COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA BEFORE THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE OPERATING BUDGET HEARINGS - CONTINUED - - - Room 400, City Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Wednesday, 2/16/00 9:40 p.m. - - - BILL 000005 - An ordinance adopting the Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2001. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT ANNA C. VERNA, Chair COUNCILWOMAN JANNIE L. BLACKWELL COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN COUNCILMAN DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN DAVID COHEN COUNCILMAN FRANK J. DICICCO COUNCILMAN W. WILSON GOODE, JR. COUNCILMAN JAMES F. KENNEY COUNCILMAN RICHARD T. MARIANO COUNCILWOMAN DONNA REED MILLER COUNCILMAN MICHAEL A. NUTTER COUNCILMAN FRANK RIZZO COUNCILWOMAN MARIAN B. TASCO - - - VINCENT VARALLO ASSOCIATES, INC. Registered Professional Reporters Eleven Penn Center, Suite 600 Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 561-2220 842 I N D E X Department of Human Services Commissioner Alba Martinez. . . . . . . . . . 844 Maxine Tucker, Deputy Commissioner. . . . . . 853 Joyce Burrell, Deputy Commissioner. . . . . . 856 Russell Cardamone, Deputy Commissioner. . . . 884 Estelle Richman, Director of Social Services 892 Jean Hunt, Executive Director . . . . . . . . 896 Children and Families Cabinet John Zanier, Fiscal Officer . . . . . . . . . 912 Margaret Holtzman, Superintendent, Riverview 929 Department of Public Health John Domzalski, Acting Commissioner . . . . . 951 Mike Lucas, Assistant Health Commissioner . . 961 Mark Bencivengo, Assistant Health Commissioner 972 Ellen Steiker, Deputy Health Commissioner . . 979 Richard Tobin, Director . . . . . . . . . . . 985 Mike Covone, Deputy Health Commissioner . . . 995 Sue Lieberman, Maternity Care Coalition . . . 1010 Department of Emergency Shelter and Services Michael Nardone, Deputy Managing Director . . 1039 Sally Fisher, Director. . . . . . . . . . . . 1047 Richard Shaeffer, Admin. Services Director. . 1066 Department of Recreation William Carapucci, Acting Commissioner. . . . 1068 Thomas Fox, Maintenance Director. . . . . . . 1092 Jo Ann Mangano, Admin. Services Director. . . 1102 Jane Golden, Mural Arts Program . . . . . . . 1106 Warren Haskins, Dell East Manager . . . . . . 1201 Finance Department Robert Dubow, Acting Budget Director. . . . . 1171 Camp William Penn Roland Chandler, Director . . . . . . . . . . 1180 William Carapucci, Acting Commissioner. . . . 1200 Atwater Kent Museum David Rasner, President, Board of Trustees. . 1219 Nancy Moses, Executive Director . . . . . . . 1226 843 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 (Index, cont'd.) Fairmount Park Commission William Mifflin, Executive Director . . . . . 1231 James Donaghy, Director of Operations . . . . 1270 Art Museum Anne D'Harnoncourt, Director, CEO . . . . . . 1317 844 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 P R O C E E D I N G S
Good morning, everyone. This is the continued public hearing of the Operating Budget, Bill No. 005. Our first witness this morning will be the Department of Human Services. (Witnesses come forward.)
Good morning, Commissioner. Congratulations. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Thank you very much. Good morning, Madam President and Members of City Council. My name is Alba Martinez, and I am the new commissioner for the Department of Human Services. With me today to present our Fiscal Year 2001 Operating Budget are: Maxine Tucker, Deputy Commissioner for Children and Youth; Joyce Burrell, Deputy Commissioner for Juvenile Justice Services; Margaret Holtzman, Superintendent of Aging Services; and Russell Cardamone, Deputy Commissioner for Administration and Management. Since this is my first time before you as commissioner, allow me to briefly share my 845 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 background with you. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and moved to Philadelphia in 1985, after graduating from Georgetown Law School. I practiced law with Community Legal Services for seven years, specializing in welfare employment, domestic violence, and child welfare issues. For sometime, I managed the domestic violence and dependency units at CLS. In 1992, I was appointed executive director of Congreso de Latinos Unidos, a human services nonprofit dedicated to meeting the wide range of social and economic needs of low-income children and families in North Philadelphia. By appointing me commissioner of the Department of Human Services, Mayor Street has offered me a wonderful opportunity to apply my skills and experience on behalf of all Philadelphia's children and families who are at risk. It is a privilege and an honor to lead this department and I am looking forward to working with you as we move this critically important work forward. DHS's budget request for Fiscal Year 2001 is $448,574,802, which represents an increase 846 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 of percent over last year's appropriation. The Department expects that $396,425,963 of the appropriation will be offset by federal and state revenues, and that the City's share of the 2001 General Fund expenditures will be $52,148,839, which is percent of the total and the same 8 percentage as for Fiscal Year 2000. The divisional allocation of this appropriation is the following: Children and Youth, $319,204,000 -- and I'm rounding the numbers off. Juvenile Justice Services, $112,999,000. Ages Services, or Riverview Home, $5,368,000. And Administration and Management, $11,003,000. DHS is making significant progress towards achieving the strategic goals it has articulated and in strengthening and preserving families in the communities in which they live. For example, we are reducing the growth rate in the number of children entering our system, we are increasing the number of delinquents served in 847 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 their own homes, and we are receiving and maintaining full licenses from the Department of Public Welfare for Children and Youth, Juvenile Justice, and Riverview Home. DHS has listed its major accomplishments in the Five-Year Financial Plan and in our written testimony. I would, however, like to highlight a few of these here. The Children and Youth Division has increased the number of finalized adoptions by 318 percent, from 122 adoptions in Fiscal Year '92 to 510 in Fiscal Year '99. The Department projects that it will reach 700 adoptions in Fiscal Year 2000, and 750 in Fiscal Year 2001. The Children and Youth Division provided intensive family preservation services to 1,428 children and 526 in Fiscal Year '99. 5 percent of these children, required placement after services were concluded. This is approximately half the percentage of placements the Department would normally find in a similar population of at-risk children served through less intensive services. Children and Youth has established a 848 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 Truancy Unit to provide comprehensive assessment and planning services for children and families referred to us from family and truancy courts.
