HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-14-2009
~
cinr oF ~ HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
~MINUTES
wnsHt[vcroN April 14, 2009
1. CALL TO ORDER
The April 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: Chair Suzanne Limric, Barbara Derda, Marian Thomas, Gary Masterjohn,
Tony Ladner, Michael Harbin and Bette Van Gasken (new membeT)
Not in attendance: Virginian Lloyd and JoAnne Walters
Staff present: Human Services Principal Planner Michael Hursh and Planning Secretary
Carolyn Brown
Guests present: Marianne Barnes with the group Birth to Three
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Discussion of minutes:
Committee Member Derda moved to accept the March 10, 2009 minutes as revised;
Chair Limric seconded the motion.
The March 10, 2009 minutes were approved.
III. INTRODUCTIONS
The Council confirmed Bette Van Gasken as a new member of the Human Services
Committee for three years.
IV. DISCUSSION / AGENDA
A. Marianne Barnes, Birth to Three
Human Services Manager, Michael Hursh, introduced Ms. Barnes who provided
background on the group Birth to Three. The office is located in Federal Way on 356tn
Avenue. They serve South King County and basically all of Pierce County. Of the 315
clients from King County, 60+ are from Auburn. The primary goal of Birth to Three is early
intervention for families. Referrals come from parents, public health nurses, Head Start
groups, and doctors. The staff at Birth to Three will talk with parents and meet the child.
Staff will review the skills and review the developmental level of each child. Small children
with Downs Syndrome, or a premature birth, can have feeding and motor skills problems.
Also, if a child of 2 years is not speaking as age indicates.
Staff will meet to discuss concerns of the child and recommend a program. The program
can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, special education services, and
feeding therapies. Staff provides parental support and the facilities and classrooms are
situated so parents can attend the program. Also, the families will meet parents with
similar issues and can build a support group among families.
Birth to Three also provides a Head Start program, child care, and in-home services.
Auburn funding pays for a family services and family resources coordinator. This staff
member facilitates referrals, programs and coordinates case managers. Birth to Three has
32 staff members and most are full time. Most are therapy staff, with a small administrative
staff.
Ms. Barnes discussed funding issues as every funding source is down. There is coverage
by Medicaid and private insurance. However, this type of coverage does not pay for long
term physical therapy for delayed children. Birth to Three relies on fund raisers as do other
non-profits. At this time staff is reviewing all grants and contracts and do not want to be in a
deficit status for 2009.
Ms. Barnes said generally they serve between 200-210 children at a time, with new babies
entering the process as 3 year olds are moving out. The over three year olds are referred
to a special education pre-school. Birth to Three contracts with school districts to make
sure the children continue to receive support. The goal is to track children into kindergarten
and for kids in need to have less highly specialized help into school and become more self
sufficient. 55% - 60% of services can be provided in home or at daycare. Also, staff can
refer a child to Mary Bridge or Good Samaritan Hospitals. Staff provides six evaluations on
children a week. Some are through classes with parents, and some are through in-home
training.
The Committee asked Ms. Barnes how the agency measures outcomes. Ms. Barnes
stated outcomes are difficult to measure as children may move to foster care, or children
live with at risk parents who do not use the system, doctors, etc.
Mr. Hursh asked how the agency documents progress on outcomes for each child. Ms.
Barnes said measurement is done on achieved outcomes on the strategic plan established
for each child and how children need fewer specialized services and collaborations. The
agency measures these achievements as success.
Ms. Barnes said the goal is to increase the developmental trajectory. Also, the agency
wants to work more closely with Mary Bridge for children with medical problems.
B. New Committee member
Bette Van Gasken was introduced; she gave a brief history on herself to the group. She is
a resident of Auburn and started teaching in private pre-schools when there was no public
kindergarten. Ms. Van Gasken helped organize the Head Start program and became the
permanent director of the program. At this time she assists Green River Community
College students write grants.
C. Community Center
Mr. Hursh spoke briefly on the status of the Community Center. The project may qualify for
money from the President's stimulus package which could be 65% of the budget for city
projects. Also, the Community Center project may qualify for block grant money. Human
Services Committee Members discussed the transfer switch needed to operate the
emergency generators; they are aware of the decision to build the switch and generator
into the design of the Community Center. It was asked if the switch could be moved to the
Senior Center.
V. ADDITIONAL TOPICS
A. Presidential stimulus package
Mr. Hursh provided insight into how stimulus package funding could be utilized.
1. Housing - which is a large component of the program.
2. Project "Green" - weatherization, new building, new fleet of cars.
3. Creation of jobs that are "shovel" ready.
B. Human Service Projects
Mr. Hursh stated money, around $200,000, directed to King County will come to Auburn to
reinvest in Human Service projects and neighborhoods. Auburn qualifies for $189,000,
which will be used to assist 55 families outside of the Seattle proper. This is to be used for
prevention of loss of home. Also, a reentry program helping a person who is working, to
retrain/ reeducation etc., for the future.
VI. NEXT MEETING
The next meeting is scheduled for May 12, 2009 at 4:00 pm.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 5:11 p.m.
APPROVED THE 12 day of May, 2009.
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