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Notes from May 29, 2008
Child Welfare Network Meeting
The following individuals attended the Child Welfare Network
meeting at the Las Vegas Country Club:
Jennifer Bevacqua, Olive Crest Homes
Judi Booe, Change, Inc.
Lien Bragg, Department of Family Services
Chris Brooks, Boys Town
Chandra Cook, Nevada Public Education Foundation
Adrienne Cox, Adrienne Cox Consulting
Daniele Dreitzer, Henderson Allied Community Advocates
Sharon Feeney, The Adoption Exchange
Courtney Frank, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada
Roland Grant, St. Jude’s Ranch
Jacqueline Harris, Bridge Counseling Associates, Inc.
Kelly Henwood, Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board
Eric Hilton, Hilton Foundation
Randy Hyde, Youth Reclamation, Inc.
Flora Jackson, businesscoach.com
Gard Jameson, Children's Advocacy Alliance
Hayley Jarolimek
Wendy Kameda, Clark County Legal Services
Debbie Kehl, Center for Independent Living
Ken Lange, Olive Crest Homes
Larry Lovelett, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth
Erick Maddox, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Tom Morton, Clark County Department of Family Services
April Mastroluca
Sandy Nathan, Child Haven Advocacy Network Giving Enterprise
Julianna Ormsby, Children’s Advocacy Alliance
Cyndy Ortiz Gustafson, CMO Consulting
Shelia Parks, Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division
Connie Pecot, David Simon Foundation
Jessica Reyes, Foster Care
TJ Rosenberg, Nevada PEP
Scott Reynolds, Clark County School District
Debbie Ruiz, AHEC of Southern Nevada, PCA Nevada
Fred Schultz, Positively Kids
Wanda Scott, Department of Human Resources, Division of Child and Family Services
Kevin Smedley, Department of Family Services
Judge Cynthia Steel, Clark County Family Court
Chris Sutherland, Sutherland ~ Edwards, LLC
Denise Tanata-Ashby, Nevada Institute for Children's Research & Policy
Karen Taycher, Nevada PEP
Cherie Townsend, Dept. of Juvenile Justice Services
Tameca Ulmer, Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition Committee on Youth
Tom Waite, Boys Town of Nevada
Lisa Watkins, The Adoption Exchange
Susan Westbrook, Nevada Community Foundation
Hilary Westrom, Ritter Charitable Trust
Kenton Williams, 100 Black Men
Richard Yao, Nevada State College
Rose Yuhos, Area Health Education Center of Southern Nevada
Welcome & Introductions:
Chris Sutherland welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending. Introductions were made.
Clark County Department of Family Services - Update since last meeting
Tom Morton provided a brief update, first informing the group that DFS is currently in a baseline year for the 2009 federal child and family services (CFSR) review. As of April 2008, Clark County is compliant on 6 federal child welfare outcome indicators. He advised that DCFS is currently preparing for the first phase of the SFSR which includes a statewide self assessment. Tom also shared that there Diane Comeaux is replacing Fernando Serrano as DCFS administrator effective June 2, 2008. It was reported that the Child Haven population has been averaged in the 30’s - 40’s and that child haven has a licensed capacity for 80. Due to the decline in the child haven population, the MGM Mirage Cottage has been re-configured to serve as the DFS emergency reception center where children are cared for in a child friendly setting while waiting for a relative or foster care placement. As result of the DFS receiving team and emergency reception center programs, approximately two-thirds of children are placed directly with relatives or foster parents as opposed to remaining in child haven. DFS has also re-configured Beazer cottage to serve as the DFS family visitation center. The family visitation center has received an overwhelming but positive response from staff and families. In the center's first month (February 2008), there were approximately 400 visits. In May 2008, there were approximately 700 visits. The family visitation center is reaching maximum capacity and the next phase is to partner with community based agencies to offer visitation space at satellite offices. The primary concern is the pending state budget cuts. If the current proposal is approved, it could result in a 40% reduction in staff with caseloads at 50-60 children per caseworker.
On a more positive note, all of the Clark County Department of Family Services policies and procedures are being updated through their policy and procedure redesign initiative. A comprehensive revision has not been done since 1992 or the child welfare integration . Tom stressed the importance for staff to have clear and concise procedures and policies and training.
Randy Hyde, founder - Youth Reclamation, Inc.
Randy shared information about the program in the Salt Lake area that has saved millions of dollar by instituting prevention services.
(see attached presentation)
Update on Preparations for 2009 Legislative Session
Denise Tanata Ashby NV Institute for Children’s Research & Policy & Julianna Ormsby, Children’s Advocacy Alliance
Denise reviewed the 2009 Legislative Policy Recommendations (see attached). Julianna reminded everyone about Every Child Matters in Nevada. She encouraged people to review the candidates’ platforms and learn how they have voted. She also mentioned that many known child advocates are reaching their term limits. Gard Jameson indicated that we may want to have several candidates come to a future meeting to speak on this topic. Julianna made a request that she will be looking for staff and more importantly clients to tell their stories and highlight child welfare issues. She encouraged people to start thinking about who those individuals might be.
Legislative Priorities Exercise
Attendees voted for the Legislative Policy Recommendations they felt had priority. Each attendee had 4 votes. The votes were as follows:
Continuum of Care - 46
Invest in high-quality evidence based prevention/wraparound services
Expand availability/accessibility of Family Support Services
Flexible use of funds
In-home/prevent removal
Improve availability/accessibility to Mental Health/Substance Abuse Treatment – 33
Reciprocity
Community-based treatment
Aging out/Transition-Age Youth – 16
Standing Committee on Children/Families in Legislature - 5
Regulate Child Welfare Treatment Providers - 8
Legal & Advocacy Representation for Children – 6
More resources for DFS – 2
Supports for Education - 6
It was agreed that Denise Tanata-Ashby would take this input back and begin further developing the 2009 Legislative Policy Recommendations.
The next meeting will take place on Thursday, July 31 at the Las Vegas Country Club 7:30 a.m.
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Notes from May 29th, 2008