Social Services

Board of Commissioners Meeting
 May 24, 2006


Archived Minutes

BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT:    

Dot Dobbins, Jose Gonzalez, Gwen Harris, and Linda Mattson

BOARD MEMBERS ABSENT:

Leonard Bradley, Glenn Carter and Barbara Toms

    Chair Lady Mattson called the meeting to order.

    Executive Director’s Report: Gerri Robinson

    • Ms. Robinson discussed the low-income elderly and how we are targeting this area.
    • Introductions:
    • David Nimmo – Systems Director
    • Mark Pace - Consultant

    Finance Report – Gerri Robinson

    • Our general fund programs are all well within budget and we project that we will finish the fiscal year 2006 under budget.

    4 % Reserve Funds balance of $169,467.53
    Special Donations Fund balance of $28,000.00

    Program Updates

    Demitria Norman

    • MSS has maintained a presence in the Goodlettsville Community since the tornadoes. MSS is sponsoring a block party on May 26th from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on behalf of this outreach.

    • Adult & Family Support and Planning and Coordination have worked together to sign up over 400 children for summer camp. Parents were able to select the camp of there choice.

    • The Nutrition program and the congregate meal sites provided transportation to 388 customers on the General Jackson.

    Dinah Gregory

    • Attended the Accessible Transportation Alliance and the AccessRide Policy Advisory Committee to ensure that the needs of our seniors are considered.

    • Organizing and preparing the Planning and Coordination Roundtable Conference, scheduled for June 13th at the downtown library.

    • A VISTA member has been trained to work with homelessness.

    Clifton Harris – Homelessness Conference
    We had approximately 125 participants that showed up for the conference, with 30% of the conference attendees completing the survey.
    Speakers encouraged the expansion of the level of participation in homelessness issues to include key individuals
    Lee Stewart – Relative Caregiver Roundtable
    We had approximately 40 attendees with a variety of speakers with 68% completing some portion of the participant evaluation.
    Researchers concluded that the areas for the most immediate and cost-effective impact appear to be information and referral, case management, education and training.

    Edwina Chappell

    • Customer Satisfaction Survey (all customers that walked in for service whether they had an appointment was asked to complete the survey on a voluntary basis)
    Data collection covered 3/15/06 through 4/12/06
    some of the data collected include the following:
    Did we met their need
    Did we do so with a smile
    Did we treat them with respect
    Were they satisfied with services rendered

    • Federal Grant Opportunity through the Department of Health and Human Services Administration of Children and Families Division
    Collaborative focus of the project includes the following participants:
    Tennessee Department of Children’s Services
    Tennessee Department of Human Services
    Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth
    Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, Davidson County Regional Office
    Tennessee Department of Human Services, Davidson County Regional Office
    Davidson County Juvenile Court
    Mayor’s Office of Children and Youth
    Metropolitan Action Commission
    Metropolitan Public Health Department
    Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools
    Family and Children’s Services
    Tennessee Voices for Children
    The University of Tennessee, Center for Business and Economic Research

    • MSS would be the lead agency for this project

    Personnel Updates – Yuri Hancock

    • Human Resources
    o We currently have 4 remaining vacancies
    o We are in the process of reviewing and updating our policy manual

    • Geier Scholarship
    We are working with TSU through Geier non-traditional student scholarship. In light of the Social Worker Title Protection Legislation, we are working with TSU whereby our nine employees that do not have the requisite degree will now have the opportunity to pursue a second degree, BSW in order to meet the requirement of the Legislation to go into effect July 1, 2006.

    New Business – Commissioner Mattson

    • Holding monthly board meeting in surrounding council districts.

    Motion: Motion to hold June Board of Commissioners meeting in Councilman Forkum’s council district.
    Made by: Commissioner Gonzalez
    Seconded: Commissioner Dobbins
    Passed unanimously


    Motion: Motion to adjourn the May Board of Commissioners Meeting.
    Made by: Commissioner Dobbins
    Seconded: Commissioner Harris
    Passed unanimously