SPECIAL MEETING – PUBLIC HEALTH & WELFARE
OCTOBER 7, 2004

ATTENDANCE: Jeannette Olmstead-Sawyer,Chair; Peter Wien; Rick McQuaid; Bill Krummel; Doug Sutton (7:50 p.m.)

OTHER: Linda Wilock, Director of Youth Services; Tim Callahan; Seibe Ruggiero and Linda Keller, New Learning Therapy Center;

Chairwoman Sawyer called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.

Ms. Sawyer gave a brief overview of the purpose for the meeting tonight. She said that that the Youth Services were threatened to be defunded at the end of this year and that the Mayor was thinking of looking at other ways that adolescence could receive such services without using that particular agency. Ms. Sawyer said that the Health Committee had a hearing so that the community could come and give their opinions on the issue. She said that the attendance was very large with mostly adolescence and their parents attending as well as some of the counselors under Youth Services. Ms. Sawyer said that they expressed the need for Youth Services. As a result of this, the Committee was very confused as to why these services were being thought of being eliminated.

Another meeting was held and the matter was discussed further. The Committee decided to form a subcommittee to look into the various services available to adolescence to get an idea of what is going on with Youth Services. Ms. Sawyer said that the Mayor got involved after that and chose a plan similar to the one the subcommittee chose and suggested a Blue Ribbon committee of which he chose to Chair. She said that Mayor Knopp also suggested the persons who would be on the committee. Ms. Sawyer stated that this Committee felt that some of the members of Youth Services should be on the committee as well as some that the Mayor had chosen. She said that there were slight difference between the programs that both committees had chosen as task force type of things to look at. Ms. Sawyer said that the Health Committee decided to have a meeting tonight to go in the direction of following their particular plan. The New Learning Center was invited to share some the activities that it has in place.

Ms. Wilock stated that Youth Services has a contract with the New Learning Center for consultation about once a month.

Ms. Ruggiero, Director of Program Development for New Learning Therapy Center stated that Gerry Arndt, EDD, Clinical Services has provided support and supervision in the delivery of services through the clinicians that are working directly with the clients they are serving.

Mr. Wien said that one of the Mayor’s concerns was being able to provide seamless help to the children being worked with so that the ones that need greater help could move on to what they needed. The Youth Services counseling services at City Hall has been discussed. Mr. Wien said that the Youth Services Department has not shown any problems over the years. There was a discussion between Ms. Keller and Ms. Wilock. Ms. Wilock said the services are primarily with children that have problems at school, i.e., disciplinary issues, under achievement or family problems. Ms. Keller asked how many children on the average are seen by Youth Services. Ms. Wilock said that last year a total of over 100 were seen. She said that on average about 30 kids would be on the roster, some of which are seen weekly. Ms. Wilock said that presently the Center is understaffed. Ms. Keller asked if the children are seen on a sliding scale. Ms. Wilock said that is one of the issues right now. She said the service is free, funded by the City of Norwalk and the Youth Services Bureau Grant.

Mr. Wien said that Mayor Knopp is looking at outsourcing this whole program and that there would be a fee. He said that this is why they are looking at moving in the direction of the New Learning Center as a possible provider.

Ms. Ruggiero gave a brief overview of the services provided by the New Learning Center. She said that the Center is a multidisciplinary psychotherapeutic practice. She said that they are licensed professionals, clinical social workers, marriage and family counselors and psychologists. There are 12 clinicians in the practice. Ms. Ruggiero said the Center sees children beginning at age 3 to 4 years old through adult age. There is a lot of support provided to families that may be in various degrees of crisis or in treatment or have learning disabilities. There are groups for different social skills and for special groups such as children with PPD, ADHD, etc.

Ms. Wilock said that when Youth Services is fully staffed it also provides social skills for the youth that is beyond counseling.

Ms. Sawyer asked how the percentage of adolescence serviced by the New Learning Center. Ms. Ruggiero said about 25%.

Mr. McQuaid said that the Committee is being told that the City’s Youth Services is going to be defunded and that the Mayor’s committee was looking at Mid Fairfield Services. He said this Committee wanted to look into different options.

There was discussion with regard to insurance issues. Ms. Wilock said that there is an incredible amount of clerical and paperwork that needs to be done with regard to staffing.

Mr. Krummel said that there is a fundamental gap in the discussion. He asked what the reason was for talks of defunding the Youth Services Program. Ms. Wilock said that there was no reason. Mr. Krummel said that this is a vital, professional service and that was unacceptable. He said to speak about defunding this service without a professional evaluation is unacceptable.

Mr. Wien noted a letter he wrote to the Mayor on this issue which became public asked the same questions. He said the Mayor would not respond. He said that kids live in a higher stressed environment today and that a professional evaluation of services has to be in place.

Mr. Wien said that this Committee is running out of time. He said the next meeting with the BET held on October 20, 2004 and there is nothing mentioned on Youth Services at all. There was discussion with regard to the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Committee. Mr. Wien said that he sees this as a huge problem because children will suffer because of adult issues.

Ms. Ruggiero said that the New Learning Service is capable of providing the services needed by the youth but that the present Youth Services seems to be working well. She clarified the fact that New Learning Center uses the services of a psychologist when needed. Ms. Keller said that they also use APRN’s who are declared able by the State to medicate to do therapy. Ms. Wilock stated that Youth Services also uses psychologists when needed.

