HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-03-11-HSC-minTown of Lexington Human Services Committee Meeting.
7:30 pm, March 11, 2014
In attendance: Betty Borghesanri, Norm Cohen, Lea Elkins, Emily Lavine, Stephanie
Lawrence, Gail Rogers
General administration:
Lea introduced prospective member Gail Rogers who has lived in lived in Lexington
for 18 months, having moved to town from Florida. Gail has formerly involved with
home schooling and her professional background is that of a community health
nurse. She has a masters degree in nursing and an interest in community -based
projects.
Human Services Dept, update from Emily Lavine:
As of March 11th, there were 18 families living in the Quality Inn. These family units
include 20 kids under the age of S. There are 15 school aged children.
Lift Up Lexington (part of the interfaith community), an initiative to support the
homeless, has become very active. They are providing care packages, food,
nonperishables, toiletries, a monthly community meal (to begin soon), and activities
during April school vacation period. The interfaith group is not bound by
confidentiality, so things are moving so residents are more quickly feeling
comfortable in accepting help,
There has been a playgroup (in a meeting room at the Quality Inn) that Emily
attends so as to make the availability of the Human Services Dept. known.
The state is looking in to hiring social workers to work on site at the hotels
Presentation by Marsha Lazar of the Asian Mental Health Initiative:
Marsha Lazar, former director of Lexington Youth & Family Services, spoke about
the Asian Mental Health Initiative.
While the director of LYFS, Marsha found that Asian kids were 29% of initial drop
ins but they weren't coming returning, They weren't coming back because they were
unwilling to tell their parents, which LYFS requires for continuing services. Marsha
saw this as a health disparity. She explained therapy is not a part of Asian culture,
LYFS was awarded a grant from CHNA of $5,000 for a project to address stress faced
by Lexington's Asian teens. Marsha assembled a committee of kids, parents, CARL,
counselors, therapists, and other stakeholders who have been working together
since October.
Marsha announced an upcoming public program, "Helping Your Child Balance Stress
and Success — An Asian - American Perspective," to be held on Saturday, March 29th at
Cary Hall. The program will address the result of a survey conducted by the
committee; 143 Asian teens responded to this survey.
Youth_prro ratniiiing stimrniaryi_presented by Enift:
Human Service Dept. member Matt Ryan is leading weekly groups for boys, aimed at
engaging disconnected youth. Matt is leading a group at the high school, another at
Clarke for 7th graders, and will soon launch a group for 811, graders.
Community center update by Bette:
Some seniors are continuing to voice discontent. Betty thinks that this is due to fear
of change and she cited the need for continuing communication.
The center will open in April of 2015. The extension of the commercial kitchen is on
hold, with a current plan for just a warming kitchen (liunclies, meals on wheels). The
town is undertaking a lot of capital projects at this time.