Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-12-01-HSC-min.pdf HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE MINUTES, December 1, 1980 Present Ruth Butler, Ruth Nablo, Nