
Lavern Gaynor
Bea Harper
Burt Saunders
Ron Webster
Mary Ellen zum Felde
A meeting of the Children' s Services Council of Collier County
was held on Friday, November 6, 1992, 9 :00 am. , Collier County
School Board Room.
The invocation was given by Paul Pinson, followed by the pledge
of allegiance and roll call.
The minutes of the September 18, 1992 meeting were approved as
presented. Motion passed by Delores G. Dry; seconded by Lavern
Gaynor and unanimously passed.
Mary Ellen zum Felde, treasurer, presented the September and
October treasurer reports. September, cash on hand as of August
31, $16,411 . 71; income $46 . 36; expenses, $5, 665 . 84 ; cash on hand
as of September 30, $10, 792 .23 . October, cash on hand,
$10, 792 .23; income $13 .68 ; expenses $5,481 .53; cash on hand as of
October 31, $5, 324 .38 . The reports were approved to be filed for
audit.
Paul Pinson reported on an HRS meeting, held in Orlando, to which
he was invited. The meeting was attended by the upper eschelon
of HRS. Mr. Pinson stated he was impressed by the commitment to
change and the interaction among the participants to implement
Governor Chiles ' plan to decentralize HRS and return the power to
the local people. . . .the underlying assumption being that HRS
would move from an investigatory agency and return to its
original mission to function as a social agency.
Mrs. Dry augmented Mr. Pinson' s report with reference to a
strategic plan for for the deliverance of services to children
which will require input through town hall meetings and a select
survey to private and public agencies, parents, group and foster
home operators. The purpose of the survey being to determine how
they wish see delivery of a co-children continuum in Florida.
Mrs. Dry pointed out that any futuristic plan has a price tag,
and it is hoped this legislative session will adddress a number
of changes in Chapters 39 and 415 as relates to the findings of
the survey. Assuming the legislature will make the appropriate
changes is the reason for developing a five-year, ten-year,
strategic plan. She stated the district ' s upper level management
will begin to meet with the new legislative members. She
emphasized it is significant that change be made to relieve HRS
agency staff from the burden of their case overload; the national
average being 15 cases per worker whereas the Florida average is
45 to 60 cases per worker.
Mr. Pinson announced that a report on the Children' s Services
Council and the CADET juvenile program was being aired on WEVU,
6 : 00 pm that evening. He also reported that a recent statewide
meeting of Children' s Services Council revealed the Councils were
creating systems of services such as referred to by Mrs. Dry;
the challenges facing non-funded Councils were not adddressed.
Meg Steinbeck, council attorney, on the issue of liability
insurance for the Council. Mrs. Steinbeck reported the Council
is probably not covered under county liability insurance and
suggested there be a review of the Council ' s current liability
policy. Her recommendation was for the Council to consider
coverage for public offical liability, non-owned and hired
automobile liability, and the inclusion of property liability.
Mrs.Steinbeck stated Mr. Pinson was meeting with George
Schmelzle, Risk Management Insurance, specialist in public entity
insurance to discuss Council ' s risk and obtain bids for Council ' s
consideration. After a general discussion, it was agreed Mr.
Pinson should pursue an in-depth review with Mr. Schmelzle and
report back to the Council.
Roy Terry, after school program CCPS coordinator, reviewed the
program for the benefit of those persons not familiar with it.
He then reported that he and Mr. Pinson had met with a
representative from the Department of Education seeking grant
funds, but realized that to match the grant being considered
would require massive unsuitable program changes . It was
determined not to pursue this avenue of funds. To date, eight
local community groups have been approached for $20, 000 each and
four positive responses have been received. Funding efforts are
being continued to reach the $180, 000 to cover program costs.
Paul Pinson and Kay Campbell updated the Council on its
information and referral program, (Children' s Services
Information Center) . A draft of the survey instrument developed
to gather information was distributed to the Council. The time
line for commencing the program is January 15 , 1992 . A motion
was made by Mary Ellen zum Felde to mail out the I & R survey
document; seconded by Ron Webster and unanimously passed.
Paul Pinson distributed a Projected Cash Flow/ October 30, 1992
through December 15, 1992 and a Proposed Annual Budget to be
reviewed by the Council. Mr. Pinson stated after November 15, he
would return to his volunteer position. Creative funding ideas
were discussed, ie. , Delores Dry/a news article (ie. , "9 months
later" where we are, etc. ) . Bea Harper/a profit-making I & R
directory. Ron Webster/hole sponsorships. Judge Ellis/Council
members submit to Mr. Pinson a list of names who might wish to
become involved.
Mr. Pinson reported he had received a telephone call from the
Governor Chiles Office advising a minority person was not among
the three gubernatorial names submitted by the Commission;
that the office was going to request the Commission to submit
some additional names and that he had suggested the names of
several minority community leaders. Mr. Pinson gave an update
on the audit. Mr. Rex Ashley, CPA, who volunteered his services
to audit the Council, advised he could not continue the audit due
to lack of proper certification. Mrs. Phyllis Jones, Cooper &
Lybrand, offered to volunteer her services. The audit is
completed and requires signing off by the managing partner. Mr.
John Yonkosky, county finance manager, has been advised of the
process.
Jack Fordham, administrator, Social Security Administration,
reported on how children can benefit from funds from the Social
Service Administration and proposed a program in which his office
and the Council could participate. Mr. Pinson was directed to
follow up with Mr. Fordham.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
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mezf:kmc Mary Eilen zum Felde