Mr. Krummel asked Ms. Ruggiero how the New Learning Service had become the supervisory group of record since they are out of town. Ms. Ruggiero said that there are a limited number of people who have the designation of supervisor of marriage and family therapists. She stated that in addition to this, Mr. Arndt is well known for his supervisory skills. Mr. Krummel asked how long Youth Services had been operating. Ms. Wilock said since 1978. Ms. Ruggiero said that the New Learning Center has 24 -hour phone service.

Ms. Wilock commented on the services provided by Youth Services which included counseling that would be lost should this program be defunded.

Mr. Wien said that this Committee needed to get certain questions answered by a Blue Ribbon committee to decide where this Committee is going to go. He said that the Mayor has made a lot of statements and that information needs to be uncovered since last March.

Ms. Sawyer said that one of the statements that has been made is that Youth Services does not document information concerning the clients and that there is no way of tracking what occurred at meetings together.

Ms. Wilock said that she becomes very upset when she hears these types of things. She said that client information is documented. She said if a client signs a release giving Youth Services permission, Youth Services shares that information with the school social worker of that child. Ms. Wilock submitted a sample folder of the records that are kept on clients.

Mr. Wien said that the people that have made the statements about the records have never been to the Youth Services Center to look at the records legally.

Ms. Sawyer said that a large portion of the clients served by Youth Services are minorities and asked what would happen to them if this service is outsourced to someone looking for some type of insurance. Ms. Wilock said that she did not know. Ms. Sawyer stated that she is very concerned with how the City would deal with this issue.

Mr. Callahan said that an analysis needed to be done of the services that were provided for at least a 3-year period with regard to how many kids were referred, if there was a payor source, if there is a third-party source able to pay and what the rate would be. He said that this is one of the tasks that this Committee has before it. Ms. Wilock said that the kids that Youth Services serves come from schools, community centers and court. It was determined that information from these sources would need to be gathered in order to do the analysis.

Mr. McQuaid said that no one knows what the Mayor’s charge is to his Blue Ribbon Committee and that the most important thing that needs to be done right now is to have the Board of Estimate and Taxation put the money back into Youth Services so that it gives the different committees time to move forward. He said that this gives Mr. Callahan and Ms. Wilock the opportunity to gather and submit more information both the Blue Ribbon Committee and this committee.

Ms. Wilock said that what Youth Services does is fairly typical of what other youth service agencies throughout the State does. She said that they have the same type of population and the same staff. Ms. Wilock said that she is very concerned with what will happen if staff leaves. She said that there are a lot of open cases that she would not know where to send.

Mr. Krummel asked the age of the youth served. Ms. Wilock said 11 to 18 year olds. Younger children are referred to Mid Fairfield and the average child they serve is 8 years old.

Ms. Sawyer stated that Mayor Knopp stated that he was going to fund the program through the end of the school year.

Mr. Callahan said that he has been talking a lot with the Mayor about this issue. He said the goal of the Blue Ribbon Commission is to determine the best type of services that meet the needs of Norwalk youth. He said that the Mayor has no interest in eliminating the Youth Services Department. He said that more services might be added. He said that the services might not look like they do today, but as long as the youth of Norwalk get what they need, that is o.k. Mr. Callahan said that the Blue Ribbon Commission would be comprised of people with varying interests; parents, educators, elected officials, students and just interested community members. All the members who serve on the Commission are volunteers and are very sincere about what they do. Mr. Callahan said that ultimately, this Committee would have to decide on a course of action. He said that the findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission are recommendations only and that this Committee does not have to act on them. He said that there is a sincere attempt to do what is right for the youth of the City of Norwalk.
Mr. Krummel stated that what is needed is an evaluation from professionals and that a Blue Ribbon Commission is premature. He said the first step is to know what this Committee has and to evaluate what it has.

Mr. McQuaid said that this Committee needs to have major input into what the Blue Ribbon Committee is doing and that this would mend the fence between the two committees. He said the most important thing right now is to meet with the Counsel so that there is not a Board of Education problem. He said the BOE and the Board of Estimate & Taxation needed to hold a special meeting on October 20, 2004 since there is only 90 days left before the defunding is put into effect.

Mr. Sutton said that he trusts that the Mayor will fund the program through the end of the year. He said that there are persons in place to ensure that the proper functions are in place. He said that the Mayor has backed off somewhat from his previous stance because of the research that he has done.

Mr. Krummel said that it vital that there be a timeline with this Committee because of the defunding issue hanging over its head. He said that it should be made clear that the present services will continue while the Blue Ribbon Commission has time to do their work. He said that the Committee needed to know how many people are going to be on the Blue Ribbon Commission and how long it would take for them to do their work.

Mr. Callahan said that he did not know how long it would take and that he would provide follow up information.

Mr. Wien said that he still would like the original information which precipitated the outsourcing and defunding decision. Mr. Callahan stated that there is a process that the City has to follow because it is a government agency. An RFP was put out as well as notices. The RFP’s were reviewed and presented to the Mayor and the Common Council made a decision on whom to use. Mr. Wien said that the Committee is entitled to see the results of the decision to defund the program as well as any background information.

Ms. Sawyer agreed that the Mayor should submit background information as to how this came about in the first place. Secondly, Ms. Sawyer said that the Committee needs assurance that the present system will stay in place until a new one is implemented and lastly what is the time frame for the Blue Ribbon Commission. She said that she hopes to have this information at the next meeting in two weeks.

** MR. MCQUAID MADE A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Linda L. Custis
Telesco Secretarial Services

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