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April 23, 2007 Update

AHS FIELD SERVICES
BURLINGTON DISTRICT
Leadership Team Meeting – AHS Burlington District
Monday, April 23, 2007
 
Present: Nancy Menard, Dept. of Health; Tom Rotella, Office of Child Support; Erin Maguire, Regional Spec. Ed. Rep.; Ann Marie Miles, Office of VT Health Access; Denise Lamoureux, VT Refugee Coordinator; David O’Brien, 1st Baptist Church;  Barbara Pafiero, VDH/ADAP: Mark Redmond, Spectrum; Martha Maksym, United Way; Sally Borden, Kidsafe; Nita Lescher, Casey; Debbie Thibault, DOC; Toki Eley, VNA; Sharon Davis, CCVS; Ann Dillenbeck, ECC; Tana Randall, PCAVT; Mark Schroeter,  Jane Helmstetter, AHS Field Director; Note taker: Julie Kenison, VDH.
 
Handouts: Designated Agency Study and H.449 Bill as passed by House
 
1. Transition Age Youth- Discussion continued from last month meeting with a review of the legislation recently passed by the House. Highlights of the VT Plan include:
·        Foster care may be extended beyond 18 to continue to age 22.
·        H.449 was passed by House and it was assured that it will pass Senate.
Some issues were raised regarding communication with youth and families about roll-out details. Cindy Walcott has been identified as the point person.
 
Other important points raised by this legislation include:
  • There needs to be a re-entry window-if kids opt out, can they opt back in?
  • Paragraph which indicates “some level of services” should be more specific in action, is too open to interpretation.
  • Casey Family Services-has a contract they sign with youth two months before child hits 18th birthday – will a similar process be used?
  • Could it be automatic that child will remain connected for support services unless they opt out.
Another area which raises some concerns involves Medicaid for youth. Specifically:
  • Youth need help in filling out forms and reapplying at 6 months.
  • Assuring DCF will sign all kids up and assist them with reapplication
  • Income guidelines for Medicaid are significantly lower than Dr. Dynasaur.
  • Can we change Medicaid reapplication to one year instead of 6 months?
In addition, issues of other vulnerable youth, not in the custody of the state and still in need of support were raised.
  • Children in Mental Health or Disability System who aren’t in foster care also have no supports once they turn 18.
  • What about youth in DOC custody?- Will they get continued services?
  • Housing options are limited. SRO-single room occupancy with some supervision is an optimal choice- and one that needs additional funding. Is this possible?
Actions to follow:
  • Jane will contact Cindy Wolcott with list of concerns and what roll out is planned-also will contact Les Birnbaum regarding the 6 month Medicaid review process.
  • Mark Redmond will contact Mark Larson, Doug Racine, and Steve Dale to discuss some of the concerns of the group and to offer feedback for H.449.
 
The Leadership Team recognized and thanked Mark for his advocacy work for all of our community’s children!
 
2. May 14th Meeting – Partnership With Education
(Please note the change in meeting date due to Memorial Day Holiday)
In preparation for this important meeting, the group discussed the current intersections between education and AHS, efficacy and challenges. Points raised:
  • Truancy, Special Ed., DCF-Where are there natural collaborations and where can there be collaborations developed? Where are there possibilities in cost-shifting from AHS to education?
  • How do we increase positive interactions with schools regarding communication, resource sharing and even what the conversation could be?
  • Bilingual Bicultural Liaisons- currently managed by Denise Lamoureux, these resources play a vital role in assuring that refugee children get services
  • What role do schools play in providing food for kids?
  • Prevention Coalitions- Do these coalitions best represent issues which concern the community?
  • What are strategies that work? Spend time identifying key areas with small group discussions to focus on identifying resources available and what is/isn’t working.
  • Mental Health/Education already connecting in many areas – build on this.
  • How could we connect at least annually with each supervisory union?
  • Group acknowledges important message in this discussion -  “increasing achievement for children is tied to their emotional and social well-being”
Erin and Jane will follow up to craft agenda for the May 14 Meeting.
 
