Youth Services Advisory Board

Minutes for 9/23/2014 Norwalk Youth Services Advisory Board Meeting 4:00pm-4:42pm Room 231 City Hall Present: Jasen Getner – Youth Services Dept. David Walenczyk - Director Youth Services (Staff to Board) Ed Green – State of CT Juvenile Probation Elizabeth Murdoch – Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) Absent: Theresa Argondezzi – Health Dept. Mike Moccaie – Parks & Recreation Dept. Sharon Preston – Dept. of Children & Families (DCF) Lt. Ashley Gonzalez – Police Dept. Joseph Russo – Board of Education Darlene Young – Mayor’s Office SYEP The meeting began promptly at 4:00pm. David Walenczyk acted as chair for the meeting. A copy of the minutes previously submitted to the Board electronically was presented for acceptance. Elizabeth Murdoch made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Ed Green, unanimously approved. Dave Walenczyk provided an update on the A.R.T. program which was currently suspended but expected to be restarted when and if grant funds could be secured. He reported the Department was awaiting word of award of three (3) separate grants it had applied for, including the Byrne Criminal Justice grant (approx $250K), a Federal Youth Minority Justice grant (approx $91K), and a state Right Response Grant from OPM ($30K). He reported the Department expected to learn of awards in early October for the State OPM grant and early November for the Federal grants. Mr. Walenczyk reported there were 46 active counseling cases and a steady flow of incoming referrals as the new school year has begun. Jasen Getner reported that the number of cases sent to Court thus far due to capacity limitations is about seven and this number is expected to grow exponentially throughout the school year unless staffing shortage can be addressed to ameliorate the problem. Funding in the grants would provide case management hours for the JRB and if the grants are not awarded the Department intends to, once again, pursue additional funding via the City. Mr. Walenczyk reported his budget submission for the upcoming year would be due in early December but he is awaiting award notifications for grants prior to formulating a budget. Ed Green reported the new CSSD funded Child Youth Family Support Centers handling FWSNs after they are processed through the JRBs and the Courts are now open and service slots are filling up quickly. Elizabeth Murdoch provided no new updates for Family & Children’s Agency. David Walenczyk noted Corrine Weston had moved out of the area and a new Community member for the board needed to be sought. Ed Green made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Elizabeth Murdoch; unanimously approved. The next meeting is proposed for January, 27th, 2015 4:00pm. Room TBD City Hall. The meeting was adjourned at 4:42pm. Respectfully submitted, David Walenczyk – Director Youth Services / Staff to Youth Services Advisory Board.