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County of Volusia
Children and Families Advisory Board
Minutes of the January 15, 2004 Meeting- 5:15 pm
County of Volusia, Kelly Administration Building
123 West Indiana Avenue, Deland, Florida
386-943-7039

Call to Order - 5:30 pm

Attendance

Quorum: Yes

Chair’s Report: Chair advised Board that main purpose of today’s meeting is to discuss Evelyn Lynn’s bill regarding mandatory family home day care licensure and whether the CFAB will recommend support of the bill to the County Council to add to their Legislative platform.

Minutes: Motion made by Maria Augustine and seconded by Mary Lou Mirino to approve minutes of October 14, 2003 and October 22, 2003. Motion passed.

Correspondence: Request from 4H Club for $1000 to attend Florida 4-H Legislature. Tracy Tesdall, Volusia County 4-H Coordinator, stated that costs have increased resulting in less participation. The $1000 would fund 10 kids $100 each. Motion made by Karen Bourbonnais and seconded by Mary Lou Mirino to approve request.

Old Business: Staff provided schedule of Agency Monitoring for January-February–March, 2004. Mr. Williams addressed the Board regarding letters to the newspaper expressing their opinion, conveying that it must be clear that it is their personal opinion, and not the opinion of the Board. In addition regarding content, any information coming out of the CFAB Board meetings is public information and can be included in any letters published. Mary Lou Mirino responded that the day of the County Council meeting the press took her position paper, which was public record, and published it.

Discussion of bills from Evelyn Lynn on Family Home Day Care Licensure:
Chair, Mary Bruno, stated that if the CFAB supports the bills from Evelyn Lynn and asks the Council to support the bills on the legislative platform, the Board is in effect saying the Board supports the licensing of all family day care homes. Mr. Williams stated that the Council agreed to delay the decision until May after the Legislative Session. The same week of the Council meeting the bills from Evelyn Lynn were introduced. The Council would not take a position until the bills had been reviewed by the CFAB.

Jo Sheppard, CEO of Child Care Resource Network requested that the CFAB recommend support of the bills on mandatory family home child care licensure.

Karen Bourbonnais stated that if the bill passes and licensure is mandated, she feels that the Board may have missed an opportunity to “do it better” than the State. Mary Bruno stated that the bill has been before the Legislature previously and did not pass. Mary Lou Mirino expressed concerned that many good homes will close. Karen Bourbonnais stated that family child care is not a cottage industry anymore and is part of the child care delivery system. She further stated that providers have had ample time to prepare themselves to be professional. She believes that current providers could be grand fathered in and any new providers would have to be licensed. If the bill passes, by 2005 everyone would have to licensed, or quit. Alice Johnson stated that she believes we should reserve the right to make the decision at the County, rather than the state level. By supporting the Evelyn Lynn bills it is essentially tying our hands.

Alice Johnson made a motion that we do not recommend to the state that that carry forth and lobby for this bill to be passed as a Board we want to reserve the right to keep it at the County level and continue our discussions. Motion seconded by Mary Lou Mirino. Motion was clarified to say we (CFAB) do not recommend that we recommend to the County Council that they add this bill to their Legislative platform and that we continue board discussions as to whether the county should recommend licensure and reserve the right to be able to add our own things to our motion, when we are ready to make it. Alice Johnson stated that at the last CFAB meeting it was decided that more information was needed before a decision was made. Further discussion and clarification by Chair was that individual Board members could support the bill as individuals, but not as the Board as a whole. Chair called for the vote which was a tie 3-3. Motion failed.

Mary Bruno stated that she is personally supporting the bill and feels that by taking a position to support the bill. and asking the County Council to support the bill, the Board is, in effect, voting for licensure. Therefore, if the Board is asking the Council to support these bills, we are saying that licensure is the way we should go. We then take away our opportunity to say we support the bill. But if we want to grand father in and possibly add other things, she does not believe this is the position we should ask the County Council to take at this time.

Mr. Williams stated that at this point we do not know if the CFAB has the authority to grand father in registered homes. Alice Johnson stated that she feels that by supporting the bill the CFAB gives up the right to come up with a procedure that works for Volusia County. Karen Bourbonnais stated she prefers that the County Council support the bill, because the thinks the bill will not pass in the Legislature. However, if the bill does not pass, the CFAB could craft or sculpt a network of family childcare in the county that perhaps would be even better than the proposed bill. Kymberly Cook stated that Board members represent their constituents in the county and realizing that the basis of the bill is establishing minimum safety standards, no system is perfect. She further stated that the CFAB could not find or build a perfect system. The reason she is supporting the bill is to establish basic safety needs.

Mr. Williams stated he spoke with the County Attorney regarding the County establishing minimum standards for child care, a middle-ground, in lieu of Florida Statute. The response was yes, however, the issue, in establishing the standards, independent of the State, is enforcement. If a County ordinance is passed, the State would not be responsible to enforce County standards, which means the County would have to fund the enforcement.

