June 19, 2018 at 8:30 AM - Legislative/Special Populations Joint Committee

Discussion:  Call to order at 8:30 AM.
Staff:  David Ludwig, Deb Hericks

Discussion:  Executive Director reviewed LB 998 with Senator Walz.  Before general hearing they pulled the private funding.  It was approved on the last day of session and then vetoed by Senator.  The Behavioral Mental Health Summit for June 8 with 165 people attending the conference.  Next year there will not be a forum/invitation.  It will be a statewide conference with a bigger statewide focus.  2019, will be held in Kearney (the week of June 11/12 - 1 1/2 day conference), 2020 will be in Omaha.  Four Sentaros were present at the summit with an additional aide present.  Are there other groups out there doing similiar things, invite them to the table.  Continue to have key stakeholders at this conference.  This still continues to be a top priority across the state.  Schools continue to ask for support on Mental Health.  Continue to discuss how Service Unit can be involved in the support of mental health.  Some ESUs have already hired mental health counselors.   Possibility of using flex funding to help support issues.  Title IV funds could possibly be used.  Provide training for behavioral health providers.  Continue to build internal capacity.  ESU 17 is working with an intern to possible increase interest by districts.  Schools continue to request more behavioral health days each year.  School Psychs possible do more than just testing and working more with mental health.  Statewide coordination, satatewide support for schools, statewide person at ESUCC level, value for schools.   Difficulties finding people to want to work in remote areas.  Meeting with stakeholders to see if possibility to continue forward, would need to include more details.  So many services out there but what are they actually doing to help students.  Focus groups across the state to be more specific about needs.  Examining the Effectiveness of Education Funding, another article by Senator Groene.  (http://www.nptelegraph.com/opinion/editorials/examining-the-effectiveness-of-education-funding/article_2dfc4934-6f6d-11e8-ad34-23df9616e93c.html)  What direction would we like to go?  Look at alternative funding, state funding is probably not going to happen.  Back-up up and take time to put together a planning document on how it would look.  What are we trying to solve/root cause?  Jont effort with school districts (Is schools using tax dollars the same concern as ESUs requesting tax dollars?)  ESUs use funding based on schools needs, contract with schools to show the need.  Grant writer to write a grant to help with funding.  Using levee funds would be a concern on both ESU and schools.  How do we get Senators interested in the importance of mental health (Schools, ESU, HHS)  The Senators that were present at the summit were very interested in help remied the situation.  One sentaor commented that this could all be done without legislative law.  How can this be done?  We would not be providing the service to schools without the schools asking for it.  Possibility get funding for part of the the costs to help get ball rolling.  ESU 13 had a good plan layed out that could use as starting point.  Create a list of ideas and meet with stakeholders to discuss.  We need senators to help with support/power to move forward.  There are pockets of excellence across the state using evidence based practices.  We need to put a map together of all good things happening.  (NeSOC, etc.)  We have alot of things to do before we can ask foundations for support/service.  Create a "place" for all stakeholders to put their services available and to help write a plan.  Could the Foundation provide the person to help write plan, lobby, etc.  Possiblity to meet with Senators to discuss/awareness of us writing a plan/begin dialog.  ESU 10 has a grant writer that could possibly help.  ESU 3 to begin document of ideas and send out to others to add ideaas to help move forward.  Define what we are trying to solve.  Senators do not understand what school teachers deal with on a daily basis.  Show the ipact on education.  Invite Superintendents to a meeting to tell their stories.  HHS needs to also be an essential part.  Define the stakeholders and how to engage them.  Use data, qualitative and quantitative.  Tie the groups outside of education to bridge the gap, help tell story.  Determine the effect on culture, climate, students.  Federal meetings, take our survey data and share with those in Washington DC.  Send two surveys to all on committee, to read and reflect to start conversations.  Senator Walz keep her informed on our conversations.   Important for Legislative and Special Populations to work side by side to create a plan.   

Discussion:  Adjourn meeting at 9:43 AM.