Ron Trusler, CPC, President Jere Newton, RCI, Vice President Cherrie Shackelford, Secretary, Family Partner Jeffrey Tunnell, Treasurer, CFO Central Plains Center Carrie Barden, Chief, Lamb Co. Juvenile Probation Brenda Cox, Workforce Sol. Sheryl Russell, CPS Debra Flores, TTUHSC SON Maridel Montgomery, DRS Ricardo Garcia, PISD
Stakeholders attending:
Ruby Walters, Consumer Polly Earhart, RCI Michael Cox, RCI David Mclung, RCI Kay Brotherton, RCI Jose Serrano, RCI James Kemper, RCI Rhonda Jackson, CPC – WYC Roger Karr, Lbk MHMR
Welcome and Introductions President, Ron Trusler called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Members and visitors introduced themselves. No corrections to the minutes, they stand approved as printed.
Financial report Jeff – The remaining balance from our THI funds is $16,593 to spend by September 30th. After this week though, the balance will be under $4,000. Carrie inquired about there still being funds allocated for someone to still attend the Anger Management course. Jeff stated there would still be monies for the course. Sheryl made a motion to accept the budget summary Jeff presented and Carrie second it.
“Don’t Laugh at Me” Ron – played an audio clip for us by Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary. Peter was the special speaker and performer at the Georgetown conference last week in Washington, D.C. area. Operation Respect is his non-profit organization to spread the message of not making fun of others.
LEAF Focus Activity Ron- The board needs to think of where we are headed. Again, each of our agencies will need to donate money/pay dues as board members, to support our continued community outreach. As a group we brainstormed about our strengths and desires.
LEAF agency strengths: CPC- Mental Health, substance abuse, intelligence health DARS- Training employment, resources PISD- Educate students and parents, resources for community, accessibility Uniting Parents- Case management, family child with special needs School of Nursing TTU- Community service training certification Workforce Sol.- training/jobs, youth programs, support services CPS- Work with families in a variety of different ways TX Rural Mediation- Mediation and training in all counties Juvenile Probation- work with youth violations, laws and families
LEAF desires: JP- would like to work with kids before they get in trouble, including younger siblings CPS- if able to have families in services before a crisis intervention happens Gang Task Force- wished there was more of this type of service for our youth DARS- continue in our LEAF relationships, services in community, counseling in small communities to be paid for PISD- needs more parental involvement especially in older grades Uniting parents- desire parents to be accepting of help and resources, make resources known and available RCI- needs more Hispanic consumer/family involvement
Our LEAF goal is to find a target we want to help. Email Ron your thoughts on these desires and resources. We will discuss these things further.
August meeting moved to 10th The LEAF meeting for the month of August will be moved to the 10th instead of the 17th.
MHFA Schedule Ron- Debra received her MHFA teacher certification last week. Ron and Debra will be doing training class for CIS, August 9,11, & 13th at Reese Center. Then next training will be Aug. 27, September 3, 17, 24 at Houston School. There are some openings for this class. CEU’s are available including TCLEOSE. Charge is $15 for non-employees of CPC.
Nomination/Election of Second VP Ron- in our by-laws it states we are to have a Vice President. Sheryl and Maridel will be our nominating committee to come up with names to elect VP. Also we need a succession plan. Please refer to handout. Debra made a motion to accept the succession plan and Jeff second it. LEAF can oversee funds other than for mental health. Ron wants LEAF to be more than CPC and rotating officers would help this.
RCI update A group of seventeen community partners attended the National Conference in Washington, D.C. last week including the RCI team and two youth. RCI’s Look of Hope calendar was entered into the ECCO awards and won the Community Outreach category. Rico, one of the youth, was allowed to help award the winners. On October 19th RCI will take a group of people to Austin for the SOC Symposium at the Capital. Contact Kay if you have interest to attend. August 10 & 11th the National Evaluation team will be here to see our system in place. So the LEAF and RCI meetings will co-inside with this time. Kim will be calling on community leaders to interview with the team. Then, our youth partners will be presenting at the Symposium in Glendale, AZ RCI recently hired James Kimber as Social Marketer. James really has a heart to make a difference. David Mclung handed out RCI U-turn newsletter and Sho Out schedule. For October 8 & 9th at a Peer to Peer training the youth have been asked to do a session and also at the Family Conference. The U-Turn youth group completed there first video entitled 10:30. The video was put on Yellow Ribbon website as a suicide prevention. It can also be watched on youtube.com. RCI will do a small public service announcement for YADA. Representatives attended Jose’s Cultural Competence training from Wayland, Covenant Hospital, and CPC. An upcoming Free Cultural Competence workshop will be September 16 & 17, 20 & 21 in Plainview from 9 to 3 each day. The will be for licensed mental health professionals and other mental health professionals. Contact Jose at 291-0388. Polly announced that Neighbor-to-Neighbor, the family partner support group meeting would be Tuesday, July 26th at 6:30 in the Whiteaker building. They will be sharing back to school tips for parents.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m. with the RCI steward group meeting to follow. The next LEAF meeting will be August 10th starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Tommy Lewis Building.
Rural Children's Initiative
Mission Statement
Our mission is to cultivate a responsive community of care that inspires, supports, and enables all children and families to realize their potential to lead healthy, productive lives in their communities.
Systems of Care
Systems of Care is a coordinated network of community-based services and supports that are organized to meet the challenges of children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families. Families and youth work in partnership with public and private organizations to ensure that services and supports:
Are effective in positive child and family development
Build on the strengths of individuals and families
Address each person’s cultural and linguistic needs
Jere Newton, RCI, Vice President LEAF Jeffrey Tunnell, Treasurer, CFO Central Plains Center Carrie Barden, Chief, Lamb Co. Juvenile Probation Kathy Givens, Ralls ISD Sheryl Russell, CPS Reba Moore, JPO Floydada Maridel Montgomery, DRS Kelly Shurbet, Health Dpt Plainview
Stakeholders attending:
Ruby Walters, Consumer Kim Peralez, RCI David Allison, RCI Nivra Kelley-Mackey Michael Cox, RCI David Mclung, RCI Erma Ellis, LRC/CPC Kay Brotherton, RCI Victor Madrigal, Regence Health Network Cullen Holt, Youth Rico Gomez, Youth Michael Griego, Youth
Welcome and Introductions Carrie made a motion to accept the minutes. Reba 2nd the motion, all approved.
Financial report Jeff – sending Debra Flores to be trained in MHFA. Kay sent email; we may be getting more funding. If it doesn’t come to fruition we still have cost incurred with LEAF. Be thinking of what we can do to help with this. Transportation we discussed last month isn’t going to move forward. Ron believes at this stage that we just need to change it up. Jeff proposes that he move moneys around and help with the RCI Steward group. Take what LEAF money is available and upgrade CPC servers to better serve the RCI staff. CPC hasn’t been able to upgrade due to the nature of our business. But RCI needs more enhanced system. The virtual server he is looking at is approx $12,000.00. He is looking at all projects going on and any that are not going to make it to fruition, will take those moneys and put them towards projects that are moving forward. Reba says they may have money to give back for the anger management. Kathy & Nikki may possibly do the classes online. Approx 40 hrs online. Travel & lodging expense wouldn’t be incurred. They would all prefer to do hands on training if possible so checking into the one in Houston.
Maridel made motion made to move funds from transportation to server, Kathy 2nd, all approved.
Jeff suggests moving $5000 from anti-stigma to other projects such as MHFA. Must be spent by Sep 30, Sheryl motioned, Carrie 2nd, all approved.
National Assoc of Rural MH Conference Kay & Michael went in early June. Discussed how their collaboration worked. Our focus was the youth. Interesting with variety of people. Presentation went well. Dr Nancy Speck Freedom Commission, announced that there will be extra money next year.
Michael - Cowboys & farmers pickups at the coffee shops and grocery stores but never at a MH facility, so what are we doing to connect with that population which surrounds us.
Kay - Active Minds is college based group and we could possibly be bringing her for a session.
Sep 21-23 – Rural MH Conference in Phoenix, RCI submitting 3 youth engagement, LCFRS, Collaborative Fed site team was impressed with our collaboration and participation. If we get selected to present Kay will need an eclectic group to speak.
Steward Group having a retreat on June 23-24 in Lbk at Hawthorn Suites. We need to pull some things together to formalize and finalize. Solidify what needs RCI & LEAF have.
Wrap training was cancelled due to lack of participants. Is being rescheduled and RCI will be doing the training June 25-25, 9-4:30 at TLI. Anyone that is interested contact David. We need to contact all the ones scheduled to let them know of new date.
July several team members, family members & youth going to Georgetown for SOC Summer Institute.
Jose - CBMCS training went very well. He also has a blog here in Plainview and has already made the top 10 list.
Brad Thompson will be here June 17, 10-2pm for a talk. He has ZERO due process reports. Planning session for future year. He has a menu of trainings he can do. If you know any family members that would be interested, contact Kay or Polly.
Still looking for Social Marketer, still posted on website, but not in paper. (call Jenna Payne)
Michael – youth presentation, David McClung, Rico, Cory & Griego, U-Turn, Youth Advocacy To change the problems must know the problems, you have to desire to change, and easier to do if done together as a group, must know areas of weakness & strength. In the youth advocacy training taught them how to speak up for themselves and others. Discussed passion for helping youth and how it could be done. Where does it begin? Adults made commitments to the youth. Youth made commitments to the adults. U-Turn has 3 places to begin advocating: youth not being abused, not hurting themselves and peer-to-peer training. Sho Out, Sep 11th, 2nd annual event. Talent show, basketball & football competitions. United Methodist Church. Will bring more awareness to suicide. U-Turn meets 2nd and last Mon of month, 6pm. Looking to have U-Turn groups in each of our counties.
If you have students identified, 18-21 that would be interested, please call Michael or any of the youth. No criteria, just a willingness to make a difference in the community.
Youth making a video now about suicide awareness. Professionally made here in Plv.
Move LEAF board meeting to Aug 10th, national evaluators will be here.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:15 a.m. with the RCI steward group meeting to follow. The next LEAF meeting will be July 20th starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Tommy Lewis Building.
May 18, 2010
Board Members in attendance:
Jere Newton, RCI, Vice President Cherrie Shackelford, Secretary, Family Partner Jeffrey Tunnell, Treasurer, CFO Central Plains Center Carrie Barden, Chief, Lamb Co. Juvenile Probation Beth Hoffman, Jr. Youth RCI Kathy Givens, Ralls ISD Brenda Cox, Workforce Sol. Sheryl Russell, CPS Reba Moore, JPO Floydada Larry Keltz, PISD
Stakeholders attending:
Ruby Walters, Consumer Kim Peralez, RCI David Allison, RCI Polly Earhart, RCI Nivra Kelley-Mackey Michael Cox, RCI David Mclung, RCI Lisa Aufdenkamp, Family Partner Irma Ellis, LRC/CPC Claudia Perez, Our Place Michelle Jundo, CPC – Prevention Herminia Hernandez, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Julie Childs, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Kay Brotherton, RCI Victor madrigal, Regence Health Network
Welcome and Introductions Vice President, Jerrry Newton called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Members and visitors introduced themselves. No corrections to the minutes. Sheryl made a motion to accept the minutes from April and Carrie second it.
Financial report Jeff – The remaining balance from our THI funds is $15,620 (unallocated). We have offered Swisher Co. $5,000 for a mental health Transporter. In the meantime A.J. Bonner has been interested in finding an officer to do this too. Larry Keltz mentioned the Reserve Force as another resource possible for this.
Other News Members of the grant/business team for LEAF met at 9:00 am before the board meeting to discuss the following items: Reba Moore requested funds to get the Floydada School Counselor, Nicki Smith, to attend an Anger Management Certification. This training is through Anger Buster’s of Dallas. The cost of certification is $1500 and would allow her to teach this class at PAC and through the schools. PAC is a non-secure resident ional facility in Floydada where 80% of the clients have been sexual abused contributing to anger issues. They offer substance abuse intervention while having activities offered in auto mechanics, construction, and social skills training. The also have cognitive skills training that is offered to the schools. There are not detention officers but more of a one on one mentoring. Also offered is an Equestrian program. The clients volunteer in community services too. Kathy Givens has worked with CIS and now will be a counselor in Lorenzo and would like to also have the Anger Management certification. Lorenzo has the EPIC program that she could use this certification in along with the schools. The training is a full week. Jere announced this group addressed the broad range of people that would have access to these classes on Anger Management if we fund them to go through the certification. Larry will ask PISD if they also are interested in someone becoming certified. There is a known need for young children with anger management issues. We think this covers all ages. The program training is CART certified, Certified Anger Resolution Therapist. Jeff made the motion to use $5,000 for Anger Management training, while Sheryl second it. Jose Serrano of RCI would like to ask for our help to pay the cost of training curriculums in the CSMCS training he will be hosting. This would be an opportunity for investing in the multi-cultural spectrum. We can buy 4 for half price of $5,000 where they are usually $2,499 per set. Kay B. added that RCI is funding the $18,000 cost of the actual training. Eight people are signed up to take advantage of this training. For every two trained they need access to one curriculum to train others. The materials purchased would belong to LEAF for our agencies to have access to also. Once people are trained they can come back and train us. Carrie made a motion to pay for 4 sets for a total of $5,000, while Cherrie second it.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters Herminia is our new Hale Co. coordinator. Julie Childs came to share who BB/BS is. They serve and have volunteers in 28 counties surrounding Lubbock. The program changes how children grow up by providing an adult friend to the children that need it. Traditionally single parent families are their majority-needing help for children ages 5 – 15. Volunteers can be 16 at the school based part or 18 to be an adult who can pick up their Little. There is no age limit up and really encourage older adults to volunteer. The child and adult are matched. This program is about just spending time with the child. A counselor or parent refers a lot of the children, but anyone can refer a child. The only criteria are to make sure the child wants to be involved. The volunteers have a heavy interview and screening process to make sure the children are safe. Cargil has donated to the program to make a Hale county chapter available. Anyone can help by donation, one time help, or ongoing volunteering or speaking. Our local office will have their ribbon cutting ceremony at 705 W. 6th in May. They ask their volunteers to commit to one hour a week for one year. College students can have a pen pal in the summer. The visits need to be predominantly one on one but can include family members once in a while.
RCI update Kay has submitted a response for IRB approval to start the interviews. The IRB is the Internal Review Board, which CPC has committed to acquiring. Michael - had the youth advocacy training April 28th – May 1st where their youth’s goals were narrowed down to 3. In CLC Dr. Mora will come the 9 – 12 of June in Plainview for the CBMCS training. Michael and Kay will represent LEAF in a conference in Denver. Another upcoming SOC conference will be in Georgetown, July 14 –18 and will be taking 17 people with them. These people will include CIS, CPC, RCI, CLC committee and two youth, Rico and David. June 1 – 18 you can vote for our Look Of Hope poster that we submitted to the ECHO Awards contest. The top 3 will go to Georgetown for the SOC community to vote on. Kay will send this opportunity to vote out in an email. Our local top 2 winners will receive a flat screen TV, while the first place winner will also be put on the cover of the RCI Calendar and on a local billboard screen. Belia is our new community liaison/intake coordinator. She has previously been a family partner and attended the Federation of Families conference in Washington D.C. We have a part-time position or contract for the RCI social marketer. David passed out applications for his High Fidelity Wraparound training. This will be the second training and will be June 3 & 4 and June 17 & 18 from 9:30 to 4:30. There are also follow-up trainings. Anyone in the community can become wraparound certified and in fact is better for someone without a fulltime professional job. If you cannot attend all dates you may make-up in later trainings. You will receive a total of 24 CEU’s. This is posted on the RCI and LEAF websites. Kay- RCI budget is ok and she is working to spend the money in a good steward manner. Beth - this year Show out will be Sept. 11th at First United Methodist Activity Center. There will be a basketball game, Agency fair with booths to engage and a talent show. Polly – May is MH Awareness month and is working to get schools involved in the poster contest by setting up meetings with school counselors. Brad Thompson will be doing a parent training again. Neighbor-to-Neighbor the RCI sponsored parent support group meetings are up and running. Now we need to get the word out and are printing brochures about the group. They hope to have a booth at the Cowboys Days in Sept.
LEAF DVD’s The DVD’s are ready to give to people interested in our work. Please take one if you are willing to show it.
Meeting was adjourned at 11:20 a.m. with the RCI steward group meeting to follow. The next LEAF meeting will be June 15th starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Tommy Lewis Building.
Ron Trusler, President, CPC CEO Cherrie Shackelford, Secretary, Family Partner Jeffrey Tunnell, Treasurer, CFO Central Plains Center Carrie Barden, Chief, Lamb Co. Juvenile Probation Maridel Montgomery, DRS Kay Harris, Crisis Center of the Plains Beth Hoffman, Jr. Youth RCI Kathy Givens, Ralls ISD Debra Flores, TTU SON Brenda Cox, Workforce Sol. Irene Favilia, MET Kelly Templeton, CPS Larry Keltz, PISD
Stakeholders attending:
Ruby Walters, Consumer Jose Serrano, RCI Kim Peralez, RCI David Allison, RCI Polly Earhart, RCI
Welcome and Introductions President, Ron Trusler called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. Members and visitors introduced themselves. No corrections to the minutes, they stand approved as printed.
Financial report Jeff – The telemed equipment that was purchased has been installed in Littlefield and Muleshoe for $10,000. The DVD Minds on Edge was $3,000. Training for Debra to be an MHFA instructor will be $3,000. We will reimburse Ron for his time for the MHFA trainings in the amount of $3,400. Then will have $16,000 left to spend.
Other News RCI will be using the DVD Minds on Edge to be shown on Wayland’s TV Channel. They hope to have a local panel of people: police, teachers, LPC’s etc. to talk about gaps in our system. Carrie H. would like to talk to Dr. Runnels about a theater group at Wayland with the Minds on Edge theme. Also Debra Flores will hopefully be attending a MHFA instructor’s training to help out Ron with the ongoing classes. Judge Keeter in Swisher County and Ron are having some discussions about possibly having deputies to transport MH patients to Mental Hospitals
LEAF DVD demonstration The LEAF DVD has been two years in the making and is finally complete. The purpose was to explain what LEAF is about. We will have copies. The DVD was shown.
Mental Health Transformation Grant Our current grant is up this year. This new MHT grant is another option to apply for. DSHS has asked the current six community collaboratives that have been involved in MHT grants to apply. We would like to apply with 4 others. The grant amount would be $94,000 a year. This grant will be to expand Peer Specialist training in Wellness Coaching. An oversight position will be needed along with 1 or 2 Peer Specialist for our 3 main counties. Ron would like to see someone on the CPS staff to be the oversight person/site coordinator. Maridel talked about how she attended a training where this was the subject and would like to see us apply for the grant. We are behind other states in having this training. Also Debra said this position sounds like a Community Health Worker. She attended a summit in Houston and learned agencies will want someone to do this in their agency. Her 160-hour CHW training class would be a good curriculum to go along with this venture. Debra will be teaching a class in August on their training, she will send out a notice to board members. Maridel made a motion to apply for this grant, Brenda second it. A letter with board members to sign for the grant was passed around.
Mental Health First Aid update Ron has taught 4 classes and another is started at SPC. Communities in Schools are scheduled for July. APS has 21 staff to train in the Lubbock and Plainview area. Also 2 local churches have scheduled upcoming classes. The Houston School will receive a shortened version. In the future Debra will help Ron with the classes. Then we will open the classes up to the public periodically.
RCI update Beth- RCI is hosting advocacy training for youth 12-21, April 30- May 1, at the First United Methodist Church Activity Center. This will be a lock in starting at 5 p.m. The Thursday before will be an Adult Supporters Training at Whiteaker Youth Center. Parents can attend on Saturday with the youth. They need to provide consent forms for their children. Michael needs to know if parents plan to attend so please RSVP by Monday, April 26th.
Jose- has mailed out announcements about RCI’s upcoming CBMCS Facilitator Training June 8-llth. This training is to teach agency Cultural Competency but can be changed to meet your agency goals. The training is $70 including a textbook.
David- RCI has developed a new Risk Management triangle for how clients will be handled. This handout and hard copy is to let everyone know what the plan is for helping kids in our services. The services are up and running in the schools and counties. We have 69 referrals with 23 coming into wraparound services. Wraparound is the most intense lasting 6 to 18 months. Wrap Lite is like wraparound but for families that has strengths to fulfill needs within 60 to 90 days. Community in Schools works more in this level. Service coordination is for needs that do not warrant intensive intervention but may need a referral. They have determined that every child touched by RCI dollars will be tracked. Flex funds will be available for levels 1 and 2 for families needing emergency money for a crisis or something the team believes would be beneficial for the child. They are continuing in their 4-day wraparound training classes and are trying to develop a curriculum for Texas to become certified statewide. This way hopefully Wraparound Facilitators will be reimbursed for their time. We will need contract labor for a Wrap Facilitator and a Community Resource Developer. At the school CIS has made a big impact. They have been bombarded by referrals for students to the program. Also Ellie and Kendra are developing a mentoring program. Liz Myrick has helped to morph their positions to be wraparound facilitators and serving kids. The schools are already seeing great benefit from CIS and love it. It was mentioned that CRCG could make referrals into the CIS program. We are also in the process of being able to take referrals online at RCIsystemsofcare.org. David will then follow these up within 48 hours. There is a provider’s form up and running which is a group of LPC’s in the community to make sure we are handling RCI support. This list contains all the LPCs’ contact information. This will become a document for our community online and in hard copy.
Polly- PISD and RCI will be partnering together for a parent workshop. This will be a great beginning to get the word about RCI out to teachers and parents. RCI is in the beginning stages of having a Wraparound brochure available to hand out. Neighbor 2 Neighbor parent support group meeting will be at Whiteaker at 6:30 next Tuesday. This group is reorganized and will have a professional brochure ready soon too.
Veteran update The grant we supported for CPC to apply and they did receive is starting to get organized. CPC will meet with Grace after Fire a veterans women’s curriculum tomorrow. The men will use the In the Zone curriculum.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:45 a.m. with the RCI Steward group meeting to follow. Please be here by 11:00 a.m. for the steward group meeting. The next LEAF board meeting will be May 18, 2010 at 9:30 a.m. at Tommy Lewis building.
