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Executive Director’s Report: Ms. Robinson began by introducing the Mayor’s Youth Liaison to the Council, Ms. Andrea Hannah, a student at Hillwood High School. Andrea volunteered to work with MSS’ camp this summer. The camp was a great success. A customer service survey will be conducted to measure the success more objectively. Upon completion, a more detailed report will be provided to the Board. Ms. Robinson stated that the transition is working well in all areas. The smooth transition of Financial Assistance to MAC can be attributed to the hard work of both staffs to inform customers and develop policies and procedures for transfer of cases. MSS has put together a communication plan to introduce services in what we call “Metro Social Services in the 21st Century”. A number of strategies were employed to make sure the community is aware of changes within the Department such as, a press release on July 1. Some additional initiatives planned are: a bi- monthly newsletter, community meetings that target the council districts with the highest level of poverty, update of the MSS web site and a crisis communication plan.

Finance Report: Pamela McEwen reported that we are going to end this fiscal year by turning back somewhere around $600,000 to the general fund. The 4% fund has a $167,000 balance. Special Donation funds have a total of $27,000. The majority is in the Camille Caldwell fund, which has a balance of $18,000. The final 2006 budget is $8,600,911.00.

Leonard Bradley posed a question regarding reductions in the 2006 budget regarding Child Care Technical Assistance. He suggested that we pursue DHS to see if they can assist with this program. Gerri stated that MSS would do some background checking and get some information to the board prior to the August Board meeting.

Program Updates: Demitria Norman and Dinah Gregory reported the Program updates.

Adult and Family Support Services

Demitria Norman began by stating the new business models is made up of three new units, Intake and Assessment, Family Support and the Homeless Unit. Agency wide staff is serving a total of 193 cases. The goal is to have approximately 20 cases per caseworker. The current caseload ratio is approximately 1-13. The COA standard is 1-17.

We are also focusing on being able to track our work by using a contact sheet to track and monitor calls. An intake database has been created as well a universal assessment tool. Accuracy in data collection and tracking is very important.

Planning and Coordination

Dinah Gregory spoke on initial activities that MSS has participated in during the early efforts for planning and coordination.

• The ongoing Pilot Program that is set up with Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency has been extended through September and the RFP will be issued so competitive bidding can begin by October 1.
• The UT Research group has already completed a draft of a time line for the research they plan to do and have drafted the initial questionnaire they will use to evaluate the customers.
• The Council on Aging has started an ad hoc group to address issues related to transportation for senior citizens.
• A meeting was held for the Hispanic Liaisons. MSS invited employees from all the Metro departments, department heads and people that provide direct service to the Hispanic community. This gives MSS an opportunity to reach out to the Hispanic community. A second meeting is scheduled for August 16th.
• We are working with Vista (Volunteers In Service to America), to get volunteers from their organization to work on the frontline with MSS on issues related to Homelessness.
• Rev. Andrew Stephens of the Village Church is working to develop a Ten Point Leadership Model. This is a clergy based model used to help individuals in the community to combat crime. MSS will be working with Rev. Stephens to develop a concept paper on the model.
• We are currently gathering information on the Office of Group and Boarding Homes. The plan is to have searchable information set up in a database which will be accessible from the MSS web site.
• The Mayor has made appointments to the Homelessness Commission. The Commission will have its first meeting on August 17th. Vice Mayor Howard Gentry was pointed chairperson of the Commission.
• VIPPS has a volunteer intern working with MSS through the Vanderbilt Institute of Public Policy Studies named James Moore who attends the University of Chicago. James will assist MSS in the area of Homelessness.
• MSS continues to meet with members of the Edgehill Community, called the Edgehill Partners. Our goal is to bring everyone together to improve the community.
  
  Administration

Personnel Updates Renee Pratt:

The layoff plan ended with a total of 3 positions and 12 rollbacks. There is currently 3 staff left on the layoff list. Central HR is working diligently to find positions for them. There are a total of 12 vacancies within MSS. We hope to have the positions filled as soon as possible.

Staff Training

Adult and Family Services Unit completed Case Management Training presented by Dr. Rod Ellis of the U.T. School of Social Work. MSS also has additional training classes set up for the next two months. Staff will also receive training on the Metro Social Services in the 21st Century. This training was provided in
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response to staff stating they did not understand the new model and its impact on their work. All training sessions include pre and post testing to measure staff’s understanding of the material.

Glenn Carter brought to the board’s attention an issue concerning the passing of a title protection bill for social workers. The bill requires people using the title social worker professionally to have an undergraduate or graduate degree in social work from an accredited university. Mr. Carter stated that this bill will go into effect July 06. MSS currently has employees using the Social Worker title that do not have social work degrees. This could cause a problem. Ms. Robinson asked Mr. Carter if the bill applies to State and local Government Social Workers? Mr. Carter was not sure. The question was also posed whether MSS has the option of requesting that social workers currently using the title with out the requisite degrees be grandfathered in. The discussion ended with Ms. Robinson committing to research options and reporting back to the Board during the August meeting.

Items for Discussion:

Nominating Committee Report

Glenn Carter gave the Nominating Committee Report. Mr. Carter stated that the committee met and recommended Linda Mattson as the new Chair and Gwen Harris as Vice Chair. Both individuals have accepted.

Motion: Accept the Nomination Committee Report
Made by: Leonard Bradley
Seconded: Dot Dobbins
Passed unanimously.

Motion: Elect Linda Mattson Chair and Gwen Harris Vice Chair
Made by: Gwen Harris
Seconded: Leonard Bradley
Passed unanimously.

Luvenia Butler stated that it has been an honor serving on the Metro Social Services Board of Commissioners and she is looking forward to moving on to new challenges.

Luvenia then handed the gavel to new Board Chair Linda Mattson. Chair Mattson then stated the next order of business is a presentation to Luvenia Butler for her many years of service.

Motion: Moved to adjourn
Made by: Dot Dobbins
Seconded by: Glenn Carter
Approved unanimously

Chair Mattson adjourned the meeting at 3:59 pm.

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Gerri Robinson
Director
Metro Social Services