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Tama County Empowerment Board Meeting

Thursday, May 24, 2007 – 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

ISU Extension Meeting Room

Voting Members Present:

Richard Arp, North Tama School District Keith Sash, proxy for Larry Vest, Board of Supervisors

Joyce Legg, Dept. of Public Health. Earlene Bacon, Citizen

Angie Knowles, South Tama Co. School District Rick Vesely, Clergy/Faith Representative

Michelle Gethmann, Citizen Annette Dunn, Department of Human Services

Others Present:

Frank Albertsen, ISU Extension Anita Kasal, Tama County Tobacco Coordinator

Laura Kopsa, Tama County Auditor, Fiscal Agent Lori Johnson, Empowerment Coordinator

Deb Schlichting, Pied Piper Dawna Patzel & Jana Enfield, Child Abuse Prevention

Niki Arends & Royce Hickie, Mid-Iowa Community Action

Angela Dreesman & Jerri Leighton, Child Care Resource & Referral

Apologies: Cindy Skopec Pat Shank Darla Thiessen Mandy Lekin Jill Herink Greg Tingley Sue Woods Marisue Hartung

Vice-Chairman, Joyce Legg, called meeting to order.

Minutes of Previous Meeting – Rick Vesely made a motion to approve the April meeting minutes as presented. Richard Arp seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Annette Dunn made a motion to approve the Funding Sub-committee meeting minutes as presented. Richard Arp seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Financial Report – Rick Vesely made a motion to approve the financial report as presented. Annette Dunn seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Provider Reports – Child Care Resource & Referral – Jerri Leighton and Angie Dreesman shared current activities

with their programming. They are working with MICA on their Early Headstart Program. They are

participating on a preschool committee, consisting with Department of Education, Head Start and ISU

Extension. Crayon Corner completed their ECRS Assessment.

- Pied Piper –They have completed PICT Training.

- Stork’s Nest, Home Visitation, Interpreter, Lead Care – Joyce Legg requested assistance with providing educational presentations, approximately 20 – 30 minutes. Has seen several failure to thrive babies, weight below 5#’s and requiring additional home visits. Interpreters have been unavailable due to taking other employment. Lead program remains stable.

- Coordinator – Ms. Johnson shared that at the Regional and State Coordinators meetings an Evaluation Tool is being devised to be used by all those providing home visits, and forms were shared.

Infant Toddler Specialist, Dental Hygienist, Safe Kids – Niki Arends shared a handout showing their

activities for the month of March and April. They have been involved with respite care and offering

preschool scholarships information to families.

- Family Nutrition Specialist – Frank Albertson reported they have hired a new FNP, Sheryl Arp, from Chelsea, and is currently attending training.

- Developmental Testing & Scholarships – brochure/flier has been developed for the preschool scholarships

and disbursed to the preschools in the county.

- Happy Bear – Jana Enfield shared that they have been able to offer Happy Bear (preschool – kindergarten age) 24 presentations to 360 students. They were not able to provide this in the North Tama School District or at Raggedy Ann and Andy Preschool. They currently hired Dawna Patzel to provide sexual abuse education. They are looking at changing their programming to include Care 4 Kids, which involves the parents as well as the kids, and can be offered through the 5^th grade.

- Tobacco Funds – Anita Kasal completed the new grant application. This coming years campaign will be “Freedom to Breath”. June 26^th they will be holding a community awareness event. All are encouraged to attend.

Old Business

Approve Financial Assets and Resources - was reviewed. Changes were recommended. Annette Dunn made a motion to approve the Financial Assets and Resources document with noted changes. Richard Arp seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Approve By-Laws - were reviewed. Changes were recommended. Richard Arp made the motion, under Section 2. Appointment and Removal to take out the word “Department” under the representative membership. Rick Vesely seconded the motion. Motion passed. Rick Vesely made a motion to accept the By-laws with noted changes. Keith Sash seconded the motion. Motion passed. Revised By-laws will be presented at the next meeting.

Results Accountability Training – was discussed and decided not to pursue further training at this time.

New Business

Approve Indicators – was reviewed. Suggestions were made. Annette Dunn made a motion to approve the Indicators with noted changes. Earlene Bacon seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Approve Board Changes – after the last Empowerment Board Meeting, Deb Schrowether, State Empowerment Team, recommended board member representation changes. Tool EE – “Who Qualifies as a Citizen Representative on a Local Community Empowerment Board?” was reviewed. Discussion was held. Annette Dunn made a motion to change the Board Representation as follows:

Larry Vest – add Citizen Representative

Richard Arp – change to Citizen Representative

Greg Tingley – add Citizen Representative

Jill Herink – change to Required Education Representative

Mandy Lekin – add Citizen Representative

Rick Vesely – add Citizen Representative

Michelle Gethmann – add Citizen Representative

Richard Arp seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Approve Fiscal Agent Agreement – was reviewed with State Empowerment Team recommendations noted. Earlene Bacon made a motion to approve the revised Fiscal Agent Agreement as recommended by the State. Rick Vesely seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Reappoint and Recommend to Board of Supervisors Empowerment Board Members – Annette Dunn made a motion to recommend to the Board of Supervisors to reappoint the following Board Members: Larry Vest, Board of Supervisors/Citizen; Greg Tingley, Required Business and Industry/Citizen; Jill Herink, Required Education Representative, Meskwaki Settlement School; Earlene Bacon, Citizen; and Darla Thiessen. Richard Arp seconded the motion. Motion passed.

Re-designation

ü Review/Approve Self-Evaluation Form – Part IV: Community Strategies – Discussion was held. Changes were noted. Keith Sash made a motion to approve as noted. Joyce Legg seconded the motion. Motion passed.

ü Review/Approve Self-Evaluation Form – Part V: Programs/Services for Strategies – Discussion was held. Changes were noted. Rick Vesely made a motion to approve as noted. Richard Arp seconded the motion. Motion passed.

ü Review/Approve Self-Evaluation Form – Part VIII: Support Structure for the Board – Annette Dunn made a motion to approve as presented. Rick Vesely seconded the motion. Motion passed.

ü Review of Collaboration Questions – the following questions were discussed and responses noted. “Collaboration is the goal of Empowerment. How do we feel we are doing? What are some tangible examples? Does our Board take the lead to coordinate existing 0 – 5 services and supports or has it influenced the development of a new local system?” Our responses were:

· Yes, we collaborate

· Providers are involved. Programs support referrals to other programs.

· Yes, Collaboration within providers. Didn’t happen before.

· New partners to collaborate with – ISU, Faith

All collaborations face barriers to success. What are some of the community barriers? What strategies were successful in overcoming them? What was not successful?

Our responses were:

· Not all school districts are willing to accept all programs.

· Not all school districts/preschools didn’t collaborate together before

· Given time and more information

· Educate to strive towards acceptance

· Hispanic population not served – translation – translators

· Meskwaki participation now – not before and “allowed to participate”

What community barriers still exist? What are some proposed strategies for overcoming them?

Our responses were:

· Interpreters

· Continued community outreach

· Breaking down barriers to ethnicity – acceptance

· ISU – surveying families regarding barriers – where do they go, how do they cope?

· Barriers: Culture

o Whites not accepting Hispanics or Meskwaki population

What were some state barriers? What strategies were successful in overcoming them? What was not so successful?

Our responses were:

· Taking away local control

· “Strings” attached to funds

· Siloing of funds

· Board makeup

What state barriers till exist? What are some proposed strategies for overcoming them? How have laws, rules, or other state mandates affected the emphasis on services versus systems?

Our responses were:

· See above responses

· Programs have to meet guidelines (too restrictive) - may not necessarily meet the needs of our community

· Small counties “slush funds” – not necessarily receiving our “own” services/programs.

ü Review of Local/State Collaboration Questions – How has the relationship of the local partnerships to the state changed? Has the level and type of involvement with the state changed? Who at the state level affects the work of local partnerships?

Our responses were:

· Relationship the same

· Provide technical support

What expectations has the State communicated and how have they been communicated? What guidance and support have you received? What constraints and limitations have you faced? How has the State dealt with the issue of accountability?

Our responses were:

· Lots of hours, paper and work

· See other responses above

Empowerment is intended to be a bottom-up model of government in which local communities are given the resources and flexibility to address the issues they think are priorities for children 0 – 5 and their families. In what ways is this promise being fulfilled? In what ways is it being short-changed: What lessons can the State learn from local areas?

Our responses were:

· Board make-up determined at the State level

· If it’s bottom-up, why are we filling out these papers?

· They need to listen/visit local/rural areas

· State person sit in on all our re-designation process

ü Review/Approve Self-Evaluation Form – Part IX: Collaboration (Community Partners, Communication, Commitment) – tabled until next meeting.

ü Review/Approve Self-Evaluation Form – Part X: Community Empowerment partnerships: - tabled until next meeting.

ü Update from the State – Ms. Johnson shared a summary of updated information from the State Empowerment Coordinators Meeting. It included Tool CC (A); Tool CC (B); Tool II; Tool EE; Life Skills Progression Tool; Early Childhood Administrative Update; and Exception to Policy.

Correspondence – Thank you from Sheila Arney was shared. Information regarding Voluntary 4-Yr. Old Preschool Program Grant Application Workshop was disbursed to those interested.

ü Public Input – none noted

ü Meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted,

Lori Johnson, Tama County Empowerment Coordinator

EMPOWERMENT AREA

Old Business