Children's Services Act Meeting Minutes

City of Suffolk Children’s Services Act Community Policy and Management Team Meeting Minutes November 15, 2023 9:00 am Social Services Building, Third Floor Training Room A Members Present: Mary Bess- Parent Representative Jenny Hodge – Tidewater Youth Services Commission Kimberly Jennings – 5th District Court Services Unit (Chair) Jessica Joyner (for Towanda Shirley) – Suffolk Public Schools (Secretary) Rachel Lewis – CSA Coordinator Sheridan Meriwether – Blakey Weaver Counseling Center (Vice Chair) David Pate (for Saniyyah Manigault-Westbrook) – Suffolk Dept. of Social Services Patricia Pitts (for Marli Laudun) – Suffolk Health Dept. Nicole Porter – City of Suffolk Wendy Warfel – Assistant Director of Finance, City of Suffolk Vonda Warren-Lilly – WTCSB Members absent: None Guests Present: Roxanne Flamer – CSA Office Assistant 1. CPMT Chair Kimberly Jennings calls the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m. Introduction of members to welcome Patricia Pitts, RN Nursing Supervisor with Suffolk Health Dept. 2. Approval of the minutes of the October 25, 2023 meeting. Motion made by Jessica Joyner to approve the minutes as written, seconded by Jenny Hodge. All are in favor and the motion passed. 3. Rachel Lewis reviewed the Financial Report as of November 15, 2023. CSA started out with a lot more funding this fiscal year. There is a total of $595,599.69 encumbrances. If needed, additional funds can be requested for SPED Wrap. Mrs. Lewis shared data comparison from FY 2023. Private Day is the most expensive budget line item. Motion made by Jessica Joyner to accept Financial Report as written, seconded by Jenny Hodge. All are in favor and the motion passed. 4. CLOSED SESSION - CPMT Chair Kimberly Jennings entertains a motion to convene a Closed Meeting for the purpose of discussing cases before the Family Assessment and Planning Team in accordance with the provisions in subsection A of ş 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia as amended in 2001 and 2005 respectively. Only applicable exceptions as provided in section ş 2.2-3707 or subsection A of Section ş 2.2-3711 are to be discussed. Sheridan Meriwether motions to enter closed session. Jessica Joyner seconds motion to enter into closed session. All are in favor and the motion passed. 5. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION – CPMT Chair Kimberly Jennings entertains a motion to move out of Closed Meeting. Sheridan Meriwether motions to enter open session. Jenny Hodge seconds the motion. All are in favor and the motion passed. Kimberly Jennings initiated a roll call certifying that to the best of each member’s knowledge only the following matters were discussed during the closed session: 1) public business matters lawfully exempted from statutory open meeting requirements and 2) public business matters identified in the motion to convene the closed meeting. All Affirmed. Jenny Hodge enters the motion to approve all cases presented and appropriately discussed. Jessica Joyner seconded the motion. All are in favor and the motion passed. Private Day FY 2024 $679,826.16; along with CHINS Congregate Care, Foster Care Congregate Care, Community Based and SPED WRAP, $49,459.78; Total CSA request approved $729,285.94 6. Old Business A. ARPA Mental Health Grant/Community Violence Initiative Update– Rachel Lewis gave an update. Committee members met on October 25, 2023 to provide updates per the list of action items. The group formed subcommittees that will work on an upcoming conference. Group would like to proceed with having some teen sessions at the City of Suffolk Parks & Recreation located at Sixth Street. Court services might be able to send court involved youth, CSB clinicians could assist. There could also be an adult event - need to use incentives (e.g. gift cards, door prizes, breakfast and lunch), provide transportation, etc. Then a separate event for professionals - do a google search for speakers - focus on reduce violence/address trauma. Can also use local speakers. The City of Chesapeake hosted a similar event and reported a great turnout. B. Items from Members – Rachel Lewis shared information in reference to a meeting she attended where the topic based on the idea of purchasing a higher level of case managers to try to keep children in their homes. There is currently an ad hoc group working on kinship placement. 7. New Business A. FY 2023 Service Gap Survey Report (PowerPoint) – Rachel Lewis CSA Coordinator discussed the Service Gap Survey Report based on the five top gaps in services chosen by CPMT members. They are as follows: 1) Assessment 2) Functional Family Therapy 3) Intensive Care Coordination (ICC) 4) Family Support Partner 5) Emergency placements for DSS children. Actions taken but not limited to: Seeking of additional providers for community based services in our area; internet expansion; WTCSB has hired additional assessors for same day access to speed up the process of assessment for services; a local stakeholder committee was formed to work via an ARPA grant to address the increased violence/trauma/mental health needs of youth. Over 80% of localities initiated action over the past year to address these perceived barriers. Gaps in community base behavioral services were the most prevalent statewide and in 3 out of 5 regions.  B. Items from the Members – Rachel Lewis shared information concerning the new DMAS contract effective November 1, 2023. All providers who provide services to Medicaid and FAMIS members will submit service authorizations to Acentra Health formerly known as Kepro. The transition does not appear to be going well. Stay tune for future updates. CPMT Parent Representative Mary Bess shared information in reference to a mental health survey done at her church during their Sunday morning worship service. She feels that it shows progress and growth within the religious community and that people are reaching out for help. Ms. Bess will get the name of the service providers and share at the next meeting. 8. Adjourn – CPMT adjourned the meeting at 11:03 a.m. Motion to adjourn made by Jenny Hodge, seconded by Jessica Joyner. All are in favor and the motion passed. Recorded by Roxanne Flamer, CSA Office Assistant.