This initiative complements our Juvenile Justice Division's truancy prevention efforts in collaboration with the School District and community organizations which focus on preventing elementary school truancy in the northwest and Allegheny west areas. In addition, a major truancy reduction program was launched through the community family centers, which have provided case-management services and support for students and families referred to seven new cluster-based truancy courts. From August '93 to December '99, the Mayor's Children and Families Cabinet, under the leadership of DHS, coordinated the work of City agencies, departments, and quasi-governmental agencies serving Philadelphia's families and children. It established a network of 19 community- and school-based family centers. It also initiated a wide range of comprehensive programs involving health care, educational 849 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 readiness and achievement, child safety, and family economic security, among many other initiatives. Mayor Street has now established an Office of Social Services, directed by Estelle Richman, and he has created the Philadelphia Commission on Children. Through these vehicles, our city will continue to advance an agenda of system reform, which is child- and family- centered. Cabinet efforts are currently being assessed, and a plan will be developed to continue this important work under the new City structure. In the interim, oversight for certain Cabinet activities will continue to be provided by DHS. For DHS, strengthening our role in neighborhood and family development will continue to be a high priority. The Department has already launched or is developing plans for a number of structural, operational, and programmatic changes that will further strengthen our service delivery capacity. Examples of these initiatives include the following: Children and Youth is actively involved in an outcome measurements project that will 850 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 ultimately make both CYD and its private and public providers of services more accountable for demonstrable improvements in the lives of children and families. Since Fiscal Year '97, outcomes have helped Children and Youth to better understand which programmatic interventions work best for clients at a given point in time. Philadelphia is the first major metropolitan area in the country to undertake this challenge. The American Humane Association, a leader in national outcomes movement in child welfare, was selected by the Children and Youth Division to guide this process, which brings together the division, its agencies, families, and the community. Specific outcomes or results that are anticipated in this project include: decreases in subsequent child abuse and placement after SCOH has been provided, reduce duration of SCOH services, more focused assessments and evaluations, development of outcome data for specific interventions and providers that will eventually better inform contracting decision-making, and improved communication between all project participants. 851 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 DHS will make some physical improvements to the Youth Study Center, including the installation of a video conferencing system, which will increase the amount of contact between the residents and their probation officers, parents, and distant juvenile placement facilities. We will also make building renovations and equipment overhauls, security enhancements, and the programmatic changes needed to ensure full compliance with recently updated State regs. The Department will ensure that the current Youth Study Center meets health and safety standards for the protection of the youth, staff, and visitors. DHS will reconvene a collaborative work group to discuss the feasibility and development of a new Youth Study Center, a project which clearly must be given priority by all of us.
In closing, the challenges DHS confronts are great, but so are our opportunities. We are clear that our department's work is critically important to the lives and futures of thousands of our most vulnerable City residents. At its essence, DHS is Philadelphia's public 852 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 agency, committed to advocating and pursuing better opportunities for children, their families, and the elderly. As commissioner, my vision for DHS can be summarized simply: The Department must be a model government agency. We cannot settle for a lesser goal, because thousands of children are counting on us at one of those vulnerable times in their life. We must help them have a healthy, safe, and nurturing childhood, which will pave the way for a promising future. I thank Council for its support and commitment to our department's work over the years, and we welcome your questions and comments.
Thank you, Commissioner. On of your testimony, in the second bullet point, you stated that your department has "requested State needs-based funding for certain new initiatives," and that "these initiatives will serve approximately 560 children." Does your department have any contingencies in place if the funding is not 853 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 approved by the State? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ I will ask my colleagues to help me answer that question.
By and large, these positions and these services have been in our needs base budget and, usually, the budget for our services are based on what the State is willing to participate in funding. Which means that without the State funding, this would purely General Fund funding. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: I would like to add to that answer that my vision as commissioner is that the Department of Human Services will aggressively pursue other streams of funding that may be available to us, whether it's the federal government or private foundations and corporations. And in addition to that, under the new Department of Human Services structure, going after money like this will be a coordinated approach, and Director Estelle Richman will be a 854 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 part of coming up with the strategy to do that. At this point, though, we are hoping that the State will support us in our request.
Thank you. On of your testimony, you stated that a courtroom will be open at 1515 Arch in order to save travel and waiting time. What is the scheduled opening for the courtroom? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Well, as I've already made many mistakes on my two weeks on the job, but one mistake was that I indicated that it will be opened, and what we should really say -- and thank you for asking the question -- is that it may be opened. The Department of Human Services has set aside some space for this, but obviously, it is a joint decision between the Family Court and the Department of Human Services, and so the Family Court, I believe, is reviewing the feasibility of this and whether it's something that fits within their agenda. Maybe Deputy Commissioner Tucker would like to add to that question.
Maxine Tucker, Deputy 855 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 Commissioner. The discussion with Judge Panepinto and Judge -- --
I'm sorry, I'm having difficulty hearing you. Thank you.
The discussion with Judge Panepinto and Judge Ransom have been looking at those particular cases which simply are status review hearings as opposed to hearings that are contested or involved. And what looking they're looking at is if they could put a master instead of a judge to just hear those, what they call, "routine cases," it would safe a lot of time in terms of the scheduling and also in terms of families, as well as social workers have to sit over at 1801 for long period of time. And they're looking if it's a go, it would probably be in the fall of this year.
Thank you. Commissioner, on of your testimony, you have a paragraph entitled "Maintaining Appropriate Population Levels at the Youth Study Center." What programs are now in 856 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 place to control the population, and do thee programs result in violent offenders being released that should have otherwise remained in custody? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: I will ask Deputy Commissioner Burrell to address this question.
Good morning. I'm Joyce Burrell, Deputy Commissioner of Human Services.
