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Meeting
Minutes for October 1, 2003
FALL SCHEDULE for the TASK FORCE
November 5, 2003 Lake Ontario Room, 3rd floor, State of Michigan
Library
December 3, 2003 Lake Ontario Room, 3rd floor, State of Michigan Library
State of Michigan Library
Lake Ontario Room, 3rd floor
717 West Allegan
Lansing, MI 48909-7507
(517) 373-1580
Outgoing Co-Chair Kristen McDonald Stone called the meeting to order at
9:30 a.m.
Introductions
were done.
UPDATES TO THE TASK FORCE
Family Independence Agency, Kathi Pioszak
1. State plan approved.
TANF Reauthorization, Steve Manchester, Richard Lower, Jane Zehnder-Merrell
1. TANF/CCDBG
extension passed for continuation funding thru end of March 2004.
2. Current bill includes $1 Billion over 5 years, however, Sen. O. Snowe
is seeking between $5-7 Billion in an amendment that she is working on and
an agreement with the leadership of the U.S. Senate is in the works to
allow her to offer the first amendment on the floor of the Senate when the
bill is taken up on the floor of the Senate.
Head Start Reauthorization, Kristen McDonald Stone
1. No new news. Bi-partisan negotiations are continuing and expecting
a new bill to be drafted and action taken in November, 2003. 2. For
further info, contact Kristen at (517) 374-6472 or Kristen@mhsa.ws
Kids Count in Michigan, Jane Zehnder-Merrell
1. Michigan's Right Start data was released on September 16, 2003. The
press release and summary were distributed to Task Force. 2. Three
areas of improvement: decline in repeat teen births, decline in
smoking, and decline in teen births. 3. Summary sheets for cities are
being developed. 4. Call the Michigan League for Human Services for
your city summary sheet. 5. The next Right Start data to be released in
2004. 6. The League's annual conference coming November 6, 2003.
Michigan Department of Education, Judy Levine
1. Great Parents/Great Start funding applications due today. Little
funds available. 2. MSRP changes. Some ISDs are keeping all dollars
for MSRP, some are using them exclusively for ASAP-PIE type
activities, and some are using the dollars for a combination of MSRP
and ASAP-PIE type activities combined. 3. In October (date TBA), there
will be a training for early childhood specialists on the changes to the
MSRP assessment tool. 4. There is an upcoming 5% reduction in the Dept. of
Education budget. Unsure what this reduction will look like at this point.
Department of
Consumer and Industry Services, Patricia Hogg for Jim S.
1. The Ad-hoc
committee re: Center Rules continues to meet. It will be approximately a
year before a decision on changes occurs. 2. Transfer of Licensing to FIA
is underway with the expectation that the Governor's E.O.-revised will be
accepted, since the Senate has rejected the current version of the E.O.
and the House is threatening to reject it. 3. Irma Zuckerberg is taking a
new position at DCIS, so there will be a vacancy in the bureau director
position.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mark Sullivan, Mi4C
Passed out a handout re: a school age provider assessment-includes a web
site with a survey that those with programs are encouraged to fill out.
HB 4096 (Children's Ombudsman Act)
Richard Lower
The Senate standing committee is meeting on October 2, 2003 at 8:30 a.m.
To access legislation (a copy of the bill and several analyses of it) go
to
www.michiganlegislature.org.
GUEST SPEAKER
Nannette Bowler, Director, Michigan Family Independence Agency
Dept. of Licensing is coming back to FIA.
5 Priorities: Safety, Well-being, Permanency, Independence, Worker Support
Gov. challenged the FIA to "think outside the box" in response to
financial situation in the State.
GOALS:
1. Better mental and medical health care services
2. Stream line service between "multi-system families"
3. Worker infrastructure
The State spend more on child care than FIP (Family Independence Program)
Less than half of child care centers in the state service FIA eligible
children.
Ms. Bowler knows that there problems regarding licensing of centers/homes.
61 consultants is too low, case loads too high.
Ms. Bowler planning to meet with entire licensing staff and asking for
issues and recommendations. The structure of licensing will be changing
because "it's broken."
Statewide plan to educate state workers involved with children on early
childhood development and brain development of children.
Ms. Bowler asked the MCCTF for concerns/issues and received a few. Need
for training of consultants; middle management. Minimum requirements of
education or training for providers. Streamline licensing procedures. Why
does it take 45 days to open a child care payment authorization?
The next MCCTF meeting in November will include a group think session on
what Ms. Bowler asked with including recommendations.
ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rep. Joseph Rivet spoke about E.O. and only 2 real issues are holding
up the E.O. out of a 52 page E.O. The Governor will issue a new E.O. and
rewrite the 2 "bad" parts.
Kristen McDonald Stone officially stepped down as co-chair and Richard
Lower (Michigan's Children) is the next co-chair of the MCCTF.
Kristen McDonald Stone, MHSA
A licensing letter has been drafted and MCCTF has signed on regarding
concerns surrounding licensing. The letter will go to Director Bowler.
Also signing on is the Mi4C, MiAEYC, Michigan's Children, and the Michigan
Head Start Association. The letter will be sent out electronically over
the MCCTF network.
Report on Governor's Summit on Education, Sharon Peters (Michigan's
Children) There was a capacity crowd. There is now a place at the
Governor's level to get issues re: early childhood. Showcased expanded
early childhood R.E.A.D.Y. Kits. Showcased a new PSA re: the Governor's
Great Start effort.
ADDITIONAL UPDATES TO THE TASK FORCE
K. Pelleran, Fight Crime Invest in Kids
Social Service Block Grant (Federal level)- A cut has been proposed
meaning Michigan is losing out on approximately $40 million. Encouraged
those in attendance to contact Congressman Camp's office and convey our
wish that the $2.8 billion in cuts be restored.
Richard Lower, Michigan's Children
Announced e-mail group list changes-a separation of MiAEYC and MCCTF group
lists. Asked those in attendance for suggestions for future speakers to
the group. E-mail Lisa or Richard with suggestions. The co-chairs, Lisa
and Richard, are recommending that part of some future meetings be spent
in work groups on issues, learning about advocacy, networking, etc.
Speaker time will be reduced, however, question/answer time will continue.
If there are any suggestions on format of meetings, e-mail Lisa or
Richard. Richard also asked the group if Updates should be limited?
General feeling of the group was no-they are very valuable. Richard asked
the general feel of the group about the MCCTF Spring legislative event?
Planning is going to start for the 2004 event soon. Richard also asked if
the group would like to
incorporate some advocacy training into a future meeting. A suggestion was
made that once a year have an "orientation" to the MCCTF that includes its
history, purpose/mission, advocacy skills, etc.
Kristen McDonald Stone, MHSA
Kristen announced that she needs access to 4-year-old Spanish speaking
Head Start children for an assessment process for the MHSA. Please contact
her if you have access to this group.
The next meeting will be November 5, 2003 at the State of Michigan
Library, Lake Ontario Room, from 9:30 a.m. noon. Invited speaker is Sue
Carnell, Education Advisor to the Governor.
Minutes taken by Steve Manchester (MiAEYC) and Mary Hentschl (Kalamazoo
Public Schools).
SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE
Send comments and suggestions regarding this e-mail network, or
requests to be added or removed from it, to
mcctforce@miaeyc.org.
Please FORWARD THIS NOTICE TO OTHERS; we invite and courage people to join
this e-mail network.
The MCCTF Organizational Sponsors:
Michigan 4C Association (Community Coordinated Child Care); Michigan's
Children; Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children; and
Michigan Head Start Association. |
