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Joint Legislative Child Protection Oversight Committee

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Previous Meetings - Full Report

Summary Report

Friday, September 4, 2015
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Organization of Committee

Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
Discussion of Agenda Topics
Schedule Future Meetings

10:30 AM

Committee Charge

Under Act 60

  • Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
10:45 AM

Security Issues

  • Keith Flynn, Commissioner, Department of Public Safety
  • Dawn O'Toole, Chief Operating Officer, Agency of Human Services
  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
12:00 PM

Mandatory reporter requirements

Under V.S.A. ss 4913

  • Greg Glennon, General Counsel, Agency of Education
12:30 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

S.9 - An act relating to improving Vermont’s system for protecting children from abuse and neglect

Update on Implementation

  • Hon. Brian Grearson, Chief Superior Judge, Office of Chief Superior Judge
  • Cindy Walcott, Deputy Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
2:30 PM

Best interest of the child standard

  • Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
2:45 PM

Adjourn


Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

CHINS Flowchart

  • Hon. Brian Grearson, Chief Superior Judge, Office of Chief Superior Judge
  • Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
10:30 PM

SIU Notification

  • Marc Metayer, SIU Grants Program Manager, Department of State's Attorneys
  • Cindy Walcott, Deputy Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  • Mike Warren, Director, Chittenden Unit of Special Investigation
11:15 AM

Worker Safety Issues

  • Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
  • Dawn O'Toole, Chief Operating Officer, Agency of Human Services
  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Act 60, Sec 20

22(b) preliminary information and recommendations
22(c) full report

  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
1:15 PM

DCF Monthly Report

  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  • Cindy Walcott, Deputy Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
2:30 PM

Children born to opioid-dependent parents

  • Anne Johnston, M.D., University of Vermont - CHARM
  • Cindy Walcott, Deputy Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  • Nancy Young, Director, Children and Family Futures
3:15 PM

Adjourn


Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Introduction and Agenda

10:15 AM

Mandated Reporter Requirements

  • Jeff Fannon, General Counsel, Vermont National Education Association
  • Karyn Patno, MD
11:00 AM

Worker Safety Issues

  • Daniel Despard, Senior Director, Strategic Consulting, Casey Family Programs
  • Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
  • Shannon Morton, Social Worker, Family Services Divsion, Department for Children and Families
  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  • Scott Williams, Washington County State's Attorney
12:30 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM

DCF Reports

Monthly and 22 (b)

  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
2:30 PM

Committee discussion on potential legislative changes

3:00 PM

Adjourn


Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Agenda and Comments

10:05 AM

Worker Safety Issues

Staff Safety Committee draft policy and recommendations

  • Patricia Casanova, Social Worker, Department for Children and Families-St. Albans
  • Nancy Lynch, VSEA
  • Shannon Morton, Department for Children and Families
10:25 AM

DCF Reports

Monthly and Sec. 22(b)

  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  • Cindy Walcott, Deputy Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
11:30 AM

Mandated Reporting Training

  • Sally Borden, Executive Director, KidSafe Collaborative
  • Karen Shea, Child Protection & Field Operations Director, Department for Children and Families
  • Cindy Walcott, Deputy Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
11:45 AM

Justice for Children Task Force Update

  • Honorable Paul Reiber, Chief Justice, Vermont Supreme Court
12:15 PM

Lunch

1:15 PM

Standard at Emergency Care Hearing

  • Hon. Brian Grearson, Chief Superior Judge, Office of Chief Superior Judge
  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
1:30 PM

CHINS Workgroup Report

  • Hon. Brian Grearson, Chief Superior Judge, Office of Chief Superior Judge
  • William Sorrell, Vermont Attorney General, Attorney General's Office
  • Matthew Valerio, Defender General, Defender General's Office
2:00 PM

Legislative Proposals and Committee Discussion

  • Michelle Fay, Voices for Vermont's Children
  • Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
3:30 PM

Adjourn


Thursday, June 30, 2016
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Welcome and Introductions

  • Rep. Ann Pugh, House Committee On Human Services
10:05 AM

Committee Charge

Under Act 60

  • Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
  • Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
10:15 AM

Relevant bills overview

Appropriations funding
H. 74 - An act relating to safety policies for employees direct social or mental health services
S. 154 - An act relating to stalking, criminal threatening, and enhanced penalties for assault
S. 183 - An act relating to permanency for children in the child welfare system

  • Stephanie Barrett, Associate Fiscal Officer, Joint Fiscal Office
  • Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
  • Katie McLinn, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
11:00 AM

Mandatory Reporter Update

  • Joel Cook, Director, Vermont National Education Association
  • Holly Francis, UVM Medical Center
  • Dianne Jabar, Director of the Central Intake & Emergency Service Unit, Department for Children and Families
  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
12:15 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

H.95 - An act relating to jurisdiction over delinquency proceedings by the Family Division of the Superior Court

  • Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
1:30 PM

Department for Children and Families

Monthly Report

  • Cindy Walcott, Deputy Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
2:00 PM

Organization of Committee

Discussion of Agenda Topics
Schedule Future Meetings

2:30 PM

Adjourn


Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Mandated Reporter Requirements

When is a report required of a mandatory reporter?