Currently, we use a review process every Tuesday morning to look at children who are appropriate and have orders for other than the Youth Study Center. We also assure that youngsters who are violent offenders are not released to the community or to cause risk by having the participation of the Defender Association. The DA's Office, as well as Human Services and Family Court, is a part of a stakeholder group to talk about who is appropriate for the Center and who is not. We are also meeting with and talking to our out-of-state and southern county providers to make sure that youngsters are being taken in a 857 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 timely way to court-ordered placements, and Judge Panepinto and I have come to an agreement that financial sanctions need to be put in place for those providers who do not take children in a timely way and who insist that they have space. We have come to the conclusion that the biggest problem is bed space in those private facilities, and even though providers say they don't have space -- that they do have space, the waiting time backs up the Youth Study Center because they actually do not have beds. So we are looking to develop additional placements for our young people.
Thank you. On , Commissioner, of your testimony, in the second paragraph, you talk about hiring 34 new positions for Juvenile Justice Services in order to maintain compliance with State-mandated staffing ratios. Is your department currently in compliance with these staffing requirements? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: We are currently in compliance with the State-mandated staffing ratios. However, we are doing this 858 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 through an extraordinarily high use of overtime; and so, therefore, this will allow us to do it in a way that is more cost-efficient to all of us and also that will improve the quality of service. And I'd like to ask Deputy Commissioner Burrell to help us in answering this question.
Yes. Joyce Burrell, Deputy Commissioner of Human Services. In the new 3800 regulation, there's a requirement that there not be more than 12 children on any living unit at any one time, which causes us to have to reconfigure how we house children in the Youth Study Center. We have a year to do some structural things and initially, DPW had said there would be absolutely no waivers for those structural changes. Last Thursday, Sylvia Wright, who does the inspection of the Youth Study Center was in and said there had been so many complaints about this new requirement that DPW is now going to consider waiver requests for that restructuring. At this point, though, there are two other things that drive our numbers. The Operation Sunrise initiative, as well as the Youth 859 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 Violence Reduction Initiative, which are very important to the City, arrests are up about percent, which means that those held overnight 5 for the 8 to 14 days in the Youth Study Center are 6 also up considerably. So even with the changing 7 of the 3800 regulation, we will have increased 8 population in the Youth Study Center, that 9 staffing would still be required, and I wanted to talk about the fact that every day, three shifts a day, we have 11 children who are on one-on-one coverage, and that is a court order that says that this child's mental health or this child's risk factor is so high that he or she needs one person with them hours a day every day, and the cost 16 of that coverage is about $6,000 a day, which is a 17 cost of about 42,000 a week, which is a 18 $2.4 million cost in a year. 19
Does that 20 include the overtime that you're talking about? 21
That is part of what 22 really drives - it is the biggest driver in the 23 overtime right now, the coverage for those 24 children.
Well, what is 860 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 the figure of the overtime?
It's about $5 million. We projected $5 million. With the additional staffing, we still think we would have overtime for increases and decreases in this one-on-one coverage, increases in escort and travel, of about $2 million, under the best circumstances. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: In our proposed 2001 budget, however, we are proposing a decrease in overtime of a total of $2 million.
Okay, I don't want to dominate this hearing. The Chair recognizes Councilman Rizzo.
Thank you, Madam Chair. Commissioner, you are spending approximately -- and correct me if this number isn't right. You plan to spend $315,000-plus meals, for resident meals and other meals. Do you have a program -- are you involved in the Recreation Department's program in providing the meals at Recreation centers? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Could you clarify what division you're asking about? Is it 861 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 Children and Youth, Juvenile Justice, which is it?
Whatever meals you provide. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Okay. I think that the meal budget is divided among the different divisions, so why don't the different folks talk about it.
Let's talk about the one that would be provided at a recreation facility. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Okay, well, my understanding is we do not provide meals at recreation facilities. We provide meals at Riverview for the seniors that reside there, we provide meals at the Youth Study Center for the young people that are detained there, and that is the extent of the meals that the Department of Human Services has responsibility for providing, so they're both provided within facilities. The meals that would provided with DHS funding, however, recreation centers would fall 862 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 within the $300 million of the DHS -- that DHS lets out in contracts annually, or the $300 million plus.
So DHS money is funding a lunch program at recreation centers? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Well, I. . .
You're going to have to identify yourself for the record.
My name is Russell Cardamone, I'm Deputy Commissioner for Administrative and Management. We find a number of providers, but in fact, those providers do not provide lunch services with DHS funds. There are other separate programs out there that might avail themselves of to provide meals but they don't use City dollars or DHS funds to provide meals -- other than children, of course, that are in facilities that 863 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 we're responsible for on a hour/7 basis. 3
So there's no DHS 4 funds to -- so I understand the answer to my 5 question, there are no DHS funds used for meals 6 for recreation facilities? 7
Maxine Tucker, Deputy 11 Commissioner. 12 We are also providing for MANA (ph.) 13 some dollars to provide meals for children who are 14 living in their own homes with their parents who 15 are either HIV-involved or the parents are 16 HIV-involved, but this is basically the only way 17 in which they are going to get nutritional meals 18 during the day, so some of that is also reflected 19 in there. 20
Sounds like a good 21 program. 22 You've hired 456 social workers -- at 23 least this the information I have and, again, if 24 this not correct, please tell me, I know you will. What exactly are these 456 social workers doing? 864 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 And that seems like a significant increase in personnel, 456 people.
I'm quoting from information -- I don't -- I cannot refer right at the moment to any page. This is from some research that was done and provided me. Then I'll ask the question. How many social workers do you presently have? And how many have you increased? What's the increase from the last fiscal budget?
Maxine Tucker, Deputy Commissioner. As of December, we had on staff 463.9 social workers who are responsible for 10,043 cases. The average number of cases per social worker range from 15 in intake to 26 in the ongoing service regions.
So that number of social workers provide the service to those cases, to that number of cases that you just described.
Has there been a 865 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 significant increase in that number? I could look back and see a number, but how many have you increased in the last fiscal budget, how many social workers?
