Community Development & Social Services Committee

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Social Services & Community Development Committee met on August 14, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers, with Myers presiding. The committee addressed four agenda items during the session, including approval of Partner Agency Process Amendments, two informational presentations on the UK Student Social Services Needs Assessment Project and a Summer Youth Employment Update, and consideration of Committee Referral Items which were deferred. The committee took two motions to a vote and heard four public comments during the meeting.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on August 14, 2012:

• Myers
• Henson
• Ellinger
• Kay
• Ford
• Lawless
• Stinnett
• McChord
• Lane

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Approval of Proposed Schedule and Fiscal Year 14 Application and Scoring Instrument for Partner Agency Funding

Motion by Ford, seconded by Henson. This motion passed unanimously 44:08. All nine members voted in favor: Myers, Henson, Ellinger, Kay, Ford, Lawless, Stinnett, McChord, and Lane. No votes were cast against the motion.

Motion to Remove the Funding Cap for Any One Agency in the Next Round of Funding

Motion by Myers, seconded by Henson. This motion passed unanimously 45:44. All nine members voted in favor: Myers, Henson, Ellinger, Kay, Ford, Lawless, Stinnett, McChord, and Lane. No votes were cast against the motion.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included approval of the following financial action:

UK Student Social Services Needs Assessment Project Grant

A grant of $35,000 was awarded to the University of Kentucky College of Social Work and Martin School to fund the UK Student Social Services Needs Assessment Project.

Public Comment

Council members addressed several aspects of the Summer Youth Employment Program during the meeting.

Council Member Kay spoke first 1:01:13 regarding stipends for student researchers. Kay emphasized the value of the students' work and suggested the council consider allocating stipends, noting that unpaid practicums are a burden on students.

Council Member Ford 1:22:04 praised the Summer Youth Employment Program and emphasized the need to fully fund it to meet growing demand. Ford noted that increased funding would allow 225 youth to participate in the program next year.

Council Member Henson 1:29:08 expressed concern about the lack of diversity in the youth employment program. Henson offered to help with outreach efforts in underrepresented communities to address this gap.

Council Member Stinnett 1:36:16 requested specific data to support program expansion. Stinnett asked for a list of the 80 work sites currently participating in the program and a breakdown of applicants by school, indicating these materials would help expand outreach and recruitment efforts.

Contested Items

Funding Cap for Partner Agencies

The committee debated whether to impose a funding cap on individual agencies. Council Members Kay and McCord argued against implementing caps, instead advocating for funding decisions to be based on program merit rather than predetermined limits. Following discussion, the committee voted to remove the proposed cap.

Partner Agency Process Amendments

The committee discussed proposed amendments to the partner agency funding application and scoring process. 8:16

Key Speakers

Mills, Henson, Kay, Lawless, and Ford participated in this discussion.

Proposed Changes

The committee considered several modifications to the existing partner agency process:

• Transition to a paperless application system
• Implementation of a revised scoring rubric with weighted categories
• Removal of the requirement that agencies must have been in operation for a specified minimum time period
• Elimination of the funding cap previously applied to individual agencies

Outcome

The committee approved the new partner agency process amendments. The approval included acceptance of the paperless application format, the revised weighted scoring rubric, the removal of the operational tenure requirement for agencies, and the removal of the individual agency funding cap.

UK Student Social Services Needs Assessment Project

The committee received a presentation on a four-semester needs assessment project led by University of Kentucky students under faculty oversight. 47:19

Project Overview

The project will analyze existing needs assessments, conduct site visits to partner agencies, and produce findings intended to inform future funding decisions by partner organizations. The work represents a collaborative effort combining student research with faculty guidance to evaluate social services needs in the community.

Committee Discussion

The committee engaged with the presenters to clarify expectations and project scope. Key speakers in the discussion included Mills, Weeks, Lukefeld, Henson, Kay, and Ford. The committee requested specific input regarding the parameters of the assessment and what outcomes stakeholders could expect from the student-led research initiative.

Outcome

The agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken. The presentation served to brief the committee on the project's structure, timeline, and intended impact on partner agency planning and resource allocation decisions.

Summer Youth Employment Update

The Division of Youth Services presented an update on the Summer Youth Employment Program during this agenda item. 1:07:46

Program Results

The program successfully hired 153 youth across 80 work sites. Due to increased funding, the program expanded to accommodate 75 additional youth beyond the original cohort.

Key Speakers

The presentation and discussion involved Morton, Ford, Stinnett, and Henson.

Presentation Highlights

The Division reported strong feedback from employers participating in the program. The update addressed program expansion, outreach efforts, and workforce development outcomes.

Committee Discussion

The committee engaged in discussion regarding outreach strategies and diversity within the program. Members also emphasized the need for continued investment in the Summer Youth Employment Program to sustain and potentially expand these efforts in future years.

Outcome

This agenda item was informational in nature, providing the committee with an update on program performance and current operations.

Committee Referral Items

1:40:04

The committee reviewed the status of several items that had been referred for further consideration and action.

Section 108 Loan Program

The Section 108 Loan Program was noted as having received endorsement from the full council. However, the program remains in a pending status as implementation details have not yet been finalized.

Partner Agency Funding Policy

The partner agency funding policy was removed from the agenda following progress made on this item.

Senior Citizen Center Site Selection

The Senior Citizen Center site selection was deferred pending receipt of further updates on this matter.

Speakers and Outcome

Ford, Henson, and Mills participated in the discussion of these referral items. The overall outcome of this agenda item was deferred, with the committee choosing to postpone final action pending additional information and progress on the outstanding matters.