Youth Services Advisory Board

Minutes for 11/15/2016 Norwalk Youth Services Advisory Board Meeting 4:06pm-4:50pm Room 231 City Hall Present: Jasen Getner – Juvenile Review Board Coordinator David Walenczyk - Director Youth Services Deputy Chief Ashley Gonzalez – Police Dept. Elizabeth Murdoch – Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) Mike Moccaie – Parks & Recreation Dept. Absent: Sharon Preston – Dept. of Children & Families (DCF) Darlene Young – Human Relations Office (Summer Youth Employment Program) Ed Green – State of CT Juvenile Probation Joseph Russo – Board of Education Theresa Argondezzi – Health Dept. The meeting began promptly at 4:06pm. 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 with a correction in the 4th paragraph, to read “student to school.” Deputy Chief Gonzalez seconded the motion to accept the minutes. Unanimously accepted except for an abstention by Mike Moccaie. Jasen Getner provided a chart demonstrating source of referral and specific offense for which a youth was referred. An uptick in youth from other towns arrested in Norwalk was noted. Also noted were more Delinquency cases vs. FWSN and Truancy cases. He also noted that after July 1st the schools cannot make a direct referral to JRB for truancy. This can only be done at the request of the family. Jasen also noted that school referrals have dropped slightly and he shared that a program for education about issues related to sexting is available via a program being conducted at West Rocks Middle School by Nate Paulino. Attempts to contract with the Town of Weston for JRB services is in the works. The Weston Chief, John Troxell, is expected to attend a JRB hearing and then follow up discussion about a contract is expected to take place. Deputy Chief Gonzalez shared he has been working with Michelle DeLuca (Emergency Management) in schools to improve safety procedures. He also shared that eight (8) School Resource Officers (SROs) are deployed and thirty (30) public safety cadets are currently in training. Elizabeth Murdoch stated that IICAPS lost $36K in funding for uninsured unless DCF decides to fund this voluntarily. She also stated they currently have a wait for Outpatient (OP) of approximately three (3) weeks and IICAPS for approximately six (6) weeks. She also mentioned about their Bi-lingual IICAPS only program. Mike Moccaie mentioned that in coordination with Norwalk ACTS, some changes may be made in how some programs are delivered. David Walenczyk shared that NYS counseling program was busy but no current wait list for services is being experienced. He also shared that the Assistant JRB Coordinator position was still being staffed by a temporary part-time person as due to the departure of the City’s Personnel and Labor Relations Director over the summer, and no replacement as yet hired, the negotiation for the labor grade placement of this position has been stalled. Deputy Chief Gonzalez made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:50pm, seconded by Mike Moccaie and unanimously accepted. The next meeting TBD and announced as decided. Respectfully submitted, David Walenczyk – Director Youth Services / Staff to Youth Services Advisory Board.