Guests Attending:

• Amelia Plemons, Commisioner
• Arlene Sackman, Commisioner
• Cindy Wittstrom, Commisioner
• Gwen McNamara, Commisioner
• Karen Donaghe, Commisioner
• Kayla Plourde-Reynolds, Commisioner
• Rich Randolph, Commisioner
• Margurite Harris, Probation
• Jill Reifjens, Behavioral Health (Zoom)
• Chris Balogh, SLO County Office of Education
• Katherine Aaron, SLO County Office of Education
• Steve Von Dohlen, District Attorney’s Office
• Angella Holmes, Child Welfare Services

Minutes

1. Call to Order: The meeting was called to order at 11:15 a.m. – a quorum was present
2. Approval of Minutes: The motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the November 7, 2023 meeting. Carried Unanimously.
3. Correspondence: none
4. Public Comment: none
5. Comments / Information from Agencies:
   • District Attorney’s Office – Steve Von Dohlen:
     • Juvenile Court is working electronic filing process with the Courts.  Juvenile Court has adopted use of Judicial Council form for secure track juvenile commitments (JV 733). 
     • Updating the Plea Form (aka the Tall Waiver for Juveniles) to match law changes.  The next meeting of the Judicial Stakeholders Advisory Council is set for February 13, 2024
     • Commissioners invited to attend
     • a lot of detailed discussion including the juvenile dependency side of juvenile justice. 
     • Sent a summary of new juvenile justice laws that are taking effect in 2024.
   • Social Services – Angella Holmes:
     • Co. Child Welfare and Juvenile Probation will be entering new 5-year System Improvement Plan in 2 years.
     • Will be doing County Self-Assessment and Peer Review next year. 
     • Commissioners will be encouraged to participate. Starting in January we will have 4 new Child Welfare Services Social Workers.
     •  CAC anticipated to open in January.
   • Probation / Juvenile Hall – Marguerite Harris:  Updates to facility are moving through approval process.
     •  Master gardeners are coming in weekly to work with the kids
     • Pad for the CTE Mobile Kitchen has been signed off
     • Great Thanksgiving Celebration; some of the food was prepared by CVA students
     • 8 boys + 1 girl in CVA; 4 boys in secure track; 5 in detention
     • We have 1 girl from Sonoma County that should be coming into CVA
     • CPOC is watching AB 702 (proposes to pull funding from Probation)
     • Original money was to pull in evidence-based programs which SLO Co is doing and others (a few statewide) are not
     • Programs will still be required, but there will not be money for them
6. MOTION: Jim Brabeck moved, and Rich Randolph seconded that the Commission take a position on, and advocate said position on AB 702 (as amended March 23, 2023). Carried unanimously.
   • Behavioral Health – Jill Reifjens
     • Gaps analysis done over the last 6 months – no surprises
     • Pandemic was bad for kids’ mental health
     • Workforce issue in this County
     • Highlighted good relationships with other agencies
     • Highlighted services offered; lacking in crisis services and facilities
     • Will help with applying for upcoming grants
     • Medi-Cal youth receive more in-home services than statewide
     • Prevention Division has counselors on all but 1 Middle School campuses and on some High School campuses
   • County Office of Education – Katherine Aaron and Chris Balogh
     • 83 students enrolled at Loma Vista (8 outstanding referrals); 15 at Juvenile
     • HallWorking with Probation
     • Increase in inappropriate behaviors on the bus; Dr. Brescia authorized a second Probation Officer
     • Probation will hire SLOCOE for classified support for justice-involved youth to coordinate post-secondary, vocational, and career technical education
     • Going to launch the first dual-enrollment at Loma Vista in culinary arts; looking at and into other courses that can be developed
     • WASC accreditation this year; community input will be coming this Spring
     • 3 Loma Vista students returned to their home schools; supports are being provided

Presentation: “Fetal Alcohol Syndrome” – Judge Charles Crandall, Dr. Nisha Abdul Cader, and Margaret Shepard-Moore

• Causes, implications, and statistics were shared and discussed related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (PowerPoint slides attached)
• How we can impact the problem and the supports was discussed
• Contact with local and national legislators
•  Information will be shared with Commissioners

Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 1:10 p.m.