  • Sally Borden, Co-Chair, KidSafe Collaborative
  • John Campbell, Executive Director, Department of State's Attorneys & Sheriffs
  • Chuck Myers, Executive Director, Northeastern Family Institute
  • Jill Olson, Vice President of Policy & Legislative Affairs, Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems
  • Karen Shea, Child Protection & Field Operations Director, Department for Children and Families
11:30 AM

DCF Monthly Report

  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Agency of Education Restorative Justice Initiatives

  • Lisa Bedinger, South Burlington Community Justice Center
  • Lia Ernst, Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union - Vermont
  • Jeff Fannon, General Counsel, Vermont National Education Association
  • Amy Fowler, Deputy Secretary for Educator Quality, Agency of Education
2:00 PM

Mandated Reporter Requirements

Review of what other states are doing followed by public comment

  • Brynn Hare, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council
2:30 PM

Adjourn


Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Update on Mandated Reporters

  • John Campbell, Executive Director, Department of State's Attorneys & Sheriffs
  • Clayton Clark, Director, Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living
  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  • Stuart Schurr, General Counsel, Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living
11:00 AM

DCF Monthly Report

Including DCF reports to law enforcement as required by Act 60

  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  • Leslie Wisdom, General Counsel, Department for Children and Families
12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Party Status for Foster Parents CHINS Proceedings

  • Dan Boyce, President, Vermont Foster and Adoptive Family Association
  • Hon. Brian Grearson, Chief Superior Judge, Office of Chief Superior Judge
  • Marshall Pahl, Appellate and Juvenile Defender, Defender General's Office
  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
  • Rep. Janssen Willhoit, Sponsor, St. Johnsbury, VT
2:00 PM

CHINS Working Group Update

  • Ben Battles, Assistant Attorney General, Attorney General's Office
  • Marshall Pahl, Appellate and Juvenile Defender, Defender General's Office
2:30 PM

Guardian Ad Litem

Improvements in the system since Act 60

  • Hon. Brian Grearson, Chief Superior Judge, Office of Chief Superior Judge
3:00 PM

Adjourn


Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

Protecting Patient Privilege

  • Melissa Belrose, Investigative Social Worker, Department for Children and Families, Family Services Division
  • Martha Csala, Assistant Attorney General, Agency of Human Services
  • Julie Gaudette, Vermont Children's Alliance
  • Lauren Hibbert, Chief Prosecuting Attorney, Vermont Secretary of State, Office of Professional Regulation
  • Steven J. Klein, Director of Legal Affairs and Assistant General Counsel, University of Vermont Medical Center
  • Larry Novins, Counsel, Office of Professional Regulation, Secretary of State's Office
  • Leslie Wisdom, General Counsel, Department for Children and Families
12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Mandated Reporter Requirements

Presentation of draft language

  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
1:45 PM

Department for Children and Families

Monthly Report; including information on recruiting/supporting foster parents efforts

  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
2:30 PM

Committee Discussion

3:00 PM

Adjourn


Tuesday, November 29, 2016
Meeting Details
Hearing Type
Standard
Meeting Record
10:00 AM

CHINS Report

Act 60, Section 24

  • Ben Battles, Assistant Attorney General, Attorney General's Office
  • John Campbell, Executive Director, Department of State's Attorneys & Sheriffs
  • Hon. Brian Grearson, Chief Superior Judge, Office of Chief Superior Judge
  • Marshall Pahl, Appellate and Juvenile Defender, Defender General's Office
  • Kenneth Schatz, Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
11:30 AM

The Role of Guardian Ad Litem in the Child Welfare System

  • David Kennedy, Programs Manager, Guardian Ad Litem
12:00 PM

Lunch

1:00 PM

Impact of Opiates on the Child and Family Welfare

  • Barbara Cimaglio, Deputy Commissioner, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program, Dept. of Health
  • Kim Coe, Director, Residential and Community Treatment Programs, Lund
  • John Merrigan, Commander, Special Investigations, Vermont State Police
  • Karen Shea, Interim Deputy Commissioner, Department for Children and Families
2:30 PM

Committee Discussion

3:00 PM

Adjourn