CAFCA
Public Policy Committee Minutes
April 4, 2006
Members present: Arnie Goldstein (Excelsior YC), Jerry
Yager (Denver Children’s Home), Ruth Ann Russell (Family Tree), Austin
Topolnicki (Shiloh Home), Joanna Reynolds (American Humane Association), Susan
Krill Smith (Synergy), Megan Aldritt (Catholic Charities), Susannah Carroll,
Katie Mason & Peg Long (CAFCA).
The meeting was called to order at 12:10 pm by Jerry Yager.
March 2006 minutes were approved.
SFY 2006-07 Budget/Long Bill
- Peg-
reported that things look good so far in the long bill accept possible the
Summer Grant program. Due to being over in budget numbers the Summer Grant
program may be at risk.
2006 Legislative session
- HB-06-1207
Salaried Foster Care bill went to Governors desk for signature, as did Child
Licensing Bill SB 06-199(dual licensure& cradle care)
- JBC
child welfare bill has been drafted and will include provision for
unlicensed therapists to bill for Medicaid reimbursement. (Senator Keller
will pursue issue with CMS)
- HB
06-1375 (the School Finance Act) – was amended in the house Education
Committee by Rep. Keith King to add $500,000 in funding for the Facility
Schools Summer Grant Program. If the grant remains intact, summer school
programs will not be funded until the summer of 2007 due to the need for the
Colorado Dept. of Education to draft rules. This bill also increases special
education funding for school districts and creates a high-cost grant program
which allows school districts that incur special education expenditures in
excess of $40,000 for a single child to apply for grant funding to assist
with these costs.
Rules Update
- Human
Service Board meets Friday at 10:00AM to review proposed changes to Volume
VII rules (for Therapeutic Residential Child Care Facilities (TRCCFs) and
Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs). We are in agreement
with spirit of rules but there may be some issues in the details.- Skip
asked if the rules state” Only licensed therapist can provide individual,
family and group therapy?” Peg will check on that issue. Issue raised
whether Medicaid will cover non-face-to face family therapy when the child
is present but family is on the phone? Does this get billed as family or
individual therapy? Need to ask Bev Dahan at RTC meeting.
- Volume
VIII rules still in clearance and not currently on the agenda for April 14th
Medical Board meeting. It still may be placed on the agenda at the last
minute or get on the May 12th agenda.
Strategic Plan review.
The group reviewed
Goal #4 of the CAFCA 2010 Public Policy Strategic Plan which is: To develop
on-going relationships with current and emerging political and policy leaders
[that transcend term limits]. Group discussed strategies to get
children’s issues on the platforms for the Governors, Legislative and
Congressional races. These include:
- Hosting
a gubernatorial candidate forum posing questions (budgetary areas, best
practice, appointment of CDHS Executive Director and this person’s role
with counties and providers) related to how the candidate would address the
long-term social costs of under-funding services to children & families;
the role of the state in protection and well-being of children, especially
those in the state’s custody; the candidate’s vision for implementing
the political stance, etc. This would be scheduled for August or early
September and could be a collaborative effort among several organizations
(United Way—Sister Lavonne, League of Women Voters, Every Child Matters,
etc.). Skip
and Joanna volunteered to work on developing and field testing questions for
the candidates.
- The
group also discussed the feasibility of having a candidate forum for
congressional races. It was suggested that Every Child Matters, a national
campaign, might have relevant statistics on the voting records of
Colorado’s congressional delegation and perhaps has a workshop related to
Get Out the Vote Drives and other grassroots activities as well. Skip
will contact Becky Updike at Every Child Matters regarding these.
- Workshop
in August or early September on acceptable political activities for 501(c)
(3) organizations and a packet of information/guidelines for these
nonprofits. This could easily be a collaborative activity with the League of
Women Voters and other organizations. Peg
and Megan will work on developing this. Peg will contact Carla Bennett at
the League of Women Voters.
- Develop
a one-page fact sheet with statistics regarding child abuse, children in
out-of-home care, etc. and talking points. This would be distributed to
CAFCA members as well as workshop participants so we are all speaking from
the same data and are consistent. Susan
Krill Smith volunteered to work with Peg on this.
Committee members not in attendance are encouraged to
volunteer for one of these projects/committees. Next scheduled meeting is
Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at 1120 Lincoln St., law library conference room, noon –
2:00 p.m.
Old Business
None.
New Business
None.
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 1:10 p.m.