Youth Services Advisory Board

Minutes for 2/18/2015 Norwalk Youth Services Advisory Board Meeting 4:05pm-4:36pm Room 231 City Hall Present: Jasen Getner – Juvenile Review Board Coordinator David Walenczyk - Director Youth Services Ed Green – State of CT Juvenile Probation Elizabeth Murdoch – Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) Lt. Ashley Gonzalez – Police Dept. Joseph Russo – Board of Education Darlene Young – Mayor’s Office (Summer Youth Employment Program) Absent: Theresa Argondezzi – Health Dept. Mike Moccaie – Parks & Recreation Dept. Sharon Preston – Dept. of Children & Families (DCF) The meeting began promptly at 4:05pm. 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 Jasen Getner, unanimously approved. David Walenczyk shared about the State of CT OPM grant that is funding Aggression Replacement Training (A.R.T.) program, as well as psychiatric evaluations at Mid-Fairfield Child Guidance for youth involved with the Dept. of Youth Services who have no other access to such a service. One (1) Psych. Evaluation has been completed to date. Some of the grant funding is also providing for some additional JRB case management hours. This grant ends Sept. 2015 and the total is $30K. Jasen Getner reported that the number of cases sent to Court thus far due to capacity limitations is about 35 and this number is expected to grow exponentially throughout the school year unless staffing shortage can be addressed to ameliorate the problem. David Walenczyk reported there are not wail list for counseling services at this time but the Dept. has experienced a waitlist earlier in the year and case loads are full. Mr. Walenczyk reported his budget request to fund the part-time JRB Assistant Coordinator as a full time position was not recommended by the Finance Director but the budget process is still fluid and efforts are taking place to lobby for the funding necessary to meet the demand in services for the JRB program. Ed Green reported there were no new updates for Juvenile Probation. Elizabeth Murdoch reported they have an approximate two (2) month wait list for all services (Outpatient and IICAPS). Darlene Young reported the Mayor had asked her to coordinate a Mayor’s Youth Advisory Committee and it was discussed that a least a couple of these students could serve in an advisory capacity to the Youth Services Advisory Board. She also reported the application process for summer youth employment would be opening soon, and generally the process closes at the end of March. Joe Russo reported the Norwalk Board of Education was in process of a new Superintendent search as the Superintendent Rivera left with an interim filling his place until a permanent hire could be made. Lt. Gonzalez reported he would participant in updating the M.O.A. between the Police and Schools as part of the requirement for the Right Response Grant. David Walenczyk stated he would facilitate coordination of this effort between the Norwalk Chief of Police and the Norwalk B.O.E. Lt. Gonzalez made a motion to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Darlene Young; unanimously approved. The next meeting is proposed for May 27th, 2015 4:00pm. Room TBD City Hall. The meeting was adjourned at 4:36pm. Respectfully submitted, David Walenczyk – Director Youth Services / Staff to Youth Services Advisory Board.