2006-04-05-YSC-min - Laserfiche WebLink

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YOUTH SERVICES COUNCIL MINUTES April 5, 2006 Present: Becky Rushford, Hank Manz, Deborah Strod, Jennifer Wolfram, Amy Berger, Ellen McDonald, Allesandro Alessandrini, Laurie Atwater, Karen Simmons, Tim Johnson, Bill Blout, Betsey Weiss, Bill Kennedy, Mary Sullivan Kennedy Introductions and welcome to the Youth Services Planning Group (YSPG) who attended to share what they are doing in order to have coordination from and support of the YSC. This group is focusing on creation of a "master plan" for youth services in Lexington. Although they were unsuccessful in their attempt to have Town Meeting pass a budget amendment, which would have replaced the $75,000 when the SAMHSA grant was lost, Sandro Alessandini stated that it raised Town Meeting awareness about the need for more youth services. Group members have had significant involvement in youth services. Debby Strod spoke of her professional work in Boston where the emphasis is on weaving a network of adults into kids' lives; therefore, building a safety net. Ellen McDonald spoke of the teen survey and extensive work toward a Teen Center in Lexington. Laurie Atwater spoke of her interest in coordination, marketing, strategic planning and implementation. Betsey Weiss, a past LHS PTA President, spoke of her involvement with the Academic Stress Group and the Academic Stress Parent's Group. Tim Duggan, a child psychiatrist, is also a member of the YSPG. Bill Bloat expressed excitement that so many people are working toward expanding youth services. Jennifer Wolfram raised a question about where the $10,000 CHNA 15 grant fits into the youth services plan. Ellen said that it is a community -wide (all ages) grant designated to coordinate a project for a "healthier community" for all age groups. Laurie stated that 20 -20 has done a lot of work on this in past. There was then discussion on how YSPG and other community groups relating to youth services would fit into the structure of the YSC. The proposed structure with the model of task forces, (including YSPG) under the coordination of the YSC, was endorsed. The need to coordinate with and do a presentation to Superintendent Ash was discussed. The need to have some /most of financing for youth services be independent of grants, instead coming from a line item in the Town budget and from private donations, was emphasized. This would require educating Town Meeting members about the need for and value of youth services which are community -based and have community ownership. In addition, this would provide better base from which to apply for grants, many of which have been turned down because Lexington doesn't demonstrate sufficient support of youth services. It was suggested that it might be advantageous for grant applications to come out of the YSC rather than the schools because it is a body with a smaller budget and wide representation from the community. There is an expressed need to develop a long -range plan for youth services, advocate for it, and show progress toward it. Jennifer mentioned that advocacy was effective after the Substance Abuse Prevention grant was not renewed. She related that there is a .5 Prevention Specialist position in next year's school budget.