Unit Meeting Presentation Topics 2009-2010
Monday March 8 7:00
(Social Time starts at 6:30. Hope to see you there.)
Speaker: Erick Hohenegger, Investigator,
Colorado Civil Rights Division
Community Hospital (Lower Level)
Civil Rights Presentation: Our presenter will be Erick Hohenegger. Erick is the Western Slope investigator for the Colorado Civil Rights Division. Erick is an attorney who has been working with the Colorado Civil Rights Division since the Grand Junction office of the Division was reopened in July 2008. The presentation will address the different types of civil rights laws in Colorado and how they mesh with federal civil rights laws. It is not widely known that some protections under state statute and are not covered by federal law. Erick will also talk some about the kinds of civil rights complaints that are typically filed with the CCRD. In addition some time will be spent talking about the investigation and appeals processes. Civil Rights are much more complicated than is usually understood and the conversation is sure to be very interesting.
March 22, 2010 -- Juvenile Justice – How LWV can advocate
We have had two presentations on Juvenile Justice already this year. In the first we heard from youth who have been involved with the juvenile justice systems here. In the second session we heard from professionals who work in some part of the systems who serve youth in some way and come in contact with the juvenile justice systems. This last meeting will address how the League of Women Voters can put our position to work. What are the actions we can take to advocate for our position and to ensure that we have a progressive and effective juvenile justice system in Mesa County and in Colorado. Angie Wickersham will be the presenter. A Family and Adolescent Partnership Summit is planned for this week. By the time of our League meeting Angie will be able to talk with us about the results of that summit and to discuss how we can be effective in our advocacy role. This meeting will be as much conversation as presentation. Don’t miss this meeting.
January 11: (7 pm, BTK Bldg, 2523 Patterson Rd.) Ms. Devita was recently interviewed at length for a Daily Sentinel article entitled "No soft targets on District 51 budget crunch" published December 7th, 2009. Thanks Melissa for a very informative presentation.
January 25: Program Planning (7pm Community Hospital Lower Level Conf. Rm) Please join us for a members-only business meeting in which we discuss our local and national programming for the year. For more details, see pg.5 of the Voter Issue; December Voter
Follow-up reports for Year Presentations
Dec 11: Wine and Cheese
Nov 9: Potluck with Reeves Brown of Club 20
5:30pm, Redlands United Methodist Church
Reeves Brown of Club 20 spoke on the need for reform of the Colorado constitution.
Barbara Butcher as usual organized a wonderful pot luck
Nov 23: Census
7pm, Community Hospital Lower Level Conf Rm
The census will count every resident and every resident counts! Based on the demographics of our changing community, services and the money allotted for these services are determined. That is why it is so important that the numbers be accurate, because this not only reflects the needs that the community may need to address, but the power of their voice to participate at all levels of government.
Oct 12: "Sick Around the World"
Documentary and Discussion
We learned about other health care systems around the world in our October 12th unit meeting by watching Frontline's 2008 documentary "Sick Around the World: Other Rich Countries Have Universal Health Care. Why Don't We? - An Investigation with T.R. Reid." Afterwards, League's Constance Holland and Mesa State professor Abigail Richardson led a discussion about the documentary and the U.S. health care system.
The documentary discussed the health care systems in England, Japan, Germany, Thailand and Switzerland. The three common aspects that each of these health care systems share are: 1. universal coverage; 2. not-for-profit basic medical care; and 3. doctors and hospitals have one standard set of fixed prices for services and medications.
The U.S. does not share any of these aspects. However, the health care system is cobbled together in the U.S. has miniture versions of health care systems in other countries. The VA system, in which services are not only paid for by the U.S. government but also provided by employees of the U.S. government, is similar to the the socialist system in England. Our Medicare system was modeled on that of Canada's, but it also closely resembles the system in Thailand, which built its system from scratch in the 1980's. The private insurance market is similar to the system in Germany. And the 43 million uninsured Americans get health care as do people in poor third world countries: you get care only if you can pay for care.
There is hope for change. In 1992, Switzerland overhauled its health care system. It mandated insurance coverage and ensures everyone is covered by a private insurer. Their referndum on health reform barely squeaked by, but now the Swiss people embrace their system.
League is joining the fight for health reform. For more information on League's advocacy, please visit www.lwv.org. One of the most important things you can do is make your voice heard. Contact our Senators Bennet (202-224-5852) and Udall (202-224-5941) and Representative Salazar (202-225-4761) and tell them you support reform. These last few weeks before Thanksgiving are a critical time for the health care bills. Do not delay in contacting your representatives.
Oct 26: Juvenille Justice in Mesa County
What an amazing program! We have so many terrific individuals and groups in the community who are reaching out to young offenders and trying to make a difference in their lives!
Leaguers had the opportunity to learn so much more about our Juvenile Justice system here in Mesa County! Bill Larsen and Ron Roybal (secondary administrators) talked about a variety of interventions that exist within School District #51, but they sadly realize there are so many needy students who need support.
Brandi Shanahan coordinates a program coming out of Senate Bill 94 (1991). This law said that alternatives must exist for youth offenders from the age of 10 to 17. Their goal is to provide them with support and get them out of a detention facility as quickly as possible, while recognizing the need for community safety. her four case manageers deal with somewhere between 12 to 20 cases apiece, that with number changing daily. Following a 25-question assessment, case workers meet with community agencies to secure the best placement for these troubled youth.
Dave Maynard, Director of Division of Youth Services, shared information about his facility and the process. Young people charged with a crime arrive at his facility and face a 30-day assessment to determine what should happen next. We were surprised that there are many alternatives. Their goal is to chose an alternative that protects the community but also provides the young person with an appropriate placement and support for change.
Mark Addix (Program Manager) talked about 95% of these young people being in great pain, something that often has led to their offense. Many have been involved with meth families, child abuse, being part of a poor single-parent family, living in foster homes, substance abuse, etc. He believes only 5% are truly criminally-minded. It was sad to hear that many of these kids have parents who just disappear and offer little support to their children charged with a crime.
Joe Higgins, Director of Partners is involved in working with these young people to provide restorative justice. He provides work opportunities for these young people to work and earn money to return to their victim. He also works to help provide 70 partners to at-risk youth in our community. Joe's efforts are just amazing!
Audra Stock is Regional Director for Colorado West Mental Health West. They are so pleased with their new Monday-Friday 8-5 same day access for young people who need immediate support. Sadly though, they have lost funding for their award-winning "turn About" program.
"New Leash on Life" is an amazing program that DYC provides along with the Humane Society. Students in this facility train dogs to be obedient, often learning that dogs like youth offenders can make a positive change!
The big question for Leaguers...what can we do to support the efforts of these community groups and troubled youth in our community???
How you can Help
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Grand
Junction, CO 81502
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