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HAAB Minutes 11/20/2008 November 20, 2008 MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COLLIER COUNTY HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD Naples, Florida, November 20,2008 LET IT BE REMEMBERED that the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Committee in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this date at 6:00 PM in REGULAR SESSION at Administrative Building "F", 3rd Floor, Collier County Government Center, Naples, Florida with the following members present: Chairman: Manuel Gonzalez Luis Alejandro Bernal Raymond Cabral David Correa (Excused) Renato F. Fernandez Valaree D. Maxwell Cosme Perez Ernesto Velasquez (Excused) ALSO PRESENT: Mike Sheffield, Assistant to the County Manager Collier County Government Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Meeting Agenda November 20, 2008 6:00 P.M. I. Introduction A. Call to Order-David Correa B. Approval of the October 23, 2008 HAAB Meeting minutes II. Old Business A. Law Enforcement Report-Manny Gonzalez III. New Business A. Report on Mental Health Services in Collier County-David Schimmel, Executive Director of the David Lawrence Center IV. Comments/Announcements A. No applications were received for the current HAAB vacancy. The vacancy has therefore been re-advertised (applications due by 11/27/08) B. HAPPY HOLIDAYS-There will be no HAAB meeting in December V. Public Comment VI. Adiourn- (Next meeting date: January 22, 2009) November 20, 2008 I. Introduction A. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Acting Chairman Manuel Gonzalez at 6:05 PM A quorum was established. B. Approval of the October 23, 2008 HAAB Meeting Minutes Cosme Perez moved to approve the Minutes as submitted. Second by Renato Fernandez. Carried unanimously, 5-0 Luis Alejandro Bernal arrives - 6: 1 0 PM II. Old Business A. Law Enforcement Report - Manny Gonzalez stated the Guest Speaker, David Schimmel will give his presentation to the Committee first and then Law Enforcement Report will follow. III. New Business Mental Health Services in Collier County - David Schimmel, CEO of David Lawrence Center gave a presentation on mental health services available. ~ 1 in 4 Collier County citizens will suffer from mental health. ~ 1 in 10 Collier County citizens are chemically dependent. ~ Last year the Center served over 15,000 Collier County citizens. ~ 22% of the David Lawrence Center Staff are Hispanic. ~ lout of 20 people in Collier County on a Friday night are driving while under the influence of alcohol. ~ As economic climate worsens the demand for assistance rises. Services are provided to citizens on the ability to pay basis with 50 different programs working to make the patient independent. ~ Crisis Services in Golden Gate ~ Outpatient Services ~ Vocational Program ~ Some Affordable Housing available 6000 children are treated each year at the Center for different reasons. The prevalent reasons are: ~ Family Problems ~ Attention Deficit Disorder ~ School Problems ~ Chemical Dependency ~ Prescription Drugs Abuse ~ Illegal Drugs 2 November 20, 2008 The David Lawrence Center works with the Court System to work intervention with individuals so those individuals do not end up lost in the system. Institutional costs per patient are approximately $140,000 per year. Most mental health care is provided by the family physician. Of the 15,000 patients that will be seen in a year at The David Lawrence Center, only 1,000 will have a serious illness. The stigma of mental health is a huge challenge, especially among the male Hispanic Community. Mr. Schimmel answered the following questions: Q. What causes ADH? A. A Bio chemical imbalance, brain disorder and is frequently misdiagnosed. It is a legitimate disease not caused by lack of love or broken home, etc. Q. Is ADH hereditary? A. There is a hereditary component but it doesn't mean it will happen 100% of the time. Q. What percentage is from the Hispanic population? A. 20% are Hispanic. Q. Is there a profile for ADH in the Hispanic population? A. No, it effects the whole general population Q. Can the David Lawrence Center handle more patients? A. Yes, they are just scratching the surface in Collier County. There is currently a waiting list for Drug and Alcohol factors. They are trying to improve service and encourage referrals and fund raising. Q. How does the David Lawrence Center measure success? A. In order to receive funds from the State, they have to demonstrate the outcome with each patient. Internally the Center has 27 tools to measure their level of