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HAAB Minutes 08/17/1994 Minutes Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Meeting August 17, 1994 HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES OF MEETING August 17, 1994 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S MEETING ROOM 3RD FLOOR, ADMINISTRATION BUILDING COLLIER COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER NAPLES, FLORIDA PRESENT: Anna Rodriguez, Chairman Yolanda Dustin Rene Figueroa Carmen Fontdevila Celestino (Angel) Gutierrez * Margie M. Nelson (arrived at 7:25 P.M.) Melinda P. Riddle Agnes Vega-Bocock VISITORS: Angel Hernandez Gabriel Irizarry Eliut Gonzalez Frank Mattera STAFF LIAISON: Ramiro Manalich, Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board The meeting of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board commenced at approximately 6:45 P.M. Anna Rodriguez, Chairman, welcomed Agnes Vega-Bocock and Celestino (Angel) Gutierrez to their first meeting as Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board members. Anna commented that she was glad to have them "as part of the team" to work on the many Hispanic Board issues and challenges which lie ahead. Staff liaison endorsing agencies check to see if organizations. Ramiro Manalich also reported that letters had been returned and that he he could find new addresses for some would those Frank Mattera, M.S., from the Collier County Public Health Unit appeared before the Board members and asked for assistance to the Public Health unit since the Health unit has been having difficulty reaching members of the hispanic community regarding public health issues. He mentioned that the Health Unit has many available educational programs and other health related programs that could be of service to the hispanic community. The board members discussed ways in which the Public Health Unit could reach the hispanic community, including attendance at upcoming meeting opportunities, visiting hispanic churches and the Immokalee Health Fair. Mr. Mattera clarified that health services are provided regardless of immigration status. Mr. Mattera agreed to pursue some of the ideas discussed by the Hispanic Board members and to report back to the Hispanic Board in several months as to whether these suggestions are producing favorable results. Mr. Mattera also mentioned that his department does have spanish-speaking employees to provide these services. Melinda Riddle reported that she had attended the Health Department meeting regarding the "Vision for Public Health in Collier County". She described this as a brainstorming session on the ideal future missions of the Collier County Health Department. She explained that the consensus of those attending was that health reforms would probably lead to the department emphasizing preventive, as opposed to indigent, health care. No specific results have yet been achieved as a result of the meeting, but there was an increased awareness of the functions of the Health Department. The Board Members were concerned that the Hispanic Board and its membership is being invited to participate on a selective basis on some nondecision-making groups. MOTION WAS MADE BY Agnes Vega-Bocock, seconded by Celestino (Angel) Gutierrez, and voted unanimously that Melinda Riddle should send a letter to Dr. Polkowski of the Public Health Unit inquiring as to whether hispanics would be allowed to participate in the decision-making committee of the Vision For Collier County Plan. Yolanda Dustin commented that she had submitted her name for said committee and had not been contacted, and she was concerned about the accuracy of data which would be gathered without minority input and review. Anna Rodriguez mentioned that there was a need for a Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board representative to attend Collier County Health Planning Council meetings. This council discusses health issues in the county. It was the opinion of Staff Liaison, Ramiro Manalich that the Hispanic Board could designate a member to participate in such Health Planning Council meetings so long as that member represented only Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board positions that had been voted upon and authorized by the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board. Agnes Vega-Bocock volunteered to be the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board member to so - 2 - participate, if requested to do so. Anna Rodriguez added that it has been her observation that the hispanic position at the Health Department are all at the clerical levels, and no hispanics are in administration. Yolanda Dustin commented that there is hispanic community concern regarding the rise of tuberculosis cases, and that the Health Department should be made aware of that concern. Rene Figueroa commented that there is no "safety net" in Collier County for illegal aliens regarding their basic health and other needs. Melinda Riddle stated that sometimes less hispanics are seen in the Health Care system because hispanics frequently take care of their own within their families. She was concerned that most public charity institutions only provide one-time aid for these types of individuals. Yolanda Dustin pointed out that there is less tolerance in lawmaking these days towards aliens. Anna ROdriguez furnished a recent example in Immokalee of an illegal immigrant who was in critical condition and was reportedly rejected for admission at Naples Community Hospital and had to be transferred to Ft. Myers, where he subsequently died. Anna Rodriguez indicated that she would check on this further and report back to the Board. The following discussion centered around the Board's future goals and activities. Anna Rodriguez asked if the Hispanic Board Ordinance needed to be amended. Members were of a consensus that an amendment was not needed at this time, and they asked staff liaison, Ramiro Manalich, on his interpretation of the purposes of the ordinance. Ramiro responded that the purposes and mission section of the ordinance afforded the Board broad latitude on all issues affecting hispanics in the county, provided that the Board intended to gather this information for report to the Board of County Commissioners. It in the Board. was the consensus of those present to schedule a meeting future with the Lee County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Rene Figueroa pointed out the need for the public to be able to contact the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board regarding their problems and other hispanic issues. He suggested that perhaps a "hispanic hotline" could be created. Frank Rodriguez commented that the Hispanic Board needed to network and reach out to the hispanic community. He suggested using churches as a good resource. Yolanda Dustin thought that was a good idea, but was concerned that the Board does not have time to be "caseworkers". Melinda Riddle commented that many of the hotline calls could be referred to existing resources. It was the consensus of the Board to direct Ramiro Manalich to check with County administration to know if there would be any possibility of creating a telephone hotline for Hispanic Board issues and - 3 - regarding advertising Hispanic Board assistance available to the hispanic community through the newspaper. Yolanda Dustin expressed concerns regarding the "Alternatives Program" to be utilized in the Collier County School District. She mentioned that many of the participants in that program will be hispanics and that the participants may only be spending a minimal amount of time in education as opposed to traveling to the school site and doing physical work. It was the consensus of the Board to have Yolanda Dustin attend school board meetings for purposes of gathering more information on this and other hispanic issues within the schools. Yolanda Dustin reported that she had met with the Immokalee High School principal, Jerry Primus, regarding racial unrest which, in the past, has occurred at Immokalee High School. Yolanda reported the principal stated that he had "zero tolerance" as to racially motivated misconduct by either faculty or students. The board members directed Anna Rodriguez to send a letter of support to Mr. Primus whereby the Hispanic Board expressed its appreciation for his efforts against racism. Frank Rodriguez reminded the board members that the newly created Committee Against Racism was meeting on Saturday at the East Naples Library, and that everyone is invited. Anna Rodriguez wanted to add a clarification to the record. She stated that she had met with commissioner Constantine, and that Commissioner Constantine had assured her that the Human Rights Commission was not rej ected due to the Latin American Business and Professional Association letter which was submitted during the hearing on the Human Rights Commission. To the contrary, Commissioner Constantine mentioned to Anna that the HRC was rejected for other substantive reasons, the key among which was the County Attorney recommendation and memorandum which was received by the board members regarding that subj~ct. I The board members decided to have the nextl meeting at the Immokalee Community Center at 7:00 P.M. on Septe er 21, 1994. The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 P.M. Respectfully submitted by: / I( (J (~ / /)( ,/'11 (f Y\. :;: , __1 , () (- Ramiro Manalich Staff Liaison to the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board - 4 - r-' J'!}cJ 0 L;-t (f "cL/f -J1 S' CL~j,~~ ] \J r j"', () (2~P?J.lJv-\ ~~~OG ~~- , I v C (..G.lr #'1 "Yl E>---1' ~v i t{ APPROVED BY THE HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD ON , 1994. Anna Rodriguez Chairman of the Board I'r' Iff ( y='hl'l ,{.IW~'1