Just a moment. Councilman, that's about a 50-staff increase. It includes social workers, which represent about 35, and then the support services for the supervision and clerical supports for those staff.
Okay. The number that I'm looking at, Human Services - Fiscal Year 1999, it's 1567, and for proposed Fiscal Year 2001, it's 1,896. So it doesn't add up.
My name is Russell Cardamone, Deputy Commissioner for Administration and Management. The numbers, Councilman, refer to the total personnel allocation for the Department of Human Services -- all of the divisions, Riverview, Youth Study Center, Children and Youth, Administration and Management, and the Family Centers. So those increases are correct, but 866 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 they're for the entire Department of Human Services.
I understand, so you're telling me that there's 50 new social workers? Is that the number that you gave?
Mrs. Tucker mentioned about 35 social workers, but each 5 social workers require 1 social work supervisor to each 5 supervisor and 1 administrator, and then appropriate support staff.
You're welcome. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Tasco.
Thank you. Good morning. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Good morning.
Congratulations and all that good stuff. We wish you well. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Thank you. 867 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00
And relative to the staffing, we notice that there has not been a full complement of staff in the last two budgets. Why aren't those positions filled? Have you had problems recruiting social workers or what's -- COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: I'm going to defer part of this answer to the deputies who have been in the Department longer than me, but I will say this, Councilwoman: It is definitely an issue of grave concern --
Mm-hmm. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: -- to this administration and certainly to me, as the commissioner, that we have such a high number of vacancies in the Department of Human Services. And we have already discussed that it will be a priority for this year, and we're going to start very quickly engaging in an aggressive campaign to recruit people because the City provides wonderful employment opportunities. These are incredibly essential jobs to City government, because many of them are State- mandated. And as we discussed earlier, there are some ratios that could lead to the agency, and 868 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 therefore the City, being in noncompliance. So I am very aware of the gravity of the issue. And ultimately, it affects quality, it affects quality of service. So I understand that there have been some efforts to improve recruitment with the Personnel Department and also, you know, with other partners, but that will be a very, very high priority issue for the future in any event. And now I'd like to ask my colleagues to address what we have been doing in the situation as it actually exists.
Yes, Russell Cardamone, Deputy Commissioner, Administration and Management. Just to echo Commissioner Martinez's comments, this is a high priority for the Department. We have been working for a number of years with our Central Personnel Department and have been somewhat successful in prioritizing our hires. We have, with Central Personnel, established continuous testing for our social work series, clearly a high priority for the Department. 869 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 But we have had some difficulty in hiring other classifications. Part of it's recruitment and part of it is available tests and part of it is competition among other City departments and among private industry for critical support kinds of staff -- clerical and administrative staff. But we made this a high priority with the Department and with Central Personnel, and we have been successful in hiring social workers, almost as many as we need. And we're going to continue those efforts with Commissioner Martinez in Central Personnel.
Well, you said that so quickly. Did you say that you haven't had a good track record or a -- I couldn't hear --
-- in hiring social workers? That's what I'm really interested in.
We have prioritized, and we've worked with Central Personnel over the last couple of years to make sure that we can hire social workers. 870 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00
Okay. Could you tell me what methods Central Personnel, at your request, have used to recruit staff.
One of the things that we have done is, we have been successful in developing what we call "continuous testing," so that we don't have to wait for a test to be given when there's eligible candidates. We also have developed a number of mechanisms where our staff go over and interview the candidates right after they've taken the test to speed up the process. We've also rewritten, with the Central Personnel's support, the social worker trainee specification, which the Department did not find valuable prior to its revisions. And with those revisions, we now have two civil services titles to draw upon for entry-level positions -- Social Worker Trainee and Social Worker I. And there are a number of other initiatives, but those are the main ones we've worked with in terms of making sure we can hire more social workers.
Has anyone from 871 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 your department ever been asked to go to colleges and universities with the Personnel Department to recruit social worker staff?
Yes. In fact, we have in final draft form a new recruitment policy with which we've worked with the Central Personnel Department. And one of the initiatives is that we will be more aggressive in reaching out to the local-area colleges and universities. We've even asked for waiver of residency requests so that people who go to school in surrounding colleges outside of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania would be eligible to take these tests as well.
I believe they can take the test; they just have to move within the City within a year.
Yes, but that wasn't always the case. You used to have to be a Philadelphia resident, but we have now waiver requests in place for these positions so that people can take the test and, in fact, have six months after they're hired to move into the City. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Some of the issues that we -- or strategies that we are 872 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 discussing and hopefully will be able to implement with Personnel is to advertise on the radio, especially in communities like the Latino community, radio is the most powerful vehicle to get people's attention, and the Department definitely needs diversity in terms of language ability. And so it will not only be recruitment in the Latino community; it will be in every community where we have candidates that could come and enhance our, you know, language diversity. So radio advertising is something that I believe could really lead us to where we need to go. Second of all, I think we need to improve our marketing materials. I think that -- we want to work with City personnel to see how much creativity and how many leeway we can have to develop our own marketing materials. And, thirdly, I think that the Department of Human Services needs to be very aggressive at communicating its message and its vision and what we are about to motivate people to want to join the Department of Human Services, because the employment market is so hot that people have a lot of options. 873 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 And unless we can convince people that this is the place to be, given the legitimate delays that exist in hiring people because of the civil-service system, which, you know, I support, we're not going to get employees because they get picked up by our providers much more quickly than we can pick them up. So we are actually not competitive. The City of Philadelphia right now really needs to be more competitive, but I can speak only for the Department of Human Services, and we hope to have Council's support in coming up with creative ideas like the ones you're mentioning, Councilwoman Tasco, and we want to do anything -- we got to fill these positions. This is critical.
Are your salaries competitive with your providers and other agencies that might hire social workers? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: I believe they are. And salaries, as we know, in the City, get determined through a, you know, market-driven process, but Commissioner Tucker may have some other --
Maxine Tucker, Deputy 874 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 Commissioner. The salaries are certainly competitive. I think that it is the work that's required: it's much easier to work with the aged, it's much easier to work with other populations than the work with, as folks see it at times, with children and families who are in trouble. And the other point I wanted to make -- and it's good news -- is that as of I think about two weeks ago, we have a new class of 28 social workers who are in training, so we're very excited about that.
