2006-02-06-YSC-rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Accomplishments of the Town of Lexington Youth Services Council The Youth Services Council is an independent community council made up of representatives from the Board of Selectmen, the School Committee, the Lexington Schools (administration/special education, health education), Social Services Department, Police Department, Fire Department, Recreation Department, private therapists, Human Services Committee, Clergy and the youth of Lexington. The Council meets monthly (with subcommittees meeting more frequently) for the purpose of identifying youth needs for community-based services for mental health and substance abuse counseling and education. The Council has focused on improving the availability of services, and facilitating networking and collaboration among existing community services providers. Youth and Family Services Coordinator The youth services clinician works to coordinate and strengthen a wide range of youth related programs, provide case management services to at risk youth, and conduct outreach to community based youth and family service providers and the schools. School Resource Officer The Lexington High School Resource Officer is assigned full time to the campus and collaborates with others on prevention, education, intervention and investigative strategies. The police department contributes additional support services to youth and in particular youth at risk, through the family services officer, Minute-Man Regional High School Resource Officer and police prosecutor (who is liaison to juvenile probation officers, court officials and district attorney’s staff). Highlights of Activities of the Youth Services Council Facilitating communication and sharing of information regarding critical incidents, stressors, and crises affecting youth and families in the community. Expanding original council membership to now include representatives of the Fire Department and the Lexington Clergy. Creating Lexington’s “Forum for Youth” – a volunteer network of private therapists who provide therapeutic services to children, adolescents and families. Currently this 29-member group is working on establishing consistent, on-going consultative services to schools, parents and town groups regarding youth at risk and general youth and family issues. Identifying a specific need for middle school half-day initiatives and then promoting coordination and collaboration with the schools, parents and Town departments to provide programs. Youth Services Coordinator: Examples of Activities and Responsibilities Staff representation for the Youth Services Council and their subcommittees and task forces Implementing and coordinating the Youth Services Coordinator’s Regional Group to include Belmont, Lexington, Bedford, Arlington, Cambridge, and Winchester, Concord, and Burlington. Co-facilitating and coordinating private school network meetings the Director of Student Health Services, Lexington Schools (seven private schools in Lexington participate two times per year). Co-facilitating three parenting workshops with an elementary school counselor in Spring 2006 at The Avalon.