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Human Services Advisory Commission
Meeting Minutes
March 9, 2010
7:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Rockville City Hall
| Members Present: | ||
| Rachel Carr Cindy Griffiths Scott Robins Tina Cheatwood | Stephen Huang Agnes Saenz Kim Dawkins | David L’Heureux Eric Wang Bob Dorsey |
| Members Absent: | ||
| Daniel Flowers | ||
| Staff Present: | ||
| Mary Lou Jacobs | Sarah Gicale |
Re: Call Meeting to Order/ Introductions
Cindy Griffiths called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. She asked everyone to introduce him or herself to the guest speaker.
Re: Guest: Julia Mack, Director of Employment and Career Services, Jewish Social Service Agency
Ms. Mack began her remarks by explaining that her program, Employment and Career Services, serves several different populations. These are:
Employment and Career Services also runs a two-day “Boot Camp” once a month, which includes all the basics of finding a job, for example, where to look for a job outside of the places everyone knows like Career Builder or Monster.Com. Participants can also meet one on one with a career coach. The approach used is to work with someone but not do the work for them, e.g., help people develop a resume but not write it for them. To help with resumes or interviewing skills, small work groups are used. Staff will also do individual workshops on different topics. Appointments are needed for all services.
One of the things Ms. Mack considers special about the Employment and Career Services Program is that it is part of a larger agency that offers many other services to participants. Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA) has therapy services, home-health services, marriage counseling, etc. all available on a sliding scale.
Asked about statistics for their employment services, Ms. Mack said it is difficult to get feedback once people leave. However, she estimates that since July, the program has helped about 500 people. In response to another question, she said that the program is funded through small fees, grants, and funding from the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. When people first come in they are asked to bring their most recent tax return with them and the last two months of bank statements to determine the fee they will pay for services. The maximum fee possible is $60 for one hour; the least amount is $0. Recently their funding allowed them to hire a new job developer. She directed Commission members to the agency website (www.jessa.org) should they wish to learn more.
Re: Approve January 12, 2010 Meeting Minutes
After discussion Scott Robins moved that the minutes be approved as written. David L’Heureux seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Re: Update on Caregiver Agency Grant Review Process
Mary Lou Jacobs reported that the Community Panel had met. The members included Tina Cheatwood, representing the Human Services Advisory Commission, Joy Murorunkwere representing the Human Rights Commission, and Robert Taylor representing the Recreation and Parks Board. Although Tina would be coming late to tonight’s meeting, Mary Lou was hopeful that she would be able to share her experience on the panel with Commission members at next month’s meeting. Mary Lou said that each member of the panel had spent a lot of time reviewing the applications. They also agreed to spend part of the Presidents Day holiday meeting to develop their funding recommendations. Their recommendations were presented to the City Manager later the same week. On March 22 the City Manager will present his proposed budget to the Mayor and Council. As part of this presentation he will provide detailed information on the amounts included for each Caregiver program/agency. After that presentation each agency will receive a letter advising them of the amount that has been recommended.
Re: Update on State/County Funding for FY 2011
Mary Lou said this item was included on tonight’s agenda so that Commission members would be knowledgeable about an issue that potentially affects the Community Services Division budget. State funding cuts not only impact the City’s Youth Service Bureau funding but also funding provided by the Collaboration Council. When the governor presented his budget, Mary Lou learned that designation of funds to Youth Service Bureaus had been removed. This funding dates back to the 1970’s. It has been especially important to Rockville because increasingly, over the years, the greatest pockets of need tend to be outside of Rockville. The perception is that Rockville is well off; but it would be a setback for residents if Rockville were to lose this funding. There are 19 Youth Service Bureaus in the state. This association is quite well organized and Mary Lou is optimistic that funding will be restored.
The other issue for the Community Services Division, Mary Lou said, is the funding received through the Collaboration Council, a local management board created at the behest of the state legislature. Its function is to coordinate funding to kids with special needs and provide “wraparound” services. It has also focused on preschool and after school activities for children. Last year the Collaboration Council was awarded $4 million. The state budget for the coming year includes just $200,000. This would decimate the planning function the Council has built up over the years. Mary Lou feels it has done an excellent job of coordinating services. The state is proposing that the planning functions would be consolidated in a state office.
This all has to be settled by mid-April. Mary Lou said that the Senate would vote early next week. There have been a couple of public hearings. So many people showed up for the hearings that different space had to be found.
Scott asked if Mary Lou thought the Human Services Advisory Commission should advocate for this funding. Mary Lou responded that the Commission’s function is to advise the Mayor and Council. Agnes pointed out that individuals could write letters to members of the Senate and House.
Mary Lou added that in the County budget, Health and Human Services has received a target cut of 7% while other departments will be cut 20%. She will find out next Monday what the final cuts in the County budget will be.
