Topics at the meeting included: Robin Gierer's resignation, the health "Call to Action," CC/ SNI integration, FACT's draft on accountability, initiative updates, and a special report about Caring Communities.

 
Return to Neighborhood Cabinet page.

Chair's Report

Wilma Wells, chair, noted that Governor Holden would announce further budget information later in the morning. August had been stressful with issues about restructuring Caring Communities (CC), directives from the Family and Community Trust (FACT), and layoff notices to 40 staff members.

Wells announced that Robin Gierer tendered his resignation, effective September 28, 2001. She and other board members expressed their appreciation for Robin's work. Robin noted that many issues had been faced, thanked board members for their generosity to him, and said he expected to continue to seek to serve ARCHS from his Department of Social Services position.

Health "Call to Action"

Rabbi Susan Talve asked the board's endorsement of a health Call to Action tentatively scheduled for Thursday, November 1 through Saturday, November 3, 2001. The purpose of the Call to Action is to: develop new champions for 100 percent access, zero disparities in health care; hear from the people who are really suffering; commit the community to solving the problems, focus on results; pool assets for fair allocation; improve the delivery system; public education; and continuous improvement. Sponsorships are needed to fund the program.

CC / SNI integration

Everette Nance reported on Caring Communities / Sustainable Neighborhoods Initiative integration. The committee was hampered by the budget vacuum and lack of qualitative data about CC impact. He noted past staffing problems. Nance said the committee needed clarification about its charge, especially in relation to the creation of the Resource Committee.

Wells responded that the committee's difficulties reflected the complexity of the situation, particularly with changes occurring at FACT. The committee should make recommendations on how CC and SNI can be effectively integrated. Included issues are possible overlaps and how to define roles. Technology and information are important because the committee needs to know how CC operates, Wells said.

Nance indicated two approaches: given X dollars, how are they used effectively; or given identified needs, raise the Y dollars needed, with fund raising beyond appropriations.

Anna Ginsburg said the objectives should be to prevent further disasters as have been seen in the day-after-day crime reports, get people to see the crisis for what it is, and adequate funding may require repeal of the Hancock Amendment.

Wells said that the committee should set out what needs to be in place. ARCHS has to start somewhere, and that can be resource development, collaboration among providers, and coordination of available resources, all directed to an outcome-based effort. She asked the committee to have its recommendations by the end of the calendar year.

Maggie Hourd-Bryant reported that final plans were due that day for CC staff layoffs, with development of shared staff functions and integration with other agencies. She also mentioned five-year strategic plans for CC. She was trying to meet with all the school principals concerning the new structure and utilization of space. Four sites (Columbia, Meramec, Lowell, and Fanning) were without managers. She reported that many of the laid off CC staff had taken positions with the Board of Education. Pam Boyd asked the criteria or job descriptions used in retaining or rehiring persons. Hourd-Bryant said that it was necessary to get the plans first. Nance observed that his committee should also have those plans.

FACT draft on accountability

Wells noted FACT's draft Accountability Framework. She designated Don Wolff as the person to handle responses. In responding, ``the door will be open as wide as possible,'' she said. Nance had observed in his report that, from his brief initial review, the draft was general, not at all specific.

Initiative updates

Various board members narrated a power point preqsentation of initiative updates.

Jackie Wellington presented the Sustainable Neighborhoods part, noting the second annual conference scheduled for September 21 and 22 at Forest Park Community College. (With respect to Forest Park Southeast, she highlighted the short term success of hiring a chore worker and beautification projects for seniors.)

Rabbi Talve reported on the Health Initiative, noting the need to gain the trust of people who had been let down so often in the past. The enrollment of more children in MC+ achieved its goal, ``but St. Louis gets sicker, and sicker, and sicker every day.''

Al Kerth reported on Welfare-to-Work. Statewide, 2437 persons are approaching the five-year limit on welfare benefits. St. Louis city and county have 80% of those. One-third of the individuals have children under five years of age.

Caring Communities special report

Pam Boyd (CC Board Chair) discussed the CC situation. She said there had been confusion for everyone, including the families served. She recommended coming to the table with the community as a whole and seeking funds other than appropriations through grant writing for private funds. She noted that a lot of people were not represented, especially those without means. She stressed that action was needed today, time was of the essence.

Wells responded that she understood the need for movement, at once urgent and deliberate. In the final analysis, all ARCHS work is CC work and there would be a conversation about the needs, she said.

  

Return to top of this August 22, 2001 Board page, or Neighborhood Cabinet page

or to FPSE organization list.

Send questions and suggestions to the Community Council.