THESE MINUTES
MCSSA ADVISORY COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF THE JUNE 11, 2008 MEETING
MCSSA OFFICE _
Those Participating County District
In Person:
Fred Rogers Emmet
Theresa Spencer Lapeer V
Mark Stevens Isabella/Midland V
Mel Haga MCSSA
Shelley Jipson-Lomax MCSSA
Jocelyn Vanda MDHS
Evert Vermeer Member-at-Large
By Telephone:
Larry Boitnott Mason/Oceana
Phil Larson Ionia/Montcalm IV
Randy Barst
Sue Fulton Livingston/Shiawassee V
Irene Bazan Waller Lapeer/Sanilac V
Kim Coleman Ingham VI
I. Meeting
Called to Order at
II. Disposition
of Minutes of
Filed as submitted.
III. Review of Discussion Topics
IV. Discussion with Jocelyn Vanda
A. Private Agency Licensing of Relative Homes
Information was given to Jocelyn
that explained the issue. Documenting the lack of capacity is critical to the
argument with the legislature. When asked if county directors have been giving
information to their legislators, Mark responded that he has had these
conversations with his lawmakers, but was not aware of how many others may have
done so. While the issue is of concern to the smaller counties, larger
counties, such as
B. Adult
Services Programs – Funding, Staffing
Adult Services is currently
staffed at 37% of need and the need keeps rising. Cases are more complicated,
the instances of exploitation and abuse are increasing, and the age of those
requiring services is becoming younger and younger. The increases and
demographic changes are being seen in large and small counties. The concern is
that someone will die before the legislature moves on the issue. Why do we have
to wait for someone to die for action to occur? A concern is the media’s
assumption that the fault lies with DHS, when in fact it may be the fault of
The triad effort, at least in
C. Private
Agencies are
Adoption
The private agencies appear to be uninterested in working with the children we have available for adoption because they are hard to place. Fifty percent of our children are those not easily placed.
Half of our adoption staff should not have been eliminated without first knowing if the private agencies were in a position to handle the increased load. Legislation was passed giving cases to the private agencies and DHS staff was cut by half. There have been residual effects in other staffing areas. Courts are becoming impatient and the fear is that some of us will be held in contempt of court.
D. SWSS CPS System Inadequacies
Staff are being kept from completing work in a timely manner. It’s getting to be a choice between doing the documentation work or actually protecting children. At review there is trouble because the documentation is lacking. Reports are taking a tremendous amount of time. In one county the judge is emphatic about the paperwork being in a week prior to trial and meeting this requirement is difficult at best.
It seems that we are always setting certain priorities. Making an issue a priority doesn’t necessarily mean that the most critical issue is being addressed. Aren’t children our priority? When a 30-day review is overdue we don’t know if a child is being appropriately protected. People are moving/transferring left and right to other positions and/or other counties where it is perceived that the job is easier.
There is also the child and family services review. This is a federal review that may very well show poor results.
There are staff testing the Bridges/SWSS interface and we’re not getting reports on the issues with the interface. What problems are being found, what is being done to make corrections?
BCAL was going to try to shift the investigations of day care centers and homes to DHS CS staff. According to last month’s meeting, it sounded like BCAL was going to continue to do the investigations with access to central registry.
BCAL maintained that their staff didn’t have the knowledge to handle these investigations and that DHS does. It is a DHS responsibility to investigate relative cases, and it is the responsibility of law enforcement and BCAL to conduct allegations of abuse and/or neglect outside the home.
Committee members would like affirmation that the statements made in last month’s minutes are actually going to occur.
F. Children’s
Rights Lawsuit
It appears that we are going to trial on July 7. The reorganization was being held until the settlement occurred, but the sense is now that movement with the organizational chart will occur and that corrections/revisions may be required at a later date.
G. Inflation
and Increased Costs as They Relate to Food, Shelter, Gasoline, Heat, and
Utilities
These increases are having a tremendous impact on our clientele. What will happen this winter? Jocelyn did not know if there is a true effort at hand, however, information is being gathered and Director Ahmed and others are expressing concern. It is becoming apparent that a number of county offices are going to run out of funding.
The issue needs to be raised now with the legislature, not when it’s too late.
Evert has been encouraging board members to become active on this issue. What can board members do to increase the pressure on the legislature? They need to be involving their communities, churches, etc. Boards need to be involved in community efforts even as simple as purchasing the plastic film for covering windows, etc.
Jocelyn asked if community action agencies are beginning to work on the issues. She is hearing that agencies are sending more and more people to other agencies and that families are being “shuffled.”
H. FAP Accuracy
There are apparently discussions
about redirecting efforts for FAP accuracy. Terry Salacina has been heard saying
that there will be a renewed focus on partnering between central office and the
counties. This is reassuring. Other states doing well are being looked at. People
from other states are in fact coming to
Jocelyn is very pleased that the new Native American Affairs director, Stacey Tadgerson, will be starting on Monday. Director Ahmed has raised the issue of urban Indian concerns. There are a number of Native American associations in the tri-county area. Meetings will be scheduled with these groups and a “go-between” named to represent this group at the larger meetings held in St. Ignace.
Carol Seaman being named the new Child Welfare Institute director is very good news.
We are expecting a large number of
Iraqi refugees coming to
Keith Cooley, director of DLEG has named his deputy Andy Levin, to meeting with Al Horn and Jocelyn to discuss fast-tracking certifications for these refugees in order to get them working and not receiving public assistance.
Jocelyn indicated that the posting for the migrant affairs director is once again open, and will run through June 20. If you have talented people in your community who may be interested in the position please direct them to the department’s website.
The Poverty Summit on November 13
should include a discussion of the inflation factor. MCSSA has invited Director
Ahmed to speak at lunch on August 12 at the conference. Having Chuck Jones
discuss the
The status of the children’s task force efforts would be of great interest to the membership. Members asked that MCSSA receive copies of the task force meeting minutes.
V. Meeting Adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Shelley
Jipson-Lomax