DNC Board Minutes - May 20, 2014

DNC Board Meeting Minutes - May 20, 2014

Attendees: 

12 board members in attendance, 2 guests.

X reads the constitution

X reads previous minutes, minutes approved with friendly amendment to give $5 honorarium to X for addressing the board.

Round of introductions

MOTION: X, Xto approve the agenda. Motion passes.

Presentation on mayor’s mental health task force:

Summary of materials , Declaration of mental health crisis, task force comprises 45 members, mostly from service providers, 8 from VPD, 1-VANDU, 1-GG, 1-At Home Chez Soi, Chaired by Penny Ballem, Sessions on variety of topics: stigma, systems, eliminating barriers – to sharing information among non-profits.

Add 300 secure mental health beds, now 150 beds in DTES, rest outside. More staffing at BC housing sites, more significant support through ACT teams etc…, visits regularly, enhanced crisis care, funding for 9 beds at StPauls, creation of joint VPD/ACT teams, police can decide if you are mentally ill.

(Section 28 of mental health act)

June 11 is session on addictions

SAMI – Severely addicted and mentally ill

6 points of agreement or discussion.

Issues discussed surrounding Charter of Rights.

Consuming illicit alcohol and crystal meth leads to brain damage, therefor can now be classified as mentally ill. Mental health act will be used against addicts.

Agreement has been made on information sharing between agencies.

Discussion of civil forfeiture laws starting as something sold as reasonable and then clearly getting out of hand.

Discussion of voluntary community crisis centre that would remove necessity for committal of at risk persons.

Finance Committee

Meeting on Friday, May 23^rd at 9:30am

PHS:

Street Market advisory

Background Re: PHS and neighbourhood

Dominic Flanagan – believes in forced treatment

Princess will not be taken back, but possibility of VCH or others coming in and running it like an institution

Discussion of Trauma informed services as an alternative narrative to the forced treatment model

VCH is under pressure to turn away from harm reduction

Alternatives to Detox centres should be a priority

Brochure

Delayed due to the long weekend

Phone Tree

Divide up an old copy of the membership list

Need to meet regarding the website – X, X, X, X perhaps

X visited an advocacy workshop, there may be positions available.

Motion to adjourn, moment of silence