success. Customer satisfaction, respect and return for treatment are huge indications. Q. How to direct the parents to find a solution A. Any parent can bring their child and get a free assessment to the Center. The issue is "can" the child be brought to the Center. Law Enforcement Report - Mannv Gonzalez - Continued Manny Gonzalez enlightens the Committee on the responsibilities of the Deputies. He began by reciting the Sheriffs' Office Mission Statement - The Duty of the Collier County Sheriffs Office is to Preserve and Protect the Lives, Property and Constitutional Guarantee of All Persons. He reported on the Sheriffs Patrol Districts located in Collier County, the number of calls per year for each District and the responsibilities of the Patrol Divisions. ~ They average is 500 calls a day in the busier District, down to 150 calls a day in the smaller Districts. 3 November 20, 2008 ~ Collier County has one of the lowest crime rates in the State of Florida. ~ They patrol the foreclosure areas more frequently. ~ There are over 500 foreclosures in Golden Gate and 5,000 in the Estates. ~ Deputies are expected to get involved in Community affairs ~ Deputies are responsible for the vehicle they patrol in and take the vehicle home for that reason. ~ Some additional duties include crime scenes, dignitaries and traffic crossings. Discussion ensued on the shooting of a young Hispanic male with a pellet gun off Bayshore Drive and the Sheriffs office not disclosing details. Manny stated he would see what information is available. He also pointed out whenever there is an ongoing investigation; protocol is not to release any information. Cosme Perez asked what his group can do to assist with the foreclosure problems. Manny Gonzalez encouraged Cosme Perez to call Judy Miller, Assistant to Captain Tom Davis at 239-530-5660 or Captain Mark Baker at 239-793-9274 and let them know you are willing to work with them. Valeree Maxwell suggested using the youth on probation and high school students to clean up the abandoned houses. There are many youths on probation and want to get involved. 1 out of 4 kids are on probation and they cannot get off probation until they fulfill a contract per court order. Mike Sheffield responded abandoned houses are private property. The County cannot start working on these properties. The County is working with Law Enforcement to force the banks and landlords to comply with Code Enforcement. The County will hire a Contractor to maintain the property if the owner does not comply with Code Enforcement. He mentioned a non-profit organization that purchased 3-homes in foreclosure and then fix them up to sell. Mike stated he would find out if that organization is looking for volunteers. IV. Comments/Announcements A. No applications were received for the current HAAB vacancy. The vacancy has therefore been re-advertised. Applications are due by November 27,2008. Mike Sheffield stated if the Advisory Board is short a position, there would still be a quorum. Manny Gonzalez and Cosme Perez terms will expire in June 2009. Manny Gonzalez gave the following advice and asked the Committee to share with their friends and family. If someone is followed by a Deputy and he or she is signaling you to pull over with flashing lights: ~ Do not place that Deputy in a dangerous position; go to a lighted spot before stopping. ~ Before you stop, the Deputy will have your registration information. 4 November 20, 2008 ~ The Deputy will feel threatened if there is more than one person in the car. ~ Do not have an attitude. Be polite. ~ Before the Deputy comes up to you, he will check the trunk to make sure it is secure and there is no one going to come up behind him. ~ Know the Deputy will stand behind the drivers' door and then lean over and ask for the drivers' license, registration and insurance. ~ The Sheriffs Office has been receiving complaints from naturalize or non- citizens who do not know these procedures and do not speak English. All the complaints are due to lack of understanding. Cosme Perez announced a new organization; Casa Hispana plans to hold a press conference on January 14, 2009 for an event that will be held on January 22, 2009 at the Golden Gate Community Center from 6-9 PM. V. Public Comment - None. VI. Next Meetin2:: January 22,2009 There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order of the Acting Chairman at 7:23 P.M. COLLIER COUNTY HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY COMMITTEE Manuel Gonzalez, Acting Chairman These Minutes were approved by the Board/Committee on as presented or as amended 5