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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-01-14-HSC-minLEXINGTON HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE JANUARY 14, 2014 The meeting was opened by Chair, Lea Elkins. Those in attendance were Lea, Gail liieds,;` Stephanie Lawrence, Mimi Ballard, Norm Cohen, Charlotte Rogers, Emily Lavine, Bill Bl`olit and BJ. The minutes from the last meeting were reviewed and will stand as recorded. YOUTH AT RISK REPORT • Lea introduced Bill and BJ, who are chairing the Youth at Risk Committee for Lexington. The committee is reviewing all the youth services in Lexington and identifying the gaps in services and the needs of the youth at risk in our town. • They have prepared a survey to help determine what is needed to prevent or at least to reduce risk for youth. The survey is based on the NASW Model of Prevention which measures the level of risk. The survey will be given to school personnel, public services such as our Human Services Department, clergy and other community organizations. They will also conduct structured interviews and hope to have an interim report by the end of September. • Bill and BJ asked our committee to suggest other groups to include in the survey. Suggested were the police department, private schools, parents, mental health providers, the League of Women Voters and the newly created Asian Initiative. Our Human Service Department (HSD) will respond to the survey and the Youth at Risk Committee look at other communities to see what they are doing to help youth at risk. HUMAN SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPORT • Charlotte reported that the department wellness nurse is retiring and they will be reviewing the job description and then advertising the position. • Emily and Matt will be involved with the new Asian Initiative with a meeting on March 29th at Benton Hall. It is open to the public. Asian residents of Lexington have been involved in the planning of the this group. • The family service component of the HSD is seeing families with issues such as crisis stabilization, finances, family mental health problems, dual diagnosis and co- parenting issue. Other activities included attending the Global Mental Health meeting, hosting the cyber bullying movie, and a tubing trip for middle schoolers. The trip had the largest turn -out from the middle school students ever. • Gail and Emily reported on the homelessness coalition in Lexington. This includes what the schools are able to do and how the community can help homeless families. An effort is being made to help the families and at the same time preserving their confidentiality. HSD is providing referral resources and trying to reach parents with preschoolers. The major proble►tis faced by these families are language barriers, sanitation, health issues ' t anc3n infetat'Qn of bugs. ;. NEIGHBOR BRIGADE UPDATE • Stephanie is now the Executive Director of this organization with 40 participating communities and many volunteers including 225 in Lexington. Their goal is to bring the community together to help families who are experiencing crisis situations and emergencies. Most of the services requested from the Brigade are for food and transportation. Volunteers sign up on a shared calendar to provide help. Most of the referrals come from hospitals, HSD, schools and neighbors. Last May a fundraiser in Lexington, spearheaded by Lexington teachers, raised $10,000 in support of the Neighbor Brigade. OTHER BUSINESS Charlotte reported that the Senior Center has seen impressive increases their wellness and fitness courses and with courses for continuing education. They are creating a committee to help oversee programs and develop new programs. The Lexington Community Center is in please one of its development. Meetings with community representatives have been provided with clarity on the design and what tine expected timeline for completion might be. Phase one will include the resettlement of the HSD and the recreation department into the space. This is expected to occur by December 1 of this year. NEW BUSINESS • The Human Service Committee must actively recruit new members. • The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11, 2014. The meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Mimi Ballard