Good. The next question I have is maybe the lack of staff, adequate staff would have an impact on the this case Neil versus Casey, Baby Neil versus Casey, and the report of the Monitoring Committee and some of the items that they pointed out in that report. I know you haven't had a lot of time to review this, but they make a number of points in their report relative -- as to what the Department needs to do. Have you read the case, and what are you doing to address the issues that have been 875 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 pointed out in the monitoring report? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Well, I have certainly read up on Baby Neil and have been briefed -- on many other issues begun to be briefed by the staff and leadership of the Department of Human Services on the issues, and there is a scheduled meeting with the parties this week as a matter of fact. I think that Baby Neil raises some very important issues. There is a settlement agreement that was entered into by the Department and the plaintiff's lawyers. And essentially to me, the case -- to summarize it in layperson's terms -- is about best practices. It's about, you know, are we following the procedures and the standards and delivering the kinds of services that we need to deliver to protect the most vulnerable people in the City, and we will work with the community advocates that have brought this lawsuit, because we have the same interests at heart, and I think that the question is how we get there. I am finding a department, Councilwoman, that is doing a lot of things really, really well. It doesn't mean that we 876 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 don't have room for improvement, and I think that we will work closely with the advocates and be open to their strategies. They may think about things or point us to models elsewhere in the country that we might be willing to try. So going back to your point about hiring, if we want to reduce caseload, we must have the staff to assign cases to. If we want to accelerate adoptions, we must have the staff to move this forward. We also need to work more collaboratively with other systems that control some of the pieces of the action, like Family Court, like the School District, like, you know, all of our other partners, like the Police Commissioner, like the District Attorney's Office. And I have met with all of the leaders of those departments already and expressed to them that we want to work together, we want to develop one system on behalf of kids and families, and I know that this doesn't answer directly the points in the Baby Neil case because I'm not prepared to deal with the one-on-one.
Oh, no. 877 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: But I will tell you that that is a high priority, and it simply raises issues that all of us are concerned about.
Thank you very much. My time may be up so I may need to come back.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Mariano.
Thank you, Madam President. Good morning, Commissioner. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Good morning.
This is the first time I've ever called you "Commissioner." The 34 new positions that are going to be at the Juvenile Justice Center that's going to allow you to hire 17 additional youth detentions, you said that you're hiring those people because the people that are working there are working a lot of overtime. And knowing you like I know you from Congreso, you probably got it all figured out math-wise. 878 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 What's the average, without any overtime, the average salary for a starting position there?
And how much is a person that's been there for a little bit with this overtime making?
And then have you factored in -- you probably factored in the health and welfare.
And all the benefits they get for working for this great city, so it's actually cheaper to hire 17 new people.
Now commissioner, have we thought about hiring some of the problems that Councilwoman Tasco talked about, getting 879 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 competent people and qualified for these entry-level positions? Have you checked with any of the agencies like Congreso? Because I know you've done that with me with the building trades, and we've got electricians and plumbers and steam fitter jobs. I'm sure there's some people up there that may be on the road to be social workers. Have you looked into that yet?
We have looked into it. We have also created a trainee position to the Youth Detention Counselor so that they could have a year to get any additional skills they need to move into the Youth Detention Counselor I and then up to Youth Detention Counselor II. We've also looked at incentivizing (sic) joining us in Juvenile Justice Services, as opposed to going to a private provider or going to somewhere else in the private sector.
Now, my other question is, in order to be as competitive with some of the private providers for these same positions, especially the Councilwoman talked about the actual social worker positions, but the support services. If we're looking to interview a 880 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 secretary being bilingual, you know, someone who speaks Spanish or Vietnamese or Cambodian, is definitely a plus. Is there anything that can be done with the Civil Service Commission that could actually help us recruit people that are bicultural or bilingual, you know, maybe a thousand dollars extra? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: I want to preface every question -- every answer by saying that I've been here two weeks so I do not know all the rules.
Right. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: But my limited understanding of the civil service system is that if we can demonstrate that there is a need for language diversity, that they will work with us to set up, you know, categories that are related to the category like Bilingual Youth Detention Counselor.
Mm-hmm. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Already -- I don't need to look at data to know that in the Department of Human Services, we need to do more 881 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 in terms of adding language diversity from all communities in this city. This city has a very large Russian population, multiple Asian populations. We are not going to be able to serve these families and these children unless we are able to communicate with them. Now, the Department has made progress on this but, Councilman, you're right absolutely right, you know, we have to -- we will find a way. And the point you made about reaching into providers, we got to be careful 'cause the providers won't be happy if we try to raid their staff. What I'm thinking about is just becoming competitive. You know, it's a free world economy, let people choose where they want to work. The City of Philadelphia is an incredible place to work, and our materials and our campaigns must begin to reflect that.
And my final question is, with these support service jobs, that $26,000 to start was for a social worker? What do we start with, say, is receptionist or a secretary with light-typing skills? 882 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00
18? So that's 4 pretty competitive with the market, right? 5
Yes, it's competitive. 6 COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: And the Youth 7 Detention Counselor positions do not require a 8 bachelor's degree. I mean we -- there are 9 tremendous opportunities, and they're really good 10 jobs, and the training is intensive because we're 11 required by state law to provide continuous 12 training to our workers. 13 So people can grow. I mean, one thing 14 that I'm seeing at DHS is people grow and move up 15 the ranks pretty rapidly if they're, you know, 16 motivated. 17
And I think it was 18 the Council President that asked this question or maybe it was Councilwoman Tasco. Are we doing anything with like Community College? I'm sure there's people in Community that would be working on an associate's degree. Are we doing anything with that, where they can come in and maybe intern and then go right into that?