David L’Heureux asked if there are other groups or organizations that the Commission should be allied with. Mary Lou said she thought this was an excellent idea and that it would be helpful to Commission members to interact with other groups. Cindy thought an example might be a County commission. She suggested that this topic be added to the agenda for next month.
Re: Report on Site Visits
Korean Community Service Center (KCSC)
Mary Lou attended this site visit accompanied by Sarah Gicale and Eric Wang. Eric began the discussion by discussing the relationship KCSC has with many churches in the area. The sense of community churches provide is very important to Korean Americans, he said, and churches frequently partner with the agency in the provision of services.
Mary Lou said she had wanted to make the site visit because the agency had undergone a significant turnover in staff. In addition, since the site visit in December, the Executive Director of Korean Community Service Center (KCSC) has resigned. City funding provides for information and referral services; health education services which includes their work with Mobile Med on a Health Clinic; and pedestrian safety classes, specifically for Korean American seniors.
At the end of FY 09, KCSC had a budget deficit of $80,000. Their board convened a meeting to discuss the deficit and decided to eliminate several positions. In addition they reduced salaries and took on interns. As a result, they felt they had enough revenue to continue operating.
Kaseman Health Clinic (Community Ministries of Rockville)
Cindy Griffiths and Stephen Huang accompanied Mary Lou on this site visit. Cindy described the clinic as a gorgeous facility. It was open part-time at the time of the site visit and full time just last week. Cindy said it appears to be a full service medical clinic, all brand new. If patients are uninsured, the staff will help them locate coverage. Referrals are made to Project Access for patients with serious conditions requiring follow-up.
Agnes Saenz said that CMR’s Rockville Emergency Assistance office would be moving to the same location; the target date is July 1st. Stephen Huang added that the director of the clinic has a huge heart for this work. He is a physician although not acting in that role. Cindy said the clinic would have the capacity to serve 8,000 patients/year. Agnes said they will actually see about 2,000 patients every year. Their hours will be 9-5 daily. Cindy added that the clinic also has many education classes on different health topics. Agnes invited Commission members to the clinic’s grand opening on March 29 at 2 p.m.
CCACC Pan Asian health Clinic
Mary Lou reported that the City provides an annual grant of $10,000 to this clinic. It was started about six years ago by the Primary Care Coalition. Originally the clinic was located in Silver Spring. Over the years CCACC developed a concern with the partnership and decided to move the operation to Gaithersburg. It is now located in Mercy Clinic each Friday when Mercy Clinic is closed. Rent is $1 per year. The only paid position at the clinic is that of nurse. Volunteer staff helps with registration and any administrative work. CCACC wants their patients to receive free health care. The clinic director schedules the volunteer physicians. One physician oversees all the other volunteer doctors. Mary Lou asked as to why the clinic provides specialty care. The response was that most of the clients are from China. They speak little English and their health records are in Chinese. Volunteer doctors can all speak and read Mandarin Chinese. However, clients receive western style health care.
RHE Video Gaming Nights
Kim Dawkins accompanied Mary Lou Jacobs on this site visit on a Friday evening when the program was running. Kim explained that Video Gaming Nights are managed by Rockville Housing Enterprises and held at David Scull Community Center. She and Mary Lou met with Florence Cole, the residential housing counselor. The program was started in October of last year and is held every other Friday from 5:30- 7:30 p.m. Florence generates a flyer and permission slip for each session. Snacks are provided.
One of the program goals is improving social skills; another is instilling proper hygiene. The program now has 4-5 computers and 2 mounted flat screen TVs. There is also a volunteer teacher at an arts and crafts table working with youth during the evening. The youth that attend these Gaming Nights represent a wide range of ages, 4-5 years through teens. The younger children seemed to like the arts and crafts while the older children worked more with the video games. Both Kim and Mary Lou were impressed with how quiet, polite and well-behaved they were. There was no fighting. Florence mentioned that the older youth work to make sure that the younger children get their turn at the video games. About 20 kids attended the night of the site visit.
As to the purpose of the video gaming nights program, Kim said her first impression was of a safe, calm environment and she felt the kids really appreciated it. The youth who attend are primarily from David Scull, an area of low-income housing. Mary Lou added that Florence had said she wanted the kids to get the idea that this is their space. Kim added that the consoles and DVDs are all locked away after use. Florence told them she would also like to purchase a security camera. Three parents were present during the session, helping out. Florence has an expectation that parents will supervise the youth.
Re: Sign up for Caregiver Site Visits (March – June)
Re: Old Business
Community Services Division Monthly Reports
There were no questions or comments.
Re: Plan Agenda for April 13 Meeting
Re: Adjourn
David L’Heureux moved that the meeting be adjourned; Tina Cheatwood seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
The next meeting of the Human Services Advisory Commission will be held Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. in the Black Eyed Susan conference room at Rockville City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue.