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2017-02-17 Agenda with Backup Human Services Advisory Committee Agenda City of Denton City Hall Council Work Session Room ;:' 215 E McKinney St, Denton, TX 76201 v 1 DENTON Friday, February 17, 2017, 11:00a-1:30p I. Call to Order II. Introductions III. Oath of Office (if needed) IV. Approval of Minutes from February 10, 2017 V. Human Services Advisory Committee a) Conflict of Interest Disclosure VI. Human Services Applicant Presentations VII. Adjourn NOTE: The City of Denton Civic Center is accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The City will provide sign language interpreters for the hearing impaired if requested at least 48 hours in advance of the scheduled meeting. Please call the City Secretary's office at 349-8309 or use Tele-Communications Devices for the Deaf(TDD) by calling 1-800-RELAY-TX so that a sign language interpreter can be scheduled through the City Secretary's office. CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the above notice of meeting was posted on the bulletin board at City Hall of the City of Denton,Texas,on the day of ,2017,at o'clock(a.m.)(p.m.) City Secretary Human Services Advisory Committee Agenda City of Denton Civic Center t IoI321 E McKinney St, Denton, TX 76201 DENTON Friday, February 10, 2017, 11:00a-1:30p Members Present: Pamela Barnes, Stephen Coffey, Sheryl English, Hannah Garcia, Laura Mauelshagen, Connor Morgan, Christie Wood Members Not Present: Ryan Appleton, Meredith Buie, Sarah Swanson, Jane Upshaw, Staff Present: Danielle Shaw I. Call to Order A Quorum was established. Sheryl English, Chair called the meeting to order at 11:15a II. Introductions No new guests or members were present. No introductions were required. III. Oath of Office (if needed) All Oaths are current. IV. Approval of Minutes from February 3, 2017 Minutes from February 3, 2017 were presented for Approval. Stephen Coffey moved that the minutes be approved as presented. Hanna Garcia seconded the motion. The motion carried. V. Human Services Advisory Committee a. Conflict of Interest Disclosure No conflicts were disclosed VI. Human Services Applicant Presentations Sheryl English opened general discussion in advance of today's presentation. Hanna Garcia asked for staff report on the monitoring/reporting status of today's agencies. Staff provided a brief overview for each. Pam Barnes commented related to last week's discussion and asked how to better understand the impact of a program. Members carried out informal discussion referencing applicant three' application by example. Discussed that the app lists activities but it is not clear the impact. Members discussed how to request more information from COD application from all agencies to better tie outcomes back to cost per unit as discussed last week. Pam Barnes would like to better understand how agencies are making an impact. Specifically she would like to see applicants better reflect financial, agencies impact and then relate those to outcomes back to cost per unit. Members discussed how they would also like to see better financial reporting. Members moved into general discussion about summer programs offered through parks. Pam Barnes and Hanna Garcia discussed contributing to the training content for applicants in the next program year. The following notes from the agency funding presentations are provided for committee information and review. TAB Applicant Organization Guest(s) Presentation Time Retired Senior Volunteer Program-RSVP Diana Corona Executive Director 19 1130a-11:40a 1 Salome Clarke,Community Engagement Officer The agency was provided with five minutes to present information to support its funding request. Agency started presentation with introductions and then provided a board update. Board has three new members and is now meeting monthly instead of every other month. Board has also added a regular retreat. Also new for the board is the revision of the by-laws and review of the agency name to see how it aligns with its community work. Federal sponsor indicate that Volunteer management costs $1,000 per volunteer annually. Agency cost is $398 dollars per volunteer that supports City of Denton funded 31 volunteers. Agency supports more than that. Dream budget is $585,000 for 585 volunteers actively serving in outcome-based program supporting Education, Food Security, SHIP and other community priorities that are volunteers in other activities like Docent, Libraries, and hospitals. Agency highlighted Rocking Readers program with 35 volunteers at 20 elementary schools reaching 1500 students 30 ins a week to at least two classrooms, in Denton and Lewisville. Agency would like to move into every school and to add pre-school in addition to Kindergarten and 1st grade. Increase in request is to upgrade software to current version. HSAC members took five minutes to ask the agency questions. Member offered commendation to the Rocking Readers program and appreciation for tying service units to budget in the application. Agency shared the addition of Dr. Marlene Montgomery who is a professor and her contribution to the program how she and she adds value to the education programs. Agency appreciates the federal sponsor initiative to have target focus areas that focuses use of funds. Agency offered that it is polishing its process collecting data from agency partners where the volunteers are providing direct service. Agency was asked how it identifies outcome-based programs to support. Agency explained that it was the ability to work within the target focus areas as well as the benefit of alignment with community priorities. Agency was ask for more detail about the SHIP program. Education on immunization was targeted because the agency identified that there were more than just parents in the room and so there was an opportunity to educate adults about the importance of immunization and vaccinations like flu. There was a brief transition to the next presentation. Members discussed that agency had improved the presentation as a direct result of feedback from HSAC in previous years. Member discussed that this is an important reminder to the committee members to offer advice to agencies to help them improve. TAB Applicant Organization Guest(s) Presentation Time Retired Senior Volunteer Program VISTA Christina Penland,VISTAProject Director I8 11:45a-11:55a 2 Jessica Platt,VISTALeader The agency was provided with five minutes to present information to support its funding request. Agency introduction presenters. Agency provided overview of VISTA program, Volunteers in Service to America. Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS) VISTA grant was first awarded 2013 with 13 VISTAS. It has increased to 20 plus members and now 29 in the Summer Associate program. VISTA serve one-year, full-time. 17 current with 4 to be added in upcoming months. CNCS provides resources for VISTA living allowance, health care, relocation, childcare, and an education stipend. It contributes $373,383 into the local economy through the 21 VISTA members. Summer Associates get living allowance education stipend $101,703. Summer Associates will support the City of Denton's Summer Food Program utilizing 5 of the Summer Associates for 28+ sites and then additional Summer Associates will assist the summer camp. The 24 are split, helping at summer camp 8-10 week's full time. VISTA leaders help recruit screen and provide ongoing support for VISTAS and Summer Associates in the program. Agency shared VISTA work at partner agencies. VISTAS are building volunteer management programs, risk management policies, resource development, communications, and more. The agency work of the VISTA supported by the City of Denton funding was shared. They are recruiting and training volunteers, developing new systems and policies. HSAC members took five minutes to ask the agency questions. Agency was asked in VISTAS are like interns? Agency explained that VISTAS are stipend volunteers whose work is more project oriented and they serve as full time staff in a capacity building role. It is service learning so VISTAS get job skills while providing important capacity building support. Agency was asked to explain how someone becomes a VISITA Leader. Leaders must have experience as a VISTA first. There was a question asking for clarification for cost sharing. Agency explained that for one of every four agency has to pay the $11,000 per VISTA so they cost share with agencies to contributes $6,500. The grant request would help two agencies with the cost-share. Partners see benefits but cannot always afford the cost share. Agency provide example of VISTA serving at New Day Services. Funding a VISTA will allow the agency to be an incubator to get them started to raise more funds, build capacity and increase self- sufficiency to be able to raise the funds to pay for and become self-sustaining. Members were interested in learning about where VISTAS live. Agency described different ways VISTAS secure housing in the local community with the stipend provided. Agency was thanked for bring the program to Denton. There was a brief transition to the next presentation. Comments were shared about how the agency has improved its application request. There was additional discussion from members about how to engage this agency in application training to help show how it has improved impact reporting and the application over time. TAB Applicant Organization Guest(s) Presentation Time 21 Special Program for Aging Needs Deb Robertson,Executive Director 12:OOp-12:1Op (SPAN) Kristine Herrera,Progmm Ntna er The agency was provided with five minutes to present information to support its funding request. Agency began with introductions. Agency highlighted the addition of a new program manager. Agency shared about the closing of another similar program, Meals and Wheels of Denton that is not related to SPAN. Agency was able to connect and transition as many participants as possible to SPAN's services. It was also able to retain volunteers to continue to serve the clients maintaining existing relationships between volunteers and service recipients. Agency was asked how many were not be able to be served. Agency explained qualification requirements are that the client must be 60 and older and homebound. Some did not qualify because they were under 60 or not homebound. It did further explain that in those cases, persons who were under 60 and homebound was referred to Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS). As a point of clarification when asked why the other program closed, agency indicated it was understood that it was Denton Regional Hospital's decision to close the program. Agency continued with presentation to share that the congregate meal program is continuing to grow. Growth is attributed to their ability to partner with low-income senior living communities with the benefit that those communities have more access to healthy meal options that also allows the clients stretch nutrition dollars and the program improves socialization reducing isolation that improves overall health of participants. Specifically, meals provided is up 20% in the last 5 years. HSAC members took five minutes to ask the agency questions. Agency was asked how it measures impact. Agency utilizes strong evidence based program measures tracked nationally. Locally, they collect surveys from clients but the national studies help quantify the nutrition and economic benefit through reduction in hospitalizations, increased independence experience by clients. The agency was asked who makes the meals. Valley Foods in Fort Worth is the provider. Agency added that food quality surveys are but they would good love to have locally prepared foods. In response to the questions if the agency is seeing increasing need or waitlist in the past, it shared that it is reduced waiting lists by managing participants through eligibility and prioritization and adjusting cut off level of eligibility. It added that it does not advertise because they are only able to meet a fraction of the need. Agency was asked to share how many applications are redirected or referred? Agency explained the process of phone screening where 90% are accepted and only a few are not qualified. Those not qualified are referred to other sources when applicable. There was a brief transition to the next presentation. Break 12:15p-12:25p In lieu of a break committee members continued with presentations. TAB Applicant Organization Guest(s) Presentation Time 23 Youth and Family Counseling Terri Donsbach,LCSW-S,CT,Executive Director 12:30p-12:40p The agency was provided with five minutes to present information to support its funding request. Agency introduced presenters and thanked the committee for accepting the application. Agency highlighted the VISTA in attendance. Agency is in its 36 year offering two programs. One, the First offender and At-Risk kids program where schools, courts, counselor can recommend clients into the program that can offer six free sessions. Agency shared that it is hoping to expand to all of Denton County because the need for a prevention services is high. Agency has tripled and has a waitlist. The second program is the community sliding scale counseling services. The sliding scale is income based. Program is open to everyone. Referral for all types of counseling needs, kids, families in transitions, college age