3. Building Update-
A plan had been submitted to Cindy LaWare to relocate staff at 1193 North Ave. as quickly as possible to the multiple sites identified through a request for proposal process. This is a temporary solution which will address the need to provide services that are accessible and safe. Sites included in the plan to accommodate the 140 staff currently housed at 1193 North Ave. include: 101 Cherry Street, 108 Cherry St., former Rossignol building in Williston, DOL and AHS Winooski Office. Cindy LaWare and Tasha Wallis will meet with staff on Thursday, April 26 to update the process.
 
4. Partner Updates-
  • Designated Agency Survey- Members are asked to complete the attached survey and return to Jane H. by May 18th for a compilation from our district.
  • Website- Please visit the new AHS Burlington District Website to catch all the updates and news … http://humanservices.vermont.gov/burlington
  • ADAP Update-Barbara Pafume will be providing training for Burlington Fire Department regarding the disease of alcoholism as well as stress management. She will also be meeting with VRRP and provide training at Turning Point Ctr.
  • The next RISPnet Mtg. coordinated by Denise Lamoureux is scheduled for May 3rd and the Welcoming Community Conference (May 24) slots are filling up.
  • Anne Marie Miles announced OVHA will use UMASS for case management services for the clients not served by the Local care coordinators.
  • Sharon shared information regarding the Parallel Justice Council and some concerns raised regarding how to support for children who have been traumatized.
VT 211 is good resource for this issue. Other possible resources: Community Advisory Board for DCF, Sherry Burnette from AHS Waterbury, Casey Family Services and VT Children’s Aid Society.
  • KidSafe-Sally Borden announced the hiring of Nicole Grubman as the new service coordinator replacing Lynn Granger who will transition to a similar position for VKAP (VT Kin as Parents). There will not be a KidSafe Council Mtg. in April. Regarding the supervised visitation contract for BDO, the State team task force is working with Milton Family Center and New Life Christian Ministries to work out a plan for our county.
  • Toki announced the VNA has received a large grant for fatherhood services. And will re-establish DadSafe services for men who’ve been violent with children
  • Ann shared the next meeting for the Early Childhood Connection will cover the topic of children who are dismissed from childcare.
  • Erin discussed some of the issues regarding the Capping of school spending, how it could reduce services to children that the cap is proposed to be 3.5% from previous school year budget and urged members to join the local discussion.
  • Deb Thibault reminded the group about the upcoming training on the Incarcerated Women’s Project May 11th from 2 to 4PM. (see calendar) and that the Northern Lights Open House is set for May 29th at 2:30.
  • Prevent Child Abuse Vermont-Tana Randall announced they will be offering a group for parents of teenagers. Contact info. 893-4878. Also – the 18th edition of Parents Home companion is now available. A suggestion as made that copies be available for foster parents
  • OCS-Tom Rotella said his office will be getting another case worker position due to the size of caseloads.
 
NEXT LEADERSHIP MEETING
MONDAY, MAY 14, 2007
9 – 11 AM
CONFERENCE ROOM 2A, 108 CHERRY ST
 
Ongoing Schedule
  • May 14 – (Note change to 2nd Monday due to May 28 holiday) Partnership with Education - where are the intersections with AHS and how can we utilize this resource most effectively? Possible partners to contact for inclusion: Students FIRST, Autism Project, Children’s Integrated Services, School Social Work Program, Truancy Project
  • June 25– Cultural Competency & Customer Service – Discussion to include the work of “Bridges Out of Poverty”, current groups with successful policies and practices and strategies to address the subtleties of racism without increasing defensiveness.
  • July 23 – The Utilization of Service Coordination to achieve better outcomes for consumers AND providers. Review of the current system across the lifespan with an eye toward understanding eligibility criteria and “eliminating the seams” – Children’s Integrated Services, LIT, Transition Age Youth Treatment Team, Adult LIT, Act 264 Partnerships, Incarcerated Women’s Initiative.
  • August 27 - Housing
  • September 24 – Mental Health, Substance Abuse & Trauma
  • October 22 – The Legal System & Alternatives to Incarceration
  • November 26 & December(24) will be structured to produce an overview of the work of the preceding Leadership Meetings with a goal of providing recommendation to AHS for policy changes to better meet the outcomes identified through the Re-Organization process.