DHHSC Board Meeting Minutes - December 9, 2002

I. Call to Order: 7:14 pm

Board Members Present: Reno Coletti, President (RC); Christy West, Vice-President (CW), Helen Porter, Secretary (HP); Dorsey Chany, Treasurer (DC); Patty Parker

Board members absent: none

Staff Members (Headquarters) Present: Rosemary Diaz, Executive Director (ED); Paul Barnett, Yu Tung Ho, Joelene Spires, Matthew Mackenzie, Jason Jackson, Jane Lessard, Susan Coulter, Denise Lanier, Sal Sedano, Jacob Keller

Staff Members (Headquarters) Absent: Jessica Cruz, Tanya Gustafson

Visitors: various community members from Fresno area, including Martha Coletti, Jim Wade, Nancy Carroll, Suzanne Conway, Bryan Berrett, Noralee Ortiz, Essence Harris, Muriah Edwards, Holly Douglas, Jennifer Larsen, Suzanne Bradford, Molly Grau, Michelle Ashby, Korry Cross, Gloria Duran, Antoinette Aguilar, Eloise Rivera, Carla Martinez

Interpreters: Nicole Wolfe, Pam Warkentin, Kathy Yoshida, Stephanie Grant (shadow)

II. Introduction: ED – introduced interpreters, Board, and Staff; Staff described their different programs and services. ED described outreach programs, offices, and staff.

III. Open Forum: RC commenced open forum and invited community members present to share. Explained format for sharing, time limits and explained his role as moderator. Asked ED to explain purpose of open forum. ED explained that DHHSC is here for the community. The goal of the open forum is for Board and Staff to listen to concerns and ideas and get a better perspective of what the community needs. ED opened the floor.

A. Nancy Mitchell-Caroll – Observed that number of staff present exceeded number of community members present. Requested that meeting be held on a Saturday and advertised more widely and ahead of time. Stated that she hears lots of complaints about DSS agencies. Successful outreach means meetings need to be accessible. ED (reply): This is a local meeting that was advertised through email. Large meeting will be held on 1/11/03 in Santa Nella and has been well-advertised.

B. Eloise Rivera– many people don’t have email so perhaps secretary or someone could call. ED (reply): Tried to get word out through deaf grapevine and it was announced at the recent Holiday Dinner that was attended by 113 people from the community.* Next time will try to notify more in advance.

C. Jim Wade –Regarding meeting in Santa Nella: Meeting is advertised as an open forum but only 1 open hour is advertised in the meeting. Need more time to discuss issues that people disagree upon. Could advertise perhaps in the Fresno Bee. RC (reply): There are many people for whom we don’t have addresses and we try to reach as many people as possible. ED (reply): We want to have informal discussion at the January meeting during lunch as well. Scheduled it according to what was done 2 years ago. Can go longer than the 1 hour; time is flexible. Fresno Bee is a good idea; requires 4 weeks notice and today’s meeting was last minute.

D. Eloise Rivera– Wondered if DHHSC can help with tokens for clients and transportation. Many are on SSI and have limited funds to get to places. ED (reply): Just got a grant that includes transportation section for deaf-blind and in the future hope to be able to include help for Deaf Community in general. Most grant money that we receive is limited to specific purposes, so can’t use money for undesignated things. Transportation is a big need.

E. Chris Johnson– Concerns about child welfare and advocacy. Three times interpreter needs have not been met in school districts. Want DHHSC to show a strong force at CAC meetings and IEP meetings. ED (reply): Agree that advocacy is needed for children. There are not enough services for DHH children. DHHSC is slowly opening the door with school districts. Right now addressing issues on individual bases. We get involved when called for meetings. There is a huge need and we need a staff person who would work with educational-specific areas. Chris Johnson – Adults can be brushed off and denied services and yet we send our kids alone to school. I’m not allowed to observe my child more than one hour a day WITH school district chaperone. ED(clarification): Do you see this as a DHHSC issue or educational issue? Chris Johnson – It’s an advocacy issue and I want DHHSC to be involved. ED (reply): As people come in and ask for our help we can get involved. If we just hear about or see something we have no power to act on our own. If someone asks us for services and help we can get involved.

F. Jim Wade – Advocacy is the job of DHHSC. It’s the responsibility of school districts to follow ADA. No one is telling the community or the school districts that they need to provide services. Person who used to push for those issues was ostracized and lost her job. RC (reply): The ADA has become weaker in the past years all over the US. ED (reply): DHHSC has been enforcing the ADA non-stop. At first there was a problem with interpreters, but that has improved. We do believe in advocacy. We push for that every day. We have successes every month. The list is growing of organizations who are providing interpreters now who did not previously. The mission and enthusiasm is there every day. Susan Coulter (reply) – Regarding courts. Last year a few of us went to a court forum. Deaf people used to not have access to courts, and now court interpreting has really increased. We have MLS people in courts and now we can bring in a CDI.

G. Nancy MC – Know that advocacy is a hard job and that staff do what they can. Suggest a workshop for groups of deaf consumers and for hearing consumers, i.e. lawyers. Seems like lawyers should know about ADA but they don’t. For example, I sued and won when I lost my job and still had to pay for my own interpreter. Why didn’t DHHSC advocate for me and why didn’t the DHHSC Board pay their share. DHHSC is the main hiring agency for deaf people, but they also fire many deaf people. I think they have fired 23 deaf people in the past 3 years. ED (reply): Can’t answer to what was before my time. Reasons for people leaving our agency are kept confidential.* Since I was hired DHHSC has never denied services to someone who has asked for them. Have not received request for services from lawyer since I began working. Susan Coulter (reply) – We’ve only had an advocacy position for one year. Before that we didn’t have an advocate. ED (reply): Can’t answer to the number of people fired. We don’t announce who is fired and who resigns. We respect the staff’s privacy. Firing is never a first response. Those issues are always carefully thought about and discussed with Board. DHHSC can’t keep employees on who do not follow policies and procedures.

H. Martha Coletti – Have noticed many positives and bridges built since Rosemary has come on. Many teachers have wanted to join in and get involved and are looking forward to the expansion. The general atmosphere in the schools is more positive. ED (reply): I think many of the bridges built have been with the help of the staff of DHHSC and people who have helped.

I. Jim Wade – Is the "at will" policy still in place? Perhaps DHHSC should start with their own housecleaning – training deaf people who are working at their own agency [instead of firing them]. RC (reply): We have communicated with an attorney with special skills in non-profit agencies and have learned from mistakes. We have changed our bylaws to cover appropriate policies.

J. Jacob Keller – My understanding is that the state of CA is an "at will" state. (Jim Wade interrupted saying not unless agency has an "at will" policy. Brought up his wife and the problems around her dismissal and the fact that rumors are that she broke confidentiality, disagreeing with Board members is not breaking confidentiality.) Jacob Keller resumed – It is assumed [in CA] that when you are hired you can be fired at will. The feeling of the whole agency is that of a family. There is a lot of togetherness and caring about what happens to its members. Can’t speak for the past and hard feelings.

K. Stephanie Grant – Add to what Jacob said. Past year and a half that I’ve been working the whole agency has felt like a family. When one person hurts others help. Under Rosemary’s leadership it has not felt like what we are hearing tonight about the past. ED (reply): Since I’ve been working here, the past 2 years, my style with the staff has been open communication. Any problems have been worked upon together, e.g. between supervisor and employee, and discipline has been agreed upon. Sorry for the past issues; we have been working hard on present issues and trying to move forward. We need your support to be able to do that. If you are still unhappy, I understand. Issues from before my time I can’t do much about. That’s why there is a grievance procedure.

L. Nancy MC – Since not enough community members are here you’ll see me comment a few times. I’m not here because of the past. I’m here because people have approached me recently about problems. I want to see the money that the agency had before I was fired put to good use. For example an employee fired by fax was not helped. (ED replied, "We didn’t know anything about it." [Thought MC was describing a person fired by the FAX bus system, not by fax machine. Realized later and sent clarifying email to Board.]) Not what I heard. Suggest another meeting with more of the community who will be able to speak out. Important to have open communication, face issues and deal with them. When the issues are discussed at length, then healing can begin. Reason we have expansion is because of the work that I did and how much agency grew from money I raised. RC (reply): The meeting in Santa Nella is a midpoint to reach people from geographically outlying areas. There will be other open meetings and we can set those up.

M. ED (reply): Regarding comment on training staff (from Jim Wade). We always provide training to staff, several days, a week, whatever it takes. As far as the person fired by FAX I didn’t hear about that (see clarification in section L). If an interpreter was provided then I wouldn’t have heard about it from the interpreter because of confidentiality. I appreciate that you are willing to get people to come to other community forums, which we will have. We, staff and board, want open communication. Not sure why people would not approach me. I am on the road a lot, but when I am in town I am very approachable. RC (addition): Not sure why deaf are afraid to approach [DHHSC or ED or Board], but that is the feeling that was true in the past also. We’re glad to set up workshops to help empower deaf. We’ve tried in the past and people have not shown up. Many deaf still unsure about what to do to get services and to get their rights and needs met.

N. Eloise Rivera: Regarding WIC [Women, Infants and Children] * and SSI. At welfare meetings many Deaf are there. Perhaps agency appointments could be scheduled at DHHSC so interpreters could be available for the many Deaf clients. ED (reply): We have to respect the choices of* our clients. We are glad to get involved, but we need clients to make requests. WIC still says that Deaf people can provide their own interpreter. It would be good to have an educational meeting with clients. Eloise Rivera: The clients don’t know how to complain. ED (reply): Yes, we know. There are 6 clients whom we have referred to change to the U.S. Department of Justice.* Eloise: What about welfare? ED (reply): We would like to help people. If we know about them then we can help them. They need to come see Susan. RC (added): Regarding ADA, many agencies know the ADA, but they disregard it. There have been many problems with ADA historically and it is not enforced. We need to educate more about ADA.

O. Pauline Marshall – Want to ask that DHHSC get involved and sign a letter to request that IDEA not be revised.

P. Suzanne Conway – Appreciate DHHSC’s response to the bowling night incident. Appreciate the email apology that was sent out.

Q. Martha Coletti/Reno Coletti – FCC has had many problems for many years. They have services but they are not providing fully what the deaf need.

R. Jim Wade – Regarding openness: DHHSC is a non-profit organization and records and minutes should be open to the public. Perhaps minutes could be posted on the website. Board elections also need to be planned so that board members can be elected by the community, not just by other board members. RC (reply): We encourage community members to come to meetings and allow them to address the Board at the meetings. Minutes are kept at DHHSC for anyone to see. ED (reply): Minutes are sent to outreach offices and kept in binders in each office. Current website doesn’t have the capability to post those but hopefully will in the future.

S. Jim Wade – Why haven’t scheduled board elections for many years? In Deaf Bee now there is a rule that people have to come 3 times before elected? And people in other areas can’t join board because of long travel. HP (reply): Explained that policy about 3 has been in place some time and the dearth of members coming to meetings means there are not potentially eligible members for elections. Jim Wade: Reno hasn’t been to meeting 3 times in a row before elected. RC (reply): I’d be glad to resign if we could find someone to replace me. (haha) Have been with Board through thick and thin. ED (reply): There is communication between outreach offices and headquarters. Jim: DAC people should be able to join board because of their involvement in DAC. CW (reply): None of the DAC members have said they wanted to join the board. RC (reply): DAC people communicate with ED and issues get communicated to the Board. If they’re interested in coming to the board meetings then they could join. ED (reply): Hoping to have capability to telecommunicate in the future and perhaps open opportunities for others.

T. Korry Cross – (ASL Club President at FSU) DHHSC has been very supportive in helping bridge the gap between deaf and hearing and the community. I appreciate their help and look forward to working with them. RC (reply): I require my students to work in deaf community 10 hours and ask them to hook up with DHHSC to fulfill their hours. ED (reply): I appreciate the help from FSU, COS and so many others.

U. Michelle Ashby – Appreciate DHHSC’s support from the past and growth through the years. Amazed at how a small group of people has grown to such a large scale.

V. Elouise Rivera – Regarding CPS almost 20 years ago there was a lot of help from CAPH with CPS problems. Now children are being taken away [from parents] and someone needs to help prevent this. ED (reply): One problem we face is confidentiality. We can’t announce what we have done in specific situations, but we are helping with CPS. Also, again, if we don’t know the problem we can’t address it.

W. Jane Lesourd – CPS needs to understand that Deaf parents know what they’re doing. They are very insensitive and do not understand. Options are open to hearing parents that aren’t offered to Deaf parents. ED (reply): Don’t have an answer to that but last summer we had workshop on parenting that was very successful. Jane Lesourd: Needs to continue. ED (reply): Yes, that’s why we are continuing to apply for grants and address as many things as we can. If parents are unhappy with CPS because CPS sees Deaf parents as unskilled we can get them together for education. Jane Lesourd: Could get the parents together to discuss the issue.

X. Korry Cross – Good segue into saying that the Deaf are the ones who need the power and who need to be more involved in DHHSC. Community is what makes DHHSC. Without the community there is no need for DHHSC.

Y. Pauline Marshall – Thank you to RC, ED and Korry for the programs developed because my own daughter has had so many opportunities in the community. RC (reply): The Deaf people of the community who have been involved have been great. CAD has diminished in numbers. Membership now less than 500, down from more than one thousand 75 years ago. Actively involved people are a small core group. Wish more people were involved.

Z. Yu Tung Ho – Many suggestions and plans. All changes need money. If you want changes, DHHSC needs financial support from government and donations. Also I want to thank DHHSC for 14 years of work. We have to look at the community but also have to look at our pockets. Helping the community means contributing money.

AA. RC – Time to close the open forum. Thank you all for coming. Enjoyed having everyone here for whatever purpose you came. We have listened and want you to spread the word to encourage the community to come be involved.

IV. Suggestion notes from dry-erase board (written by ED)–

A. Advertise events in advance

B. Open forum time limit

C. Transportation to appointments

D. Advocacy for children

E. Inform community of ADA

F. Services to former employees

G. Build bridges

H. Move to new building

I. Being approachable

J. Utilize DHHSC services for WIC/Welfare appointments

K. IDEA

L. FCC

M. Board meetings – elections, minutes, website

N. Hearing Û Deaf

O. Interpreter interns

P. CPS

V. Approval of November Board meeting minutes – VIII. A. Change to add "(refer to treasurer’s report in November for exact amount)" Correct names of new hires. Approved with changes.

VI. President’s report – none

VII. Vice President’s report – Fundraising ideas.

A. Checked with Blockbuster about fundraising. They won’t do statewide but can be at one store. Store manager will check and get back to CW.

B. Also Zany Brainy fundraising idea (from fundraiser for son’s school). Only good at Christmas time – 5-9pm people purchase and DHHSC earns 10% of sales. Potential of about $500 raised. Problem is we’d need to have interpreter there and/or people handing out flyers to say "I’m from …"

Also McDonald’s would help with fundraiser during 4-hour time frame for people to purchase food and have percentage go toward agency.

VIII. Secretary’s Report – none*

IX. Treasurer’s Report – no report; distributed financial statement

X. New business –

A. Discussion of open forum – RC-How feel about another future forum, how useful was this one? CW-Perhaps have every 3 months. Next one in April. Have every 3 months for one year then go to 6 mos. Approved by consent.

B. Logistics of forum – Discussed length and location. Decided to have 1 ½ hour limit, i.e. 6:30-8pm and have Board meeting afterwards. Can have it in the community room as place open to community. DC suggested that we allow people to write in questions and concerns ahead of time. Approved by consent.

C. General observations and follow-up action from open forum meeting. All approved by consent:

1. Point from forum? Advocacy. Can focus on that as a priority.

2. Overall feeling from forum? Good discussion overall and good responses.

3. ED – want to have more outreach and expand onto people’s lists for meetings to have more outreach and education.

4. ED – will send Board members fact sheet and cards for distribution.

5. RC – We need to advertise more in advance for next open forum.

D. ED – Staff is getting behind in their work. Many things are piling up. Want to close office to general services for one week for staff to catch up. Will still offer interpreting and emergency services. Want to close week of January 6-10. Approved by consent.

XI. Meeting adjourned at 10:24 pm.

Next meeting January 11, 2003, Ramada Inn in Santa Nella, 9am-12pm.

* Asterisks and font change (to Arial Narrow) indicate corrections added before minutes were approved at January’s meeting. Corrected spellings of names were also included, and the list of visitors’ names was added. This copy of the minutes was approved as corrected at the January 11, 2003 meeting and signed by the secretary, Helen Porter.