Karen Bourbonnais made a motion that the CFAB recommend that the County support the bill sponsored by Evelyn Lynn. Motion seconded by Maria Augustine. Alice Johnson stated that the issue is really not whether we are for or against this bill, but whether we want Volusia County to make this decision or the State. Chair called for vote. Motion passed 4-2. Kymberly Cook stated that she believes that it is the hope of the Board to made a huge difference in child care for the betterment and help child care providers become licensed and to help avoid underground daycare.

Board reviewed and accepted proposed CFAB meeting dates for 2004.

Summer Camp: Motion made by Mary Lou Mirino to use any unallocated funds for Summer Camp, designate Volusia County Leisure Services as the primary provider for Summer Camp. Motion seconded by Kymberly Cook. Motion passed.

On the issue of requesting a process/procedure for funding summer camp in locations where Leisure Services does not provide a camp, Mary Bruno stated that criteria needs to be established. Mr. Williams advised the Board that the current process is that agencies requesting funding for camp, where Leisure Services does not provide a camp, the County contracts with local agencies. Last year we had contracts with Strong Tower Mission in Seville, and New Hope Human Services in Deltona. God’s Covenant Mission Center was funded previously, but, not last year because Leisure Services provided a camp in Lake Helen. For special needs children the County also contracts with Easter Seals who provides a specialized program. Karen Bourbonnais stated that she believes that every provider of summer camp programs should be allowed to enroll children in their program and if the parent needs financial assistance the parent should be able to get the assistance from the County. She could not support telling families that they could only go to a summer camp operated by the County program. Parents should have a choice. Mr. Williams responded that a major part of the decision in using Leisure Services is the lost cost compared to other providers and desiring to serve as many children as possible. We want to maximize the dollars. Alice Johnson questioned whether Leisure Services has done a good job in providing Summer Camp. Children’s Coordinator responded yes, excellent job.

Don Gooding questioned the geographic distribution of funds and how to properly distribute the funding across the County since funding is currently distributed on a first come, first serve basis, and not by geographics. Mr. Williams stated that funding needs to be distributed on geographic area. Mary Bruno stated that all communities should be served. Don Gooding stated that the criteria could be set up as first come, first serve in each community, setting a cap by community. Motion made by Alice Johnson and seconded by Karen Bourbonnais to accept following criteria:

• Geographical area where Leisure Services does not have a summer camp
• Length of time of summer program is the same as Leisure Services
• Cost of camp is the same as Leisure Services
  Agency is operating legally
• Program is comparable program as Leisure Services
• Agency must provide a variety of programs

Election of CFAB officers: Motion by Alice Johnson to nominating Mary Lou Mirino as Chair, seconded by Karen Bourbonnais. Motion passed. Motion by Alice Johnson nominating Dr. Henry Martin as Vice Chair, seconded by Karen Bourbonnais. Motion passed, pending his acceptance. Budget sub-committee appointed by Chair, Alice Johnson, Chair, Dr. Henry Martin, Mary Bruno, MaryLou Mirino, and Kymberly Cook.

Mary Bruno stated that April 1 is School Readiness which requires either the Chair of CFAB participate in School Readiness, or Chair can appoint Children’s Services Coordinator. The Community Alliance also requires a representative from the CFAB Board.

Public Participation: Dan Bennett from Pierson area informed the Board of his intention to compete for funds to provide a summer camp program. He agrees that the time-frame criteria, being the same as Leisure Services, is not a problem. However, matching the same type of program may be a problem, because of the rural area. Transportation is an additional cost consideration. Mary Bruno stated that the concern of the Board is the quality of the program, not necessarily comparing the number of field trips.

Claris Mac’Kie, Director of Family Renew Community, advised the Board that Family Renew is celebrating their 15th anniversary this year and there will be a spring gala on May 15. A 2003 van was donated to the agency recently. She also stated that almost all of their school age children attend a Leisure Services summer camp and there have been no complaints. Prior to the CFAB involvement parents were not happy with the quality of the service they were receiving. She stated she was pleased that the CFAB was continuing their support of summer camp scholarships.

Advisory Board Participation: Kymberly Cook stated she is happy to be a part of the new budget sub-committee. Karen Bourbonnais stated she may be willing to serve on a sub-committee next year. Also, Take Stock in Children is still looking for mentors. Alice Johnson stated she has really enjoyed being part of the Board this past year and feels that the Board has the same interests. Maria Augustine stated she has enjoyed being on the Board and it has been a learning experience. Mary Lou expressed appreciation to the Board for their support in electing her as the Chair. Mary Bruno stated that she is looking forward to another year and the challenges as the Board moves forward. The daycare issue has brought the Board closer together and made the Board look at many issues and has made the Board stronger. Mr. Williams stated staff really appreciates the effort the Board

Meeting adjourned: 6:50 pm.

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