THESE MINUTES ARE IN DRAFT FORM AND HAVE NOT YET BEEN APPROVED.

 

MINUTES OF THE MCSSA CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING

MAY 27, 2008

 

MCSSA OFFICE                                                                                                              LANSING

 

Those Participating                                                       County                                                 District

In Person:

Mel Haga                                                                     MCSSA

Shelley Jipson-Lomax                                                   MCSSA

 

Via Telephone:

Sue Haut                                                                      Mecosta                                               III

Jay Bortz                                                                      Allegan                                     IV

Liz Jarzambek                                                              Kalamazoo                                           IV

Jim Turner                                                                    Huron/Tuscola                                      V

Soleil Campbell                                                            MDHS/Family Advocate

 

Due to computer issues, there were no minutes from the April meeting available, nor was there an agenda for today’s meeting available.

 

Before the meeting was called to order, Jay Bortz moved to postpone today’s meeting until the regularly scheduled meeting date on June 24 via telephone conference. Seconded. Mel will contact Mary Mehren and ask if it would be possible for her to look at the bills we have questions about and provide input. Also, Mary has a new role and she may want to recommend that someone in addition to herself may ought to be involved with our committee.

 

Mel reported that Sen. Hardiman has backed off of his desire to privatize children’s services statewide, but is supportive of a pilot project in Kent County. Kent County already utilizes private providers for the majority of their children’s services and this method of operation will be studied. Any state that has privatized has found it to be ineffective and inefficient and has returned to state provision of services or is at least moving in that direction. Kent County has a number of state employees still on board because the county remains ultimately responsible for each case and often a judge will not want to hear from a private agency staff person, but rather from a state employee.

 

Motion carried.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Shelley Jipson-Lomax

CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES COMMITTEE

MEETING OF JUNE 24, 2008

 

AGENDA

 

I.          Call to order at 10:00am

II.         Disposition of the minutes of April 22, 2008 and Notes from May 27, 2008

           

A.        Agenda update

 

III.               Reports

 

A.        DHS – Mary Mehren

 

IV.              Unfinished Business

 

A.                 Legislation

1.                        SB 543 –

2.                        SB 666 –

3.                        HB 4818 –

4.                        HBs 5836 & 5837

5.                        HB 5910

6.                        HB 5930

 

B.         Foster Care Licensing – Inviting Jim Gale to Attend Meeting

 

V.                 New Business

 

A.     Legislation

 

VI.       Adjournment