Our own Bill Hughes will speak on “Putting Them to Work: The Career Needs of Parolees and Ex-Offenders.”
This abbreviated presentation of one of the solution-options available for this special needs population will cover the high rates of prison returnees and guaranteed reduction of that of that rate. This will be an audience-involved program. The take-away of this presentation is a better understanding of the barriers facing the parolee upon release.
Barry Harwell is director of the Sierra Child & Family Services (SCFS) organization. It was founded in 1988 with one group home for 10 kids. Today SCFS serves over 700 kids. Barry started working at the agency in 1992 by working at a group home and by 1997 he became director.
Barry told us about the "Katie A." lawsuit and its effect on foster children. The Katie A. v. Bonta lawsuits charged that every county in the state must provide adequate mental health services for some of its most vulnerable children. The state settled the case in 2011. Los Angeles County settled a separate lawsuit in 2003, suggesting that it would be ahead of the state’s 57 other counties in providing better mental health services to these kids.
In 2012, SCFS moved out of providing group homes and into foster care. There is a shortage of foster families in El Dorado County, and Barry made a plea that people in our club should consider becoming a foster family. Barry also covered some of what is being done in the county's schools to provide mental health services, to reduce the amount of bullying and to prevent suicides. We thank Barry for a heart-string-pulling and thought-provoking presentation.