LAN 75 Steering Committee - Minutes of February 13, 2002

Attendance:  Ana Baro,  Alivio Medical Center; Claudia Perez-Resto, MHHC; Sharneice Snyder, Streamwood Behavioral Health at St. Mary of Nazareth Hospital; Dave Roth, LCFS; Frank Ortega-Chambless, DCFS LAN Liaison; Sandra Maldonado, Mt. Sinai C&A Psychiatry; Gudellia Ramon, Mt. Sinai CABH; Minerva Esparza, Mt. Sinai Pediatric Dept.; Camila Barros, Project Hope; Carmen Alvarez, DCFS Burgos Coordinator; Helena Sugano, MLEA; Rose Dominguez, Pilsen YMCA, LAN 75 Co-Convener; Asela Paredes, Catholic Charities; Coty E. Martinez, Gads Hill Center; Nanci Maksomowicz, Parent Advocate, LAN 75 Co-Convener.

Introductions were conducted (and repeated a few more times as the meeting progressed).

Minutes from the Steering Committee meeting of January 23rd were reviewed.  Nanci suggested that they should be amended to reflect that the Steering Committee decided by consensus to pursue a fiscal agent relationship with Uhlich Children's Home.  There was no objection.  Frank asked that the reference to wraparound training be adjusted to say the DCFS case managers and POS case managers will eventually all be trained in wraparound services.  Dave inquired about including remarks that specifically reference appreciation for the historical work of Latino Youth in the LAN, and Nanci recommended that this wait until the grievance process was complete.

FCS/ASFA Planning Committee:  Dave presented a summary of the actions of the subcommittee of the Family Centered Services Committee that considered the grievance of Latino Youth.  Correspondence between the subcommittee conclusions were distributed.  There was extensive discussion.  The materials will be presented again at the Family Centered Services Committees immediately following the Steering Committee.

Wraparound Services Committee:  Nanci reported on the Wraparound Committee, in Binita's absence.  A Wraparound Facilitator from DCFS attended the February 8th meeting, as did the LAN Liaison from LAN 67.  The committee heard about two success stories, originating from the Chicago Public Schools.  The next Wraparound meeting is March 7, 2002 at Pilsen YMCA, 1608 W. 21st PL, Chicago.

Executive Committee:  Nanci reported on the Executive Committee meeting.  Asela inquired about the interest in developing by-laws, and wondered if it is possible to have by-laws without being a legal entity, and noted that there seems to be such a push for by-laws in many LAN's.  It was noted that LAN 75 will seek to have by-laws that are unique to our community, yet bring uniformity across LAN's.  Nanci reported that the Executive Committee did vote to extend a fiscal agent relationship to Uhlich, and that Nanci abstained from the vote.  Rose noted that the Executive Committee had earlier asked Nanci to open a dialogue with Uhlich about the possibility of the fiscal agent relationship, and that Uhlich's response was to say, "let's talk more".  Nanci noted that the process of dialogue happened with the LAN Liaison Frank Ortega and Paula Heibner of DCFS.  Frank noted that DCFS has encouraged that we move as quickly as possible.  Nanci distributed a preliminary letter from the LAN to L. Booker at Uhlich, confirming our interest in establishing the fiscal agent relationship, with the detailed fiscal agent agreement yet to be worked out.  Claudia volunteered to be available to help create the detailed agreement.  Nanci asked for a vote in support of the LAN establishing a fiscal agent agreement with  Uhlich, and all present voted in support.  There was no opposition voiced.

Claudia was asked by Nanci to join the Executive Committee, and Claudia accepted.

DCFS LAN Liaison Report:  Frank Ortega reported that DCFS plans that all DCFS and POS Agency Case Managers will eventually be trained in wraparound services.  Training will be available in Spanish and English.  Central Region Administrator Ramon Nieves has expressed an interest to visit the LAN.

Announcements:  Prevent Child Abuse Illinois noted that promotion literature is available.  Please see www.preventchildabuseillinois.org or call Beth Watts at (217) 522-1129.

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, March 13th, 2002 at 10:00am at Alivio Medical Center, 2355 S. Western Ave., Chicago.

See you there!!

notes respectfully submitted by Dave Roth, LCFS

See Attachment on the Gads Hill Child Care Center

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