11-14-11 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2011 and many other organizations such as Healthy Families St. Joseph County, CASA of St. Joseph County, and for over a decade programs like “RoofSit” where U93 donates an entire week of air time and broadcasts from the roof of Martin’s Supermarket to help educate the community and raise financial donations for the prevention of child abuse. Now, Therefore, be it resolved, by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, as follows: Section I. The Common Council of the City of South Bend, Indiana, believes that our community must rededicate our efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect. Section II. The Common Council urges all persons to work with agencies who are dedicating their efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect; and with the adoption of this Resolution the Council wishes to heighten the public awareness that child abuse and neglect will NOT be tolerated in our community. Section III. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its adoption by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. s/Henry Davis Member of the Common Council Councilmember Henry Davis, Jr., 5117 Idlewood Drive, South Bend, Indiana, made the presentation for this Resolution by first offering his comments and then reading the Resolution in its entirety and presenting it to Jennifer Pickering, Prevent Child Abuse St. Joseph County. A Public Hearing was held on the Resolution at this time. Jennifer Pickering, 315 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, Indiana, thanked Councilmember Henry Davis and the entire Council for bringing this Resolution to the table. She stated that they do believe that they can try to prevent all child abuse and is their intention. She advised that last year there were almost 5,000 reports of abuse or neglect made in St. Joseph County. She stated that they have seen a decrease in physical abuse reports but have seen neglect go up, and these are reports from 2009, so they anticipate these reports will go up in the future with the state of the economy. So things that the Council do is to support programs like food pantries or other organizations that are providing clothing assistance, heating assistance to families. Also, safe affordable housing is available for families. She stated that the Council could further assist by making sure that we are currently enforcing the laws on the books by working with law enforcement and the prosecutors to hold abusers accountable for their actions. She stated that they must support community resources and programs serving families such as after school programs and summer programs for children. The Council can further help by assuring funding decisions that are currently being made in Indianapolis not affecting the quality of care in St. Joseph County. Recently the Department of Child Services returned $104 million dollars to the State General Fund reporting that they did not need those funds in that calendar year. At the same time they have been looking at reducing services reducing residential stays and reducing stays in foster care, so they just want to make sure that as we are making choices for our children, it is driven by their needs and not by costs. Ms. Pickering reiterated that the Council can do just what they are doing tonight making sure that everybody knows that they do have a duty to report and sincerely hope that this call to action will bring about change in this community. There was no one else present wishing to speak to the Council in favor or in opposition to this Resolution. Additionally, Councilmember Oliver Davis offered his comments and made a motion to adopt this Resolution by acclamation. Councilmember Varner seconded the motion which carried. 3