Agenda & Minutes March 18, 2004 View: Agenda Minutes

Agenda

Minutes

March 18, 2004

Attendance

• Cheri Adams, Bette Chapman, Marlise Dahl, Mark Driscoll, Nancy Gaumer, Katie Good, Terry Goode, Brandi Granse, Kelly Hartford, Andrea Herzog, Ruth Myers-Dunnum, Denise Novak, Amy Santos, Mary Anne Wilson, Angela Reinhart

Introductions

• Members in attendance identified themselves and affiliated agency.

Agency Announcements

• Mary Anne Wilson passed out the CUPHD: Parent Resource Guide sponsored by Success By 6, Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, Champaign Public Library and The Urbana Free Library. CUPHD will be printing about 4000 more copies. The guide may also be downloaded for agencies to reproduce.
• Mary Anne also announced a luncheon to kick off Operation Helping Hand, April 17 – 24, 2004. She provided members with a flyer. The luncheon matches up volunteers to agencies who need help with group projects. See flyer for more information.
• A flyer announcing the East Central Illinois Association for the Education of Young Children’s Friend of the Young Child Annual Recognition Celebration was passed around. The celebration will take place on April 7, 2004 from 7:00 to 8:30pm at the Urbana Civic Center in Urbana. See flyer for more information.
• Terry Goode passed around a postcard announcing the Light of Hope program at Lincoln Square Mall sponsored by CASA, April 4, 2004 at 7:00pm. Call 384-9065 for more information.
• Terry Goode passed out a flyer for the Day of the Child, sponsored by Provena Behavioral Health’s Prevention Initiative and the Champaign Park District. See flyer for more details.
• Terry also distributed a flyer for Play & Learn Program Referral, created by Provena Behavioral Health. This is a free Early Education Program for children birth to three and their parents. Activities are provided for parents and children along with educational support. Andrea Herzog said, “It is a place for parents to share their problems with other parents”. Healthy Families is also working on a grant for a Father Initiative.

Old Business

• Last Meeting’s Minutes:
  Members reviewed minutes from last meeting. Bette Chapman had a question about what was meant by a Developmental Pediatric Therapist. It should state Developmental Pediatrician. The minutes were then approved by Mary Anne Wilson and seconded by Mark Driscoll. All members approved minutes.
• LIC Position:
  Terry Goode stated that the parents who were approached for the LIC Coordinator position were not able to accept. Terry suggested a parent the early childhood program might be able to devote time to the position. She then asked Early Childhood members to send flyers home to recruit parents for the position. Terry reminded members that the LIC Coordinator must be a parent of a child with a disability. The age of the child doesn’t matter. Members asked for a copy of the LIC description. Brandi Granse will share this with April Leopold. Travel requirements were discussed for this position. Terry was unsure if there was still a travel requirement. Andrea Herzog inquired about qualifications for the LIC Coordinator position. The LIC position description was passed around at the last meeting. Mary Anne showed Andrea a copy. Terry Goode stated that there is a $3000 budget for the coordinator and another $3000 for the LIC business end. Andrea Herzog thought she might know someone with a Masters in Nursing.
• Bette Chapman would like copies of the Contact List that was distributed in the agenda packet.

New Business

• By-Laws of Champaign County Birth to 5 Council:
  The members reviewed the By-Laws from Livingston County. Terry read the mission completed by the council in 2001. A discussion on what the By-Laws needed to include were briefly discussed. It was suggested that the By-Laws needed to include special needs wording. The members decided that they do not wish to change the current council’s mission. Bette Chapman approved the mission and Ruth Meyers-Dunnum seconded. All members were in favor of keeping the same mission. See attached mission statement. LIC’s have to have By-Laws per state regulations. Mark Driscoll had a question about the Letter of Commitment and MOU: “Are they one in the same?” Terry made the suggestion to use the By-Laws from Livingston County as an example and ADHOC committee is formed to develop a draft of the By-Laws of Champaign County Birth to 5 Council. Amy Santos, Mark Driscoll, Bette Chapman, Terry Goode and Angela Rinehart volunteered to participate on this committee.
• Election of Co-Facilitators:
  Terry Goode suggested that the council nominate co-chairs at the March meeting and elect in April. Bette Chapman suggested 3-month interim co-chairs instead of voting on co-chairs in April. Terry chimed in and said “Let’sDecember 12, 2007in May. Mary Anne Wilson nominated herself only if Terry would help her co-chair. Terry agreed but also asked the group to think about nominations. Bette Chapman gave thanks to both.
• Website and Budget:
  Amy Santos discussed the idea of a website for the council to increase awareness. Diane Rothenberg and Bernard Cesarone, ECAP, were available to talk about the ECAP program, Equipment Loan program and the website. An informational sheet was passed out to the members that identified what the website could do for the council, maintenance and fees. See informational sheet for more information. Bernard provided sample websites to the group and reviewed the many ways the website could like and the process of developing the website. It was also mentioned that it was possible to have some information in Spanish on the website. Diane Rothenberg mentioned identifying a liaison who would work with ECAP on the website and provide the group with reports. Terry Goode mentioned having minutes on the website and having a link to the LIC Coordinators’ email address. Bernard cautioned the council about putting email on website due to SPAM problems. Bette Chapman stated that the website is an excellent idea for the council. She made a motion to use a portion of the LIC Budget to support the development of the website. Terry Goode stated that the council could post the minutes, which would probably cut down postage costs and the LIC Coordinator’s hours because he/she would only have to do mailings to those who didn’t have Internet access. Bette Chapman asked if the website would reduce the volunteer hours of the LIC Coordinator. Terry Goode thought that it would. Bette Chapman mentioned prepaying the monthly costs of maintaining the website. Diane Rothenberg recognized the need for the council to keep the costs down. Once the website is set up, it can move with the council. The website is also accessible to people with disabilities. Terry Goode second Bette Chapman’s motion to spend a portion of the budget on the website for public awareness. Mary Anne Wilson quickly figured that in order to maintain the website, the council would need to budget at least $500 for next year. Amy Santos commented that the council should market the website so that the community knows its there to access. Someone mentioned linking the CUPHD Parent Guide to the council’s website. Mary Anne Wilson said that she would have to get the sponsors permission.
• The discussion then went back to LIC Coordinator’s position. Andrea Herzog made a suggestion to send out flyers to all preschools and day care centers in Champaign County to recruit an LIC Coordinator. Ruth Meyers-Dunnum asked if Terry Goode would write a paragraph about job specifics, and Terry agreed. Andrea Herzog said the LIC Coordinator position description was vague. Mark Driscoll stated his concerns about the wage rate, unpaid expenses the coordinator might have to bare and travel reimbursement. Terry stated that the reimbursement rate is 37 ½ cents per mile. Bette Chapman stated that the contracts with DHS are up for rebid. If another agency was awarded the grant, the CFC rules might not be the same. There was a lively discussion about the future coordinator’s welfare. Bette Chapman mentioned contacting other LIC’s to investigate how they function. Marlise Dahl said there should be a decision on the bids by April 1st. Implementation would then begin July 1. Bette Chapman made the point that the council makes the budget decisions. Mark Driscoll said that it might not be a good idea to vote on the website/budget until we know who will have the CFC bid. Terry Goode agreed with Bette Chapman regarding the council’s control of the budget, but also said that the website will be seen as a good idea. She recommended the group to vote on the website and its continuation into next fiscal year. Ruth Meyers-Dunnum stated that the fees were very reasonable. The website can give the council the number of people using the website which can be reported the council. Kelly Hartford stated that the Public Awareness Committee could decide what should be on the site. All council members voted and passed the creation of the website and using a portion of the budget to take care of the expense for development and maintenance.
• Other suggestions for the budget:
  Kelly Hartford asked if the budget covered the LIC Coordinator’s cell phone expenses. Terry Goode stated that the cell phone’s cost at one time was $30/month. Kelly Hartford said that the council needs to check the deals on cell phones. Marlise Dahl mentioned the fleet of cell phones the CFC currently use. Amy Santos said that the council needs to get the local LIC’s information back into the community. She suggested current and upcoming activities should be targeted such as the Week of the Young Child on April 29, 2004. Mary Anne Wilson asked if the council had a display board and brochures. Terry Goode said that the Public Awareness group needs to meet to identify public awareness costs. Terry Goode agreed to identify some of the past costs.

Next Meeting

Thursday, April 15, 2004 from 8:30 to 10:00. Agenda needs to identify “Birth to 5 Council Meeting”, location of the meeting and the council’s mission. Brandi Granse has agreed to work on the agenda and brochure.

Terry Goode adjourned the Birth to 5 Council meeting.

By-Laws committee met after meeting. Meeting Tuesday, March 30 at 10:00 at DSC. Comments need to be ready.

Public Awareness group identified meeting time and location, April 5, 3:00-4:30 at United Way. Bring examples of websites and brochures.

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