LAN 75 Steering Committee - Minutes of January 23, 2002

Attendance:  Ana Baro, Alivio Medical Center; Helena Sugano, Mujeres Latinas en Accion; Mary Juuhl, Jewish Children's Bureau (JCB); Claudia Perez-Resto, Midwest Hispanic Health Coalition; Jacquelyn Jackson, YWCA/Rise Children's Center; Donna Barba-Marsiglio, IFF Parent Liaison; Maria DeLa Cruz Guardado, Latino Youth/Our Lady of Tepayac; Frank Orgeta-Chambless, DCFS LAN Liaison; Rose Dominguez, Pilsen YMCA, LAN 75 Co-Convener; Nanci Maksomowicz,  Parent Advocate, LAN 75 Co-Convener.

Wraparound Services Committee:  This committee last met December 7th, 2001 at the Pilsen YMCA.  In attendance were: Rose Dominguez; Binita Donohue, CPS; Frank Ortega-Chambless; Anita Baro and Nanci Maksomowicz.  Two Flex-Fund referrals were discussed, and two WSAA referrals were approved.  The two Flex-Fund referrals will be approved pending the convening child and family teams.  This committee is in the process of soliciting a new fiscal agent to take over the Flex-Fund account as of 01/01/02, and WSAA as of 07/01/02.  We are currently negotiating with an agency interested in helping us, and should know if they will sign-on by February.  This committee is also working on set procedures to make sure that all WSAA referrals come through the Wrap Committee.  We can formalize this process by putting these procedures into our by-laws.  It is also this committee's intention to have the TCM's for these Wards attend our meetings as often as they can.  To schedule a Wrap Referral contact either Binita Donohue (773) 534-1304, or Nanci Maksomowicz (773) 342-2473.

This Committee meets again on Friday, February 8th, 2002 at 10:00am at the Pilsen YMCA, 1608 W. 21st PL, Chicago.

FCS/ASFA Planning Committee:  This committee met December 12th, 2001 at Alivio Medical Center.  In attendance were:  Rose Dominguez; Ana Baro; Frank Ortega-Chambless; Helena Sugano; Nanci Maksomowicz; Dave Roth and Christina Quintana, LCFS; Patricia Canessa, Midwest Hispanic Health Coalition; Carmen Avilies; Maria DeLa Cruz Guardado and Mark Reyes, Latino Youth, Inc.  Speculation about future funding for this initiative remains, as no word has come from the state regarding their plans.  We still have not heard how they plan to utilize the program evaluation training we received last year.  Solicitation for a new fiscal agent continues with negotiations with an agency that has expressed an interest in helping us.  The subcontractors have been asked to finalize their lists of monies owed under this initiative.  Frank would like one set itemized listing to provide to Paula Hibner.  Latino Youth has filed a grievance against the LAN.  They feel they have not been treated fairly.  A separate subcommittee has been established to mediate this issue.  Latino Youth has completed all of their past due reports and their funding suspension has been lifted.  This committee will change its meeting time to after the the Steering Committee meeting to make it easier for all to attend.  The next meeting will be Wednesday, February 13th, 2002 at approximately 11:00am; all Steering Committee business must be concluded before this committee convenes.  We will meet at Alivio Medical Center, 2355 S. Western Ave. Chicago.

Executive Committee:  This committee met January 11th, 2002 at Pilsen YMCA, In attendance:  Rose Dominguez, Binita Donohue, Ana Baro, Frank Ortega-Chambless, and Nanci Maksomowicz.  Topics to be brought to the Steering Committee agenda will be the  development of two new subcommittees; Resource Development/Cataloging and Training and Presentations.  Patricia Canessa, and Ana Baro have joined this body filling the two positions from the Steering Committee at large.

DCFS LAN Liaison Report:  Frank reported that all TCM's would be trained as Wrap Facilitators in the near future.  The state is moving forward with its plans to have Wrap plans in place for all wards.  The current Wrap Facilitation curriculum is being modified; trainings with the new curriculum will be forthcoming.  Changes include the renaming of "Cycles" of training to "Modules".  Ramon Nieves, DCFS Cook Central Regional Administrator, has expressed an interest in addressing our Steering Committee.  Depending on his schedule he may attend the February or March meeting.

Regular Business:  Several parties are interested in forming two new subcommittees in our LAN.  A committee will be formed to help the LAN in providing training on topics of interest to parents and providers.  Suggested topics include the IEP, Families roles in the Wraparound process, and agencies providing specific services in the community.  This committee will also assist in arranging all DCFS Wrap Facilitation trainings in the community, by finding a site of suitable size for the trainings.  Another subcommittee will be formed to help catalogue the resources in this community.  Several Steering Committee members were suggested as they are already doing resource networking through their positions.  Maricela Porras has expressed an interest in chairing this committee.  Nanci will contact all parties that have expressed an interest in helping out, and will facilitate their meetings until these committees are fully established.

Program Presentations:  Mary Juuhl from The Jewish Children's Bureau (JCB), presented information about their mentoring program.  JCB provides comprehensive service ranges for Foster Care and other families, up to ten hours a week per family.  They are currently serving 40 families in this area through ITS and Foster Care Services.  It is their wish to expand to the general public but at this time they are understaffed.  Please see the attached flyer for information about the open positions.  For more information contact Mary Juuhl at JCB, (847) 568-5128.

Announcements:  Friends of Special Education is sponsoring a Winter Institute for Parents on February 23rd, 2002 at Malcolm X College, 1800 W. Van Buren, from 8:30am to 1:00pm.  Subjects for workshops include: Autism, Depression, Brain Gym, Domestic Violence and Behavior Management.  Parents should pre-register by 02/13/02.  Admission is free.

Marshall Square Boys and Girls Club is hosting a Blood Drive on Friday February 1st, 2002, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm.  They are located at 2628 W. Cermak Rd. 

Rise Children's Center is looking for bilingual counselors and therapists, for more information contact Jacqueline Jackson at (312) 733-2102 ext. 404.

CONGRATULATIONS!! To Midwest Hispanic Health Coalition!!  They received $50,000.00 in grant monies from the State of Illinois for Family Violence Prevention Services.  This grant was solicited through the LAN over the summer of 2001.  They have partnered with Gads Hill to provide violence prevention education and counseling services to 7th grade males at Orozco Junior HS.

If you have contact with another child welfare agency or service provider in the Pilsen and Little Village area that does not know about the LAN, invite them to join us at our next Steering Committee meeting.  To make a presentation about the services your agency provides, to make a referral for Wraparound Services, or have any other questions about the LAN, contact Rose Dominguez at (312) 738-0282, or Nanci Maksomowicz at (773) 342-2473.  Our next meeting will be Wednesday, February 13th, 2002 at 10:00am at Alivio Medical Center, 2355 S. Western Ave. Chicago.

see you there!!

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