Steering Committee Minutes--October 10, 2001

Minutes of the October 10, 2001 Steering Committee Meeting

In Attendance:

Cindy Bay-Barron, Betsy Cope, Jeanette Fleury, Pam Forbes, Sherry Franklin, Michelle Gabalis, LouAnn Gregory, Lee Horn, Liza Ing, Becky Johnson, Brenda Kailing, Laurie Kohn, Carol Larimer, Cindy Maans, Sherry Marks, Trish McHugh, Leona Moreno, Linda Myers, Denise Robinson, Jerilyn Scheid, Karen Schneider, Sharon Thorp, Julie Vanhala, and Shirley Vetter

The meeting was opened by Fleury followed by introductions.

Item I. Update

a. Schneider reported on the budget cuts by the legislature, where year three funding for ASAP-PIE has been totally eliminated. We are encouraged to write our State Legislature to urge them to continue funding for the program. Schneider reminded the group that because the funding year is the same as the schools’ fiscal year, we will actually run for three years.

b. Schneider submitted the staff “training summary” report (copy attached). District Health Department #10, Mecosta County and Ferris State University will hold a dental hygiene training for the staff in early November. We have the Parents as Teachers Sixth Day Training: Born to Learn scheduled for November 1. Other programs and conference opportunities are also in the works.

c. Lee Horn, Parent Educator from the Chippewa Hills district, Laurie Kohn, Parent Educator from the Morley-Stanwood district, and Shirley Vetter, Parent Educator from the Big Rapids district provided stories of some of their home visits. Vetter reported that she was thrilled in helping a child obtain speech therapy through her referral to Cindy Maans of Early On and expressed how wonderful it was to be able to work with other agencies to achieve such goals. Horn works in the Mecosta area where she sees many families of high needs. She also has made referrals where mental, dental and hearing screening were required. Horn stated that she has not felt unsafe when making home visits. Kohn reported on a family she is seeing who at first was very hesitant in signing up for the program. It is very evident that working together with other agencies has been very much appreciated.

d. Comments by others as to how well the program is working and how the staff is professional in their work were made. Myers reported that Moreno presented pictures of the playgroup and the progress made at the McGill School to the School Board. The Board was pleased that the school was being utilized by the program and enjoyed the photos.

a. Day Care Centers: Vanhala reported that it is important that day care centers be accredited. Early Success - Right from the Start will be hosting a dinner (at the Holiday Inn on Thursday, November 8 from 6-8 p.m.) for day care center representatives to provide information on accreditation. Dessert will be served on Tuesday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m. at which time issues and concerns will be discussed.

Larimer stated a petition is coming up to eliminate group day care in the R1 districts in Big Rapids. Residents are concerned about additional traffic in the neighborhood, property value, the “business-related” activity, etc. of neighborhood day care.

b. Home Visitors: Kailing stated they have approached FIA Foster Care and the courts regarding the possibility of Parent Educators conducting home visits with a child’s foster parents and with the biological parents (the same visit plan would be provided during each visit). Including a visit with the biological parents would hope to make them a better parent and possibly making a difference in reuniting the family.

III. Referral Process: Marks asked if it would be possible to include space on schools’ registration forms for student sibling information. This would be a good tool for contacting families with children in the 0 – 5 age group. Linda Myers will present the enrollment form used in the Big Rapids schools (includes siblings) at the next Superintendents’ Meeting for consideration.

It was noted that many referrals received from teachers are children of high risk or special needs. Teachers need to be reminded that our program is for all children from 0 to 5 years.

McHugh of the FIA would like a representative from Early Success - Right from the Start to make a presentation at their staff meeting. Contacts will be made.

Discussion was held regarding visits to the Amish community. This has been a very difficult venture, as the Amish community is a group who takes care of their own and who does not believe in government agencies. Contacts with Eldon Witford, Dr. Guenther or Betty O’Neil may be beneficial when pursuing this matter.

Vetter reported that the procedure when trying to make contact with a family is to make a phone call. When no answer, leave a message. Should a call not be returned within a reasonable amount of time, a second call /message will be made. If family lives within a reasonable distance, a visit to the home is made and a “door hanger” left when no one is at home. This is the final attempt in contacting the family and they are placed in an inactive file.

IV. The schedule for upcoming Steering Committee meetings is November 14, 2001; January 30, 2002; March 27, 2002; May 29, 2002 with summer sessions to be determined. We have planned them to be held at the Miller Wing (Career Center) from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

V. Other Issues: Gabalis advised group of the importance of RSV (an early childhood respiratory virus) detection, prevention and care. An informational video will be provided to the Early Success - Right from the Start district offices.

Next Executive Meeting: November 7, 2001 at the Early Success - Right from the Start Office (Alt Ed Building). Starting promptly at 8:30 a.m.

Next Steering Committee Meeting: November 14, 2001, at the Miller Wing, South. Meeting to begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and ending promptly at 10:00 a.m.

Day Care

Home Visitors

Evaluation

Media

Resource Referral Network