HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Commission On Children And Youth - 09/13/1999 (1r d
COMMISSION ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH
REGULAR MEETING
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1999, 5:30 P.M.
1" FLOOR COMMITTEE ROOM
CITY HALL- 1201 LEOPARD STREET
MEMBERS PRESENT ABSENT STAFF
Paige Dinn Veronica Trevino Arturo Rodriguez Marco A.Cisneros
Mary Jackson Carl Lewis Dr.Mena Garza Pam Epps
Joe Alley Missy Medary
Paula Rosenstein Verna Portis
Rudy Sosa Brian Smith
Rebecca Suns Grace Rank
Dr.Phil Rhoades Robin West
Talma Benavides
CALL TO ORDER—The regular September meeting of the Commission on Children and Youth
was called to order by Chair Paige Dinn at 5:40 PM.
ROLL CALL—The recording secretary called roll and announced a quorum was present.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES—Robin West asked that it be clarified on page 2 on
CURRENT CONCERNS/REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION, that CCISD has always done
background checks. Mary Jackson moved to accept the minutes from the regular meeting of
August 9, 1999. Joe Alley seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously by the
Commission.
ACTION ON ABSENCES—There was no action on absences because the new absence policy
was in place beginning in September.
HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC: No questions or comments from the public.
BUSINESS—
A. Update on Juvenile Assessment Center: The new Juvenile Assessment Center opened on
September 2, 1999, however,the official opening was September 7, 1999. The Police
Department has been enforcing evening curfew. There will soon be evening staff at the
Center. The Police Department can currently hold juveniles there until parents can be
contacted,just as though it were a substation. Miriah Boone is the new Director for the
Center. The Center can be a location for parenting classes and parent support groups. It should
be looked upon as a positive, non-punitive resource for the community.
(Brian Smith arrived at 5:45 p.m.)
(Carl Lewis arrived 5::50 pm.)
B. Merging and Update of Master Plan with Y.O.U. Assessment and Five-year Plan: The
Commission's biggest accomplishment has been the Juvenile Court. Chair Dinn asked
Commission members what the next step should be. Mary Jackson asked if the Commission
and Y.O.U. could be blended together instead of being two separate entities. It was pointed
out that the Commission stands to advise City Council and Y.O.U. stands to adSClATI ,ED
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community. There is a strategic plan for the Commission to address delinquency, not child
abuse.
It was suggested that goals that have been accomplished be moved out of the Master Plan to a
monitoring status and focus on items not yet accomplished. Continued collaboration with
Y.O.U. and updating the Master Plan would be advised and report back to City Council.
Dr. Rhoades explained that there was an evaluation in progress for the Juvenile Assessment
Center, which had been maintained for the TRIP Center for the last three years. Another year
of data was needed for a valid study.
Joe Alley moved that the Commission offer assistance in developing a formalized evaluation
plan with specific outcome measures of the Corpus Christi Juvenile Assessment Center. Grace
Rank seconded. The motion was approved unanimously.
C. Update on the Juvenile Court: Carl Lewis was appointed as Judge of the Juvenile Court.
Mr. Lewis said there has been much cooperation in schedules of Juvenile and Child Protective
Services which have priority in court. Commissioners Court obtained the funding beginning
October 1, 1999.
D. Update on Current Initiatives for children:
1) YOU grant and related activities: This measure is still on the Governor's desk to be
signed.
2) Success by 6: This grant is through the United Way and has special emphasis on young
children.
3) Week Without Violence: More details will be available closer to the time of the event
October 17- 23. Linda Hodge has some fun events planned for Saturday.
E. Appointment of a Nominating Committee for officers for next year: Volunteers for the
Nominating Committee are Veronica Trevino, Mary Jackson, and Joe Alley.
(Missy Medary left at 6:45 p.m.)
F. Review of Commission Committees and Appointments:
(Grace Rank left at 6:50 p.m)
Rebecca Stutts moved to wait to form Committees after a review of the new Master Plan. Joe
Alley seconded. After some discussion, Rebecca Stutts withdrew the motion.
G. 2000 Census and undercounting of Texas children: 5.6%of our children were not
counted in the last census according to two different newspapers. This is important because
of the impact on grant applications. The suggestion was made to have a representative at the
next Census 2000 Committee meeting.
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COMMITTEE/STAFF REPORTS: None presented.
DIRECTOR'S REPORT—None
SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS: None
CURRENT CONCERNS/REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION— Paula Rosenstein had a concern
about an article in the Corpus Christi Caller Times, regarding a promise to certain school children in
an at risk environment who would get a specified amount of money if they graduated from high
school. The money was to be held by the Coastal Bend Community Foundation. Some funds are
there,but the entire amount needed to meet the promise was not raised. Robin West said that it was
a coalition of community/business leaders who initiated the project possibly under the auspices of the
old Chamber of Commerce. There was no record keeping set in place to continue the process. It
disturbs her because there are similar programs being set in motion now under the Business Alliance,
and she does not want to see these wonderful programs get away from us.There needs to be a record
keeping process. There are no records in the CCISD files for these independent programs. The
Commission needs to focus on the bigger picture of the children staying in school. The Commission
needs to be careful not to advocate for a few , but for all school children. Record keeping is a must,
and perhaps a contract should be available when groups come forward with an incentive program such
as the one in the Caller Times, so that the program is backed up in the records.
REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION,AGENDA ITEMS: Dr. Rhoades referred to an article he had
brought which stated statistics for referrals of juvenile cases. Capt. Smith stated that the Police
Department is referring an amount higher than the national average on juvenile cases, so he felt
Corpus Christi was being tougher on juvenile cases.
There will be a divorce damage control workshop at the First Methodist Church, Friday, September
17, 1999.
The YOU youth summit will take place September 15 and 16, 1999.
Rudy Sosa stated that Neighborhood Centers will hold a Halloween Carnival on October 31, 1999
ADJOURNMENT—As there was no further business,Chair Dinn called for adjournment.There was
a motion to adjourn, and the motion was seconded. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:25
PM
Marco A. Cisneros, Director,
Park&Recreation Department