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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-13-2009 ~ TY OF ~'UR1 \ A ~ wASntNGTON HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES January 13, 200p I. CALL TO ORDER The January 13th meeting was called to order at 4:00 p.m. in Conference Room 3 located on the second floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee Members present were: Barbara Derda, Marian Thomas, Michael Harbin, Tony Ladner and JoAnne Walters Committee Members not present: Chair Suzanne Limric antl Virginia Baron-Lloyd and Gary Masterjohn Staff present were: Human Services Principal Planner Michael Hursh and Community Services Project Assistant Kirsten Reynolds Guests present were: Arlene Pierini, Director of Auburn's Comm u nities- I n-Schools I1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Committee Member Derda moved to accept the November 4, 2008 minutes as read; Member Thomas seconded. The November 4, 2008 minutes were approved. III AGENDA A. Mayor Pete Lewis visit - Mayor Lewis talked to the Human Services Committee about upcoming funding issues happening at the State level. Mayor Lewis explained the human services funding will be dropped in July 2009. Once the funding is dropped from the State and County budgets it will not be replaced. Mayor Lewis and at least one City of Auburn Councilmember will assist the Human Services Committee during this funding reduction process. B. Catholic Community Services: HOME/ARISE and EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE - Human Services Manager Michael Hursh discussed Catholic Community Service's (CCS) budget shortfall. The HOME/ARISE Program, which works collaboratively with churches in Renton, Kent and Tukwila to temporarily house homeless men and women, has a continuous population that follows the 167 corridor. The Emergency Assistance Program, which gives out hotel vouchers, bus vouchers, rent assistance, etc. is having capacity issues. The agency's budget shortfall is causing this program to be restructured. Their open door intake process is being altered to operate only twice a month for two hours. With declining service hours it will be difficult for Auburn residents to access the Emergency Assistance program services. Mr. Hursh discussed with the Committee the possibility of not funding the Emergency Assistance Program and reallocate the funds to St. Vincent De Paul and the Auburn Food Bank who provide this service directly to Auburns' residents. A contract can be executed without the agency having to apply for the funding if under $5,000. Member Derda moved not to fund the Catholic Community Services Emergency Assistance Program for 2009 due to program restructuring and declining service hours, and to execute a contract with the Auburn Food Bank and approach St. Vincent De Paul for offering similar services, Member Ladner seconded the motion. Discussion took place regarding the screening system for the HOME/ARISE Program. Mr. Hursh informed the Committee that screening and case management will still take place out of CCS' Kent office and a rotation of the Renton, Kent and Tukwila church locations. C. Senior Center / Senior Services: Community Dining Program - Funding award for the Community Dining Program regionally was given to Catholic Community Services (CCS). Senior Services was no longer able to provide a second meal for the seniors in Auburn at the end of 2009. Other program issues during the inclement weather occurred; the food supply was not delivered because Senior Services had contracted with a company located in Eastern Washington and they were unable to make the delivery due to road closures. There have been discussions to try and improve this service, the Senior Center is willing to make the food themselves to provide the meal service. Member Ladner motioned to give $4,500 to the Auburn Senior Center to provide meals at the Auburn Senior Center instead of contracting with Catholic Community Services, Member Derda seconded the motion. D. Communities In Schools - Guest Speaker Arlene Pierini, Executive Director of Auburn's Communities-In-Schools (CIS) program gave an update on the agency's work. CIS has been funded in part with support of the City's Human Services annual budget to work with youth in the Auburn School District. Ms. Pierini handed out materials from the CIS National Organization. The agency was stated in 1995 as a lunch feeding program, helping students in need. CIS connects with students so they will stay in school; they operate in 30 states and are located in 3,000 schools nationwide. CIS has five tutoring programs that reach the highest rate of poverty and limited English speaking students; math skills and reading assistance are the main emphasis for tutoring. Students are identified by staff and invited into the program. Students work with an advisor to improve goals i.e. attendance, grades, etc. There are given special rewards through the year when goals are obtained. Another program Ms. Pierini spoke about targets Middle Schools students to stay in school. Mt. Baker and Cascade Middle Schools now have a VISTA AmeriCorp staff member working to identify students in need. Mt. Baker and Cascade have plans to start a soccer program two days a week in efforts to attract the Hispanic students. Students need to stay attached to school activities to be a part of the Students' In Need Program. CIS can help students and families that have been directly identified by school staff in many different ways including, but not limited to, assistance with healthcare, clothing and school supplies. The Food To Go Program provides food for the weekend in a backpack; the food is provided by the Auburn Food Bank. Last year 165 students received food from this program and the need is rising. CIS has been partnering with the Auburn Food Bank, Catholic Community Services and World Vision to get supplies distributed to the students in need. The agency is very grateful for the City of Auburn's additional support this year; both the funding and the creditability that is given when the City supports an agency are very positive. Most of the agency's funding comes from private and corporate donations (i.e. Costco, United Way, annual fundraiser and grants) but the greatest key to sustainability comes from the community. IV. ADDITIONAL TOPICS • Mr. Hursh informed the Committee there is a list of potential new Human Service Committee Members being compiled through the Mayor's office for review. V. NEXT MEETING The next meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. VI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 5:15 p.m. APPROVED THE 17 day of February, 2009. Michael Hursh, Human Services Manager ' te eeynolds, C mu ' Services Project Assistant Approved on beha/f of Chair Suzanne Limric