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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-22-2008CITY OF VB?? WASHINGTON HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ADDENDUM MINUTES July 22, 2008 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 3:05 p.m. in Conference Room three located on the second floor of Auburn City Hall, 25 West Main Street, Auburn, WA. Committee Members present were: Chair Suzanne Limric, Michael Cummings, Barbara Derda, Virginia Lloyd, Gary Masterjohn, Michael Harbin and JoAnne Walters. Members not present were: Marian Thomas and Tony Ladner. Staff present was: Human Services Manager Planner Michael Hursh and Community Services Project Assistant Kirsten Reynolds. II. This meeting was called as an addendum meeting; no business was conducted at this time. Presentations were given from agencies applying for funding; there was general discussion regarding the new program presentations. III. AGENDA A. Valley Cities: COD Treatment for Non-Medicaid Program Representatives from Valley Cities spoke about the history and growth of the agency. The COD Treatment for Non-Medical Program helps clients with out medical coverage who have mental health and chemical dependencies. Common symptoms clients have include, but are not limited to, bi-polar disorder, schizophrenia and depression. Valley Cities provides an assessment to each client; the IOP-intensive out patient program is still being offered. The men and women groups are operated separately with set curriculums. Vocational services are provided to move clients forward after their treatment. Valley Cities reported these clients frequent jails and hospitals; they require more contact over a longer time frame to make an impact on behavior. When staff receives phone calls from local hospitals they will go to the site to help the individuals, if they meet the criteria. The representatives reported a funding gap for clientele with substance abuse and mental health issues. This COD Treatment for Non-Medicaid Program is new for Auburn; there was a program in the past that utilized vouchers. The agency is asking for $25,000 for this pilot program, providing intensive services to 18 Auburn based clients. If funding is not received in full the number of clients would need to be lowered. General group discussion: cost was $1,300. per a person. B. WWEE: REACH Program Representatives from the program shared background information regarding the WWEE organization, including that they've been around for 26 years. The REACH program is geared around developing self esteem and crisis management, other pieces include: computer skills, building resumes and working with employment agencies. During a two year follow up other services are offered include: gasoline assistance, housing assistance, one-on-one interview practice opportunities and use of the small career center. The agency is asking for $9,000 to help nine individuals. The WWEE mission is to help low-income clients succeed. Some clients are referred by DHS offices; others come to the program through word of mouth in the community. The program is run out of their Renton office on Harrison Street located inside the Alliance Center. Currently there is not a location in Auburn but Auburn clients come to the agency for service. It was reported that nearly all clients finish the entire program. They have a clothing boutique that offers women's clothing. Males are welcomed to the program but because of the agency's name not many males enroll. Clients must be over 18 years old, type 25 words per minute and meet the low income criteria they've set. The agency is looking to service more Hispanics in the future but there is currently no interpreters provided. General group discussion: cost was high at $1,700. per a person. Several Committee Members liked the two year follow up aspect to the program. C. Ukrainian Community Center: Refugee Program A representative from the Ukrainian Community Center spoke about the last 10 years of history; in the beginning there were volunteers who spoke English helping immigrants as they entered the area. There were huge issues with trust, even within the community. This program started as a religious group; once the founding pastor sanctioned his support in 1997, people in the community felt ok visiting the center. The agency's naturalization project has helped over 500 clients. They offer help with medical bills, naturalization and general case management. No clients get turned away. In the senior project program clients must be of 50+ years old. Historically, in their home country, seniors are taken care of by their family. The Ukrainian Senior Project helps provide all the services seniors need. Seniors are also offered English as a second language. Parenting classes started six years ago, modifying the curriculum over time. The agency has good relationships with Government which has helped get their clients through systems such as CPS and the Courts. A new curriculum is in the development stages for youth, ages 5 through 13, because of the high drop out rate from school. The agency helps parents understand the value of education in the US; there are major cultural differences in this area of education. There is a large Ukrainian and Russian population located in Auburn. The Center has served over 180 clients from the Auburn area. The agency has facilities in Renton, Tacoma and Marysville. Another office will be opened in Federal Way; all facilities are tied to churches who own their own land which Auburn does not currently have; there are off site programs offered in Auburn. The peak timeframe for immigration of the Ukrainian and Russian community happened in 1992-1996. The agency is asking for $7,500 for community education, which includes but not limited to, promoting how clients can access health care, maneuver through the legal system, get parenting education for discipline and general case management services. General group discussion: $180,000 of their budget is for salaries. They have 12 total volunteers, two of which are full time. Several Committee Members commented they are offering good services for parents. C. Consejo: DV Advocacy Program Representatives from Consejo, a multi-service agency talked about their five separate program areas. They were asking to receive funding for the DV Program. One four unit house utilized is called Mi Casa, there are 23 other units utilized for the program located elsewhere. The community advocacy program is new, it started in 2006. In 2007 Auburn client numbers picked up to 15%; this is the third largest community served through the program. With the cooperation of other agencies, Consejo has been able to give clients better services finding shelter, food and general housing. There is now a support group for clients located in South King County that serves clients from Federal Way, Kent and Auburn. Clients seek help in legal advocacy, legal divorce actions and from domestic violence. Every Thursday there is an advocate group that comes to help Consejo's clients; the clients get to jump the long wait list. Their office is located in Kent at the Alliance Center; the main administration office is located in Seattle. There are multiple satellite offices, but none are located in Auburn yet because of slim staffing. Consejo would be open to co-locating in the One-Stop Center once it's open. Most clients being served speak limited Spanish and/or no English. They've found many speak indigenous languages which need to be interpreted over the phone if the client chooses. Consejo does a cost average of clients because some clients are labor intensive and others get just a few hours of services. They do not track clients because services are given based upon what the client asks for. General group discussion: Several Committee Members commented on the large budget and reflection of salaries being high. Salaries include: a Data Coordinator, a Program Manager and the Executive Director. IV. Next steps: Michael to sit down with Finance to discuss the $20,000 - $25,000 dollars to work with. There will need to be a final funding recommendation made by September 9, 2008. Michael Hursh will bring a proposed budget to the August 12, 2008 meeting for review. There was further discussion around the one-stop center and the community center being separate and how agencies. Update the list of agencies applying for funding. V. OLD BUSINESS Next meeting is on August 12, 2008 from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. at Mike Harbin's house. VI. ADJOURNMENT The July 22, 2008 meeting was adjourned at 5:25 p.m. Project Assistant APPROVED THE L2day of, 2008.