We currently don't have a 883 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 program with Community College. We have a proposal with them to work on a specific Juvenile Justice training program that would be open to all staff who might have interest in becoming a Juvenile Detention counselor.
'Cause I could see Commissioner Martinez teaching a class in her spare time, 'cause I know she has a lot of spare time. (Laughter.)
Thank you. Thank you for your answers. Just kidding about that. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: No, I'm going to do it.
I know you have no 18 spare time. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Anything you say, I'm going to do.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Miller. 884 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00
Thank you, Madam President. Good morning, DHS. Let me see where I want to start. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: And I'm also a constituent of Councilwoman Miller, I' proud to say.
Yes, an 8th District constituent. Okay. On of your testimony, Paragraph 1, you mentioned that Mayor Street has established an Office of Social Services and has created the Philadelphia Commission on Children. Question: Will the Philadelphia Commission on Children take the place and serve the same or similar function as did the Mayor's Children and Families Cabinet? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: I would like to ask Director Estelle Richman to answer this question. (Estelle Richman comes forward.)
Hi. I'm Estelle Richman, Director of Social Services for the Managing Director's Office. 885 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 No, the Commission for Children will be very different from the Cabinet. The Cabinet primarily was composed of all the commissioners and directors within City government. The Commission, by and large, will have people from the private sector, the commercial sector, the religious sector, plus some people from City government. But what we're really trying to do is a much broader, much more inclusive process than the Cabinet had been, although the activities of the Cabinet will all be included in the activities that we will be doing.
Okay. So then technically, there will be no more Children's and Family Cabinet.
Right, will be included in the Commission. Okay, will family centers be funded at the same level in FY 2000 or will there be an 886 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 increase or a decrease in funding levels for the upcoming year?
At this point in time, we will be maintaining the funding of the family centers the same. We may be looking at the services, the scope, the activities with those family centers. The direction and operations of the family centers will stay within the Department of Human Services at this point in time and be operated by them. We see the concept as one we want to continue. And from our child policy directive, we'll be looking at how do we get them to be more effective, what additional neighborhoods should they be in, and how we in general can have a just more effective child policy.
Okay. You know, for a few years now, we keep hearing the term "system reform" as being one of the goals of DHS, or of the Cabinet, Family and Youth Cabinet. Can you explain what systems need to be reformed, or what systems are you looking at for reform? Is it a collaboration?
I think this is one that 887 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 all of the departments that I will be working with will be looking at, but "system reform" means that we're going to move from crisis operation to prevention and looking at how we can be more effective in prevention. It looks at how we can work with neighborhoods a little bit more closely to be able find out what that neighborhood and the families in that neighborhood need to remain intact. It means looking at more population-based services as opposed to looking at services after the fact and plugging holes. It means that we're going to actually begin to look at what happens to this child in the long run. Do they get an education, are they able to work effectively and live in the community as opposed to being out of their homes, in treatment facilities, or in jail? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: And I would like to add that my vision of system reform includes having government agencies that are willing to innovate, to take risks, to toss out the old and begin trying new things, to be more business-oriented in the sense that if we are clear about the results that we want to achieve, 888 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 that we align our systems and rework our systems to meeting those results, as opposed to, you know, having a vision over here and antiquated operating models over there. And it's painful sometimes and it's hard and, you know, there's resistance to it, but we have to have the courage to keep moving in that direction.
Right. And now that you're coming to outcome-based measurements initiative, can you give an example of the old versus the new in terms of -- and I would imagine you're assessing providers around the outcome of the specific contract. Is it more defined, is it more quantitative? For example, let's use issues in the family reunification department. What would be their outcome system? This is just a hypothetical question.
Maxine Tucker, Deputy Commissioner. In developing an outcome system, what we're trying to determine is, how do we measure the results of the effectiveness of the programs 889 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 we offer? For example, in the first phase of the outcomes project, we are now able to collect data with regard to the services to children in their own home, known as "SCOH." Right now, we've been able to take a look at, for example, how many children do we get additional abuse reports on? How many children, for example, reenter the system? So we're beginning to believe -- and what agencies they are coming from, what kinds of services are they having? Which gives us an opportunity to begin to say, are these the right services for these children? Because, by and large, X-percentage of children are coming back into the system, or X-percentage of children are staying out of the system and don't come back to the system in the first year. So those are the kinds of specific things we're looking at is, how do we get a sense of the qualitative nature of the programs. And with that information, informed decision-makings about which agencies provide service and the right service and whether or not we have the right mix of service to be able to sustain families in their 890 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 own homes and make sure children are safe.
So it wouldn't have to be -- a social worker wouldn't have to be sort of like a parking enforcement officer who how has a certain amount of quota that they have to meet because each family situation would be totally different and just might not be able to happen within a certain timeframe.
Okay, that's good. I have another question I have to just remember. Oh, just in terms of keeping children within the home. You know, we've had constituents who have actually tried to have their children placed outside of the home because of a variety of issues. And it's good, I think, that you have an effort to try and keep the family together. However, when that effort to keep them there does not work, what would be the next step for those parents? Would you then go through the procedures of trying to place that child outside of the home?
Maxine Tucker, Deputy 891 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 Commissioner. Children come to us in a number of ways. They come to us because we have determined, based on our investigation and assessment, that the child is at risk and unsafe to be able to live at home. That's how most of our children come to us. Children also come to us through Family Court, where, by and large, either truancy, incorrigibility, and there's been a real effort for that parent, through some of the services that the court provides and we fund, to be able to keep this child at home. If that all fails, then we do work out with the parents a voluntary arrangement to bring the children into placement. But we just don't automatically -- with the exception of when there's a risk factor with the child -- just say, Everybody just bring your children on down here, we'll take 'em. What we try to do is to provide the services to support them, to stabilize the family. If it does not work and the family's unable to use those services, or the services are just not being effective because either the child 892 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 won't cooperate or either the parent won't cooperate, then, yes, that child is removed from the home through a sanctioning by the court.
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilwoman Brown.
Good morning, Commissioner. I have a series of questions. If we could first start with a follow-up to President Verna's question regarding State funding. Is there anything this body could or should do to assist you in ensuring that State funding continues to be a reality? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Definitely. And I'm going to ask some of the deputies to help answer that question.
Well, obviously, State funding is a very complicated issue, but in terms of the Department of Human Services specifically, this department developed what is called "a 893 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 needs-based budget," which we submit to the State about months before the beginning of the Fiscal 4 Year. So last August, we submitted our 5 needs-based budget to the State for the year that 6 begins this coming July 1st. So this budget that 7 we've submitted to Council essentially mirrors 8 that needs-based budgeting submission. 9 So perhaps one of the most important 10 things is that the City shows its willingness to 11 parallel the needs-based budget submission of last August.
We don't normally hear about our final allocation until perhaps April, this coming April. So we'll here in about April about what our final numbers are for the year beginning July 1st. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: But we did read in the newspapers, at least, you know, very generally, that the Governor's budget does include a modest increase for child welfare services for the State.
So is there a 894 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 favorable history with regards to support from the State?
I would say that overall, there has been a favorable history in terms of the State supporting the Department's efforts, but not necessarily a smooth history. So we've been very vigilant in working with the State and we've been very careful in analyzing the information that comes down the pike, and we've been very thorough in assuring ourselves that we claim all the money possibly. So overall, I think the history has been positive. It's difficult to predict into the future whether it will stay that way, and I believe that it's been positive because of the vigilant efforts of the Department and other agencies in the City working very closely and making sure that we keep each other on our toes about this. It's a very complicated process. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: And I would like to emphasize that recognizing that the Department of Public Welfare in the State is a major supporter of these services, I have reached out to Secretary Feather Houstoun, Deputy 895 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 Secretary Joanne Lauer (ph.) and our local connection and Schimberger (ph.) and have had a number of conversations with them, and I'm pleased to say that I've had a working relationship with Secretary Houstoun from the past. We've done great things together, and they are very interested in supporting the Department of Human Services as it continues to move our work forward.
Okay. The only group I would add to that, when you anticipate a bumpy road, is to factor in the Philadelphia delegation. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Absolutely.
So that they, too, are informed directly and don't read it in the paper when the crisis happens. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: That's a very good recommendation. Thank you.
Okay, sure. Moving now to the Truancy Unit, I learned from the Police Commissioner's testimony yesterday that their primary role is to pick up and drop off. And I'm trying to get a better sense and understanding of the way the Truancy 896 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 Unit works. Right now, two sections of Philadelphia are a part of that, so I'm curious to know when and if that might become citywide. And secondly, describe for me the level of success that you've experienced already. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: I'd like to ask the Executive Director of the Children and Families Cabinet, Jean Hunt, to begin answering this question.
My name is Jean Hunt. The primary responsibility that we've had within the Mayor's Children and Families Cabinet was for the community-based truancy courts, which are based in community settings, primarily in schools. We now have 19 out of the clusters in the City reporting to Truancy 22 Court.
This effort is an effort to get intervention with children much earlier in 897 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 their truant history. Previous to this, kids would go up to 180 days before there was an effective intervention. We're now calling children into Truancy Court at days, and our 6 goal is to get it down to less than 10. 7
We're working on an 9 evaluation of the first three months of Truancy 10 Court, which were the first three months of -- it 11 will be almost a year ago so that we will have 12 some operating data that will tell you whether 13 these interventions are as effective as we believe 14 they are anecdotally. 15 But our experience with working with 16 the schools and the courts is that this 17 intervention is making a real difference in 18 returning kids to school and reattaching them to 19 their schools. 20
And the role of 21 parents in this equation is . . . ? 22
Parents are required to come 23 to court with their children, and they're part of 24 the process of defining a contract between -- the 25 master from the Family Court works out a contract. 898 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 There may be support from a family center, there may be referrals for deeper problems, such as drug and alcohol problems, problems of food in the home or inadequate income to get the child to school, whatever. Parents are asked to -- or guardians are an integral part of the solution to the problem.
My follow-up question is related to , the last paragraph, around parents. We know that the reality for many of our parents is that they simply don't have the skills to be good parents, and that's relative. So within the Department, what kind -- and you speak to it generally, but I'm interested in some specifics. What kinds of programmatic preventive initiatives are in place specifically to aid parents?
Let me start with what is happening within the family centers, and there are other programs within the Department as well. There are 19 community-based family centers, and they're in 14 of the clusters now 899 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 existing. And each of these family centers represent an effort to help build capacity in neighborhoods, both within families and within neighborhoods to support children and families in a better way. They do a variety of programs. They vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, depending on the concerns and interests and strengths of that neighborhood. But all of them do programs which are aimed at helping families achieve the goals they have for themselves and their children. Many of them do early-childhood work, they do parents as teachers, they do parent training and parent support. Many of them do after-school programs, many of them do case- management and outreach. Many of them do all kinds of workshops. They've done a lot of very creative welfare-to-work initiatives in West Philadelphia. There's a very interesting welfare-to-work collaboration that is operating out of the family centers in that area and other provider agencies. They're really designed to try to help families to get to the goals families want to get 900 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 to and to see families as having strengths and then having needs where they need additional support.
So the involvement or the participation, is that optional or is it required by those parents of truants?
Family centers are not mandated services; family centers are voluntary.
Maxine Tucker, Deputy Commissioner. I just want to also share the additional pieces that are within the Children and Youth Division. And that is, we support programs at court called "Reasonable Efforts at Assessment and Placement Prevention," in which we fund several programs that work directly with parents and children in terms of trying to help them deal with those issues and negotiate the systems that they must negotiate. The other piece of it also is at the 901 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 point at which parents may simply choose not to support or be involved, sometimes we have to ask court to intervene and order cooperation, as opposed to just yanking the kids out and putting them into placement, because that doesn't solve the problem.
But there are a number of programs in terms of trying to support parents a way that they can better parent their children.
You mentioned that there are community-based centers in 14 of the 14 clusters. 15
Is it funding that 17 drives that, or is there some strategic plan that 18 drives that where now there are 19 -- well, there 19 14 versus the 22. How did those 14 become so lucky?
Well, they developed -- a lot of them developed out of an emerging movement in neighborhoods in order to create family centers, and I think that the task going forward is to figure out a way to -- how to help support 902 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 the remaining clusters so that they have centers. But the ones that have been developed thus far, by and large, came up out of activity at the neighborhood level, where people reached out and asked for the assistance.
Was it suggested that there has to be some level of cooperation amongst the various worlds in that particular neighborhood?
It's required. I mean, you can't do a family center if there's not a strong collaborative interest in the neighborhood.
Can you provide a list of the participating clusters to the Chair, if you would.
We would like to get a read on where they are. Should I assume that they're in high-need areas?
Okay. Girls, young women, the population is increasing. And Councilwoman Miller spoke about quote, system reform, and Secretary Estelle Richman responded to 903 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 that, citing a number of preventive measures. What kind of preventive measures are in place specifically for young women so that we -- so that there is a leveling off, if you will, of that population just growing and growing through the roof?
Under the Juvenile Justice budget, you will see SCOP support.
SCOP (ph.) provides prevention services particularly for girls, as well as other children. But with the increases in Juvenile Justice in the numbers of girls, we have last year funded three just talking groups for girls at Miller, Boone, and Shallcross so that those young women could have opportunities to be together with other young women and with adult females who are healthy and functioning well in society, so that they could learn some different behaviors about how to respond to just what we consider girls' issues or female issues. All of the providers are receiving some training through the advisory committee at SCOP to work with girls and help to identify early the 904 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 issues which they present that are different from boys.
Right. In Juvenile Justice, many of our programs were originally designed for boys because our court system had for many, many years kept girls out, but as the numbers increase, what we're learning and what many have known for some time is that they don't fit in normal boys' programs. You have some very specific program components. Nationally, a group was charged last year to develop guidelines for girls' programs through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. We have circulated those guidelines to all of our providers and staff who have reason to serve girls, so that we are fine-tuning what we are offering and can better measure the outcomes based on the needs of this particular population.
The three sites that you mentioned, how did they become so lucky? What I'm getting to is how you arrived at the decision that "X" gets the opportunity and "B" 905 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 does not.
Okay. In Shallcross, Miller, and Boone, we found that in those alternative sites were girls who were not making it all the way into the Youth Study Center or into residential placement, but they were girls with high probability of penetrating the system further. It was critical to get to those young women and begin to develop some options for them to help them to explore some other options and ways of dealing with their problems so that they did not penetrate the system further.
So the mentors you talked about are actually employees of the --
We have two groups who are developing mentors PAAN, which is the Anti-Crime, Anti-Violence Network, which has developed some 100-and-some mentors, some of which are for girls. PAAN has a program where they have developed mentors through a program called UGIMA (ph.). 906 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00
And they have a program that's called "UGIMA" that develops mentors for youngsters who have hit the detention center but are going home; they're not going to placement, they're not going to a community-based placement, but certainly, they need some hand-holding and someone to set some -- to model some appropriate behaviors and provide support for them.
Sure, sure. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: I also wanted to add to the answer that the vision of the Department of Human Services, under the new City structure of social services as an umbrella, assumes that we will be a part of the solution, but not the entire solution. And so I wanted to speak to after-school programs as a incredible strategy that this city has to, you know, continue to push as a preventive mechanism for girls, because in my 907 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 experience as Executive Director of Congreso, girls took advantage of after-school programs much more readily than boys at a certain age, after a certain age point.
Sure, sure. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: And so that is a tool, it is a vehicle. Mayor Street is committed to moving that forward, and the Department of Human Services will contribute to the pot for after-school programs. But really, it has to be with Recreation, Health, you know, Director Estelle Richman, the School District.
The District. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: We have a lot of resources in this city -- not enough, but we need to align them and use them more strategically. And ultimately, we need to make these decisions based on data and based on needs. Just like Commissioner Timoney moves resources where the risk is at, our social services and human services departments must move resources to where the risk is the highest.
I couldn't agree with you more. 908 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 Let me suggest this, as well, when you're thinking about mentors and volunteers. There are a number of active committed women organizations here in the city who look for opportunities to connect with government-driven initiatives, and they are a valuable resource that, if asked, would respond. So consider them and factor them into it when you're looking to volunteers who want to help be a part of the solution. On of your testimony, with regard --- I believe that's under "Enhancements" -- no, "Major Challenges," , third paragraph. Could you please forward to the Chair a copy of this report after March 2000 that speaks to the model court you're talking about here? COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Absolutely. Is it on track? March 2000, we'll have the evaluation of model court?
Maxine Tucker, Deputy Commissioner. The evaluation is on target at this particular point, in terms of trying to look at the effectiveness, because what the future vision 909 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 is, it's to increase the number of model courts as a way of doing business in terms of reviewing cases in the court system. So we are right on target about now.
Do you mind holding some of your questions so that we can have another go-round.
Actually, Madam President, I have concluded my questioning.
Do you have another one? Do you have another question?
Thank you. The Chair recognizes Councilman Kenney.
Thank you, Madam 910 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 Chair. Good morning. COMMISSIONER MARTINEZ: Good morning.
I have a couple questions about the budget in detail. On 42-55 and 42-57 and 42-64, there are three items which indicate an increase in Class 200 for, I think, on 42-64, what's listed as "Professional Services." On the 42-55, the increase is 35 million; on 42-57 indicates an increase of 30 million; and 42-64 indicates an increase of million in professional services. 15 Could you give me a description as to 16 what it is those particular items are being 17 increased at that level, what they are, what we 18 hope to accomplish? Do you have the items there? Do you see which one I'm talking about? It's 42-55, at the top of the page.
Okay. Councilman, 911 OPERATING BUDGET CONT'D. - BILL 05 - 2/16/00 Russell Cardamone, Deputy Commissioner of Administration.
When you say an increase, it's the last -- it's like Line 4. It says "Purchase of Services," and it's $35,877,000.