issues, etc. Covers overflow for TWU and UNT. Agency sited mental health statistics. Texas ranks 49th% in state mental health funding. Agency is addressing suicide and its impact in schools. Agency offered that one thing not in the grant is its collaboration with other nonprofits. It is a part of Serve Denton, which allowed expansion to provide counseling services to in house partners like Refuge for women. It also works with Kyle's Place, and NCTC to make sure they are serving those who are the most underserved specifically those who do not qualify for MHMR. Agency offers bilingual, play therapy, counseling in two locations with the goal to meet the needs in the county. In the last five years in less than a month it has tripled the number served compared to those served over the previous five years combined. Agency added that these services are comparable services to private counseling. HSAC members took five minutes to ask the agency questions. Agency was asked what percentages of clients are from Denton? Agency indicated 50%. When asked what the agency attributes to triple the agency explained it was just opening the office in Denton and collaborations in the Serve Denton facility. There was discussion on Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) technique, a specific type of brain engagement to over come trauma with no side effects and no medication. Agency explained that the funding would be used to continue to offer the program in Denton. Agency added that it wants to maintain service in community. The agency was asked it now that it is operating in Denton would the board grow to include Denton representation?The response was that yes and there are efforts for building the board that are targeting Denton participation. The agency listed agencies it collaborates with when asked about partners. The list included Serve Denton, Refuge for Women; Communities in Action; local schools; Kyle's Place; NCTC. Agency added that collaboration allows them to provide more services and serve more long-term. When asked if it had you counseling spots available, the agency offered it did have some in the daytime. Agency described growth goals like adding a bilingual therapist and that with 5 more therapists the agency could fill Saturdays. There was discussion about sliding scale versus free counseling services. Fees help the client feel more investment in their improvement. The agency was asked if it takes insurance? Agency explained that it does not and most do not have behavioral health coverage or the deductible is to high anyway therefore, sliding scale is often better than insurance. There was a brief transition to the next presentation. Discussion centered on the visible impact of VISTAS in the agency presentations today. Members discussed what was appropriate to follow-up with programs outside of the application process. It would be appropriate to connect with programs. Members were asked about allocation level for this year's grant. Staff recommended that the levels be considered consistent with last' years allocation amount. Staff shared information about recent comments from Mayor Watts that might mean additional direction from council to the Human Services Advisory Committee to review how the grant funds are allocated in alignment with community issues and prioritized. Homeless and Housing initiatives were referenced. TAB Applicant Organization Guest(s) Presentation Time 3 City of Denton PARD Kathy Schaeffer 12:45p-12:55p The agency was provided with five minutes to present information to support its funding request. Agency started with providing information about changes due to losing site at Denia. Now, the 56 slots are fully integrated into all camps. This offers easier access for family, full day program; Program is offering same program options like foster grandparents, UNT and TWU mentoring and the AMERICORP Summer Associate program, summer food program as well as traditional day camp programming. The program targets working families that cant afford the care and kids would stay at home otherwise. Always have had a scholarship program but this is the free program based on Income qualification. Members asked about the Summer Associate program and how it will help the program. Since the camp has 1 to 17 ratios the associates improved ratios. While still following Standards of Care and they are not staff but will help improve direct service. Members asked the agency to discuss outcomes, outputs and impact. Agency offered that the mentorship and leadership that is offered will give the camp the improved ability to provide more guided focus on the individual child's needs. These will support, modeling good behavior, socialization, and foster positive adult relationships. Kids will have better opportunities to have a caring adult that they will learn to be able count on an adult for support. Being able to provide more of that is a huge outcome. Kids flourish under this environment. HSAC members took five minutes to ask the agency questions. Agency was asked how it measures that impact. Through reports behavioral, expulsion, and incident can see drops in reports and through reports where kids are earning more positive rewards. Members recommended to the agency that it should show more of that impact in the application because it gives the committee the ability to show the impact to the community. Agency was asked to provide some of the current impact data. Agency shared how it uses the data in real time to help train staff and make program adjustments throughout the program. Agency was asked Budget question. The program budget did clearly show City of Denton grant funds in income. Members asked agency to show more financial detail in application. Agency was ask if there might be more demand due to the expansion of the day and the additional location options. Agency expects more demand. Committee commended the agency for integration of the participants into the program so that the fee camp kids are not separated. Discussion about the parks foundation and scholarship coverage. No additional funding this year despite the increase in hours. Agency is looking at how it may increase scholarship funding through other sources. Agency reported that it will benefit from shorter summer since DISD dropped from 11 weeks to 10 weeks. Members discussed importance inclusion changes and the improvement in what was reported in the presentation from previous years. VII. Adjourn The next meeting of the committee is Friday, February 17, 2017 at 11:00a —Civic Center Having no other business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:02p. Minutes Respectfully Submitted by Danielle Shaw, Staff Liaison to the HSAC Minutes Approved: