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HIGHLIGHTS OF MINUTES
January 13, 2006
Wintergreen Resort and Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells, WI
President’s Report
Correspondence
HSF-44: The first meeting was held during December 2005. The committee would like to have a rough draft completed by March 15, 2006. Updates will be posted on the State bulletin board.
Board members heard that WJCIA does not want to continue providing intake training. Letters will be sent the to DOC and DHFS assuring them WJCIA will continue providing intake training in the future.
Social Work Certification process will be changed slightly, by adjusting deadline dates for the number of training hours to be completed.
Case Problems
Question regarding timelines for juveniles placed in secure detention, amount of time from fact finding to a dispositional hearing. All board members agreed weekends do count for timelines, as outlined in the State statutes.
Question about counties contracting out to provide access services. Clear difference between intake and access services, access does not have the authority to place kids nor investigate abuse and neglect situations. The concern being raised is that contracting out services could affect overall quality of services with staff not having appropriate credentials and training. The WJCIA Board will continue to monitor these situations. The primary concern would be if counties were to start asking contracted personnel to begin holding or placing juveniles as part of their job description.
Department of Corrections Report
Gretchen Kubnick reports several staff changes within the Department of Corrections. Shelly Hagen has filled the OJOR position. Sue Boelke has filled the Northwest Region Supervisor position. Gretchen also provided handouts for the previous DOC newsletter with the primary focus on re-entry programs.
Gretchen updated the Board on an upcoming conference entitled, “Open Minds” scheduled for March 14-15, 2006. This conference will be focusing on brain research. Gretchen highly recommends attending this conference. She also indicates that a scholarship will likely be awarded to each county so they can send a representative to the conference.
The last item that Gretchen reports is that DOC will try to provide a video of the recent sex offender training provided by the sex offender grant received from the Federal Government.
DHFS Report
Cathy Connolly reports the State is still trying to get the word out on use of shelter or detention for 72-hour holds or sanctions. They should not be entered as placements into eWisacwis, but should be entered as in-home services.
The HFS-44 work group will be meeting on February 9, 2006.
Cathy reports that several new bills are working their way through the State Legislature:
SB-493 would make permanency plans needed every six months on juveniles on delinquency orders.
Act 101 would allow previous court history to be considered for all court proceedings.
Act 104 revises the required arrest involving domestic violence situations for the predominant aggressor to be taken into custody, which is to help law enforcement make a better decision when making an arrest in a domestic violence situation
Act 60 involves the recording of juvenile interviews by police. Cathy provided handouts from the State Bar with information.
Question raised regarding confidentiality of entering information into eWisacwis. Cathy reports the State is continuing to work on this issue, indicating that access to eWisacwis shall stay the same for now. Again, Cathy expresses the primary concern is for entering information into eWisacwis regarding mental health or AODA. Concers expressed regarding a need for the State to take a position on this issue because it is interfering with the client’s ability to trust caseworkers. The question was also raised about other workers from different counties being allowed to have access to eWisacwis. Cathy reports the county that is accessing the information should notify the supervising county they are accessing eWisacwis information and workers should not be just searching eWisacwis for curiosity.
Committee Reports
Conference Committee
Conference Committee had a very good meeting. They are in the process of deciding keynote speakers for the 2006 conference. WJOA has made some suggestions for keynote speakers as well, and they will work that out. The Conference Committee would also like to get the word out to obtain volunteers from the membership to provide assistance and help at the conferences in the future.
Newsletter Committee
Deadline for Prima Facie is February 15, 2006. Gretchen Kubnick will do an update of her biography for her new position as DOC County Liaison Worker.
Training Committee
44 attendees were at the January 2006 training. The March 2006 training in Madison is full with 46 scheduled attendees. The Committee is recommending that they go back to 5 trainings per year instead of 4, to include a November training.
Legislative Committee
The current bills being tracked by the Legislative Committee include:
AB-21 This bill makes it easier for schools to refer children under the age of 12 for truancy.
SB-224 Threat to Harm Social Workers The Committee is sending a letter to the Joint Judiciary Committee expressing the need for the proposed legislation. The Legislative Committee would like to get the word out to get social workers who have experienced threats while doing their job, if willing to testify at an open meeting for support of the current bill. Suggestions included use of the WJCIA website and placing an article in the Prima Facie issue.
SB-226 Informed Consent for Treatment and Access to Records This bill allows parents to sign for mental health treatment or psychotropic drugs for their minor child.
AB-138 This will allow the Tribe to license persons previously who have lost foster care licenses.
Information Technology Committee
New pages are up with Legislation Committee meeting minutes and a past conference page with pictures.
Recognition Committee
No referrals at the current time. An article will be put in the Prima Facie. There will be a proposed change in the criteria from 10 to 5 years of service
Intake Directory
Current registry is almost ready to be sent out via e-mail. A follow up letter will be sent asking for feedback on the use of e-mail versus sending out a hard copy.
Committee on Position / Mission Statement
Currently working on a position statement allowing 17 year olds to remain in the Juvenile System.
By-Laws Committee
By-laws were reviewed.
Forms Committee
Will be changes to the permanency plan review order and intake inquiry forms.
Regional Meetings
Region 1
They will be meeting the first week in February 2006 in Hayward.
Region 2
Will try to meet in March 2006.
Region 3
Will be meeting on January 20, 2006 in Eau Claire.
Region 4
They will be meeting on February 3, 2006. Reports their shelter in LaCrosse is now closed. They are working on a new report center, which is going well so far.
Region 5
They will be meeting in February 2006.
Region 6
Will be meeting on February 9, 2006 in Madison.
Region 7
Meeting on January 17, 2006 in Milwaukee.
Special Assignments
WCHSA
Discussing a recent workload survey involving the new requirements on workers’ time. Group will also be discussing the eWisacwis Advisory Committee. The next meeting is scheduled for February 22, 2006.
JC Technical Advisory Committee
Meeting in March 2006. Reports the State is focusing on reducing costs for correctional placements. They are also continuing to work on protocol for aftercare and re-entry after juveniles leave institutions.
New Business
Next scheduled meeting on March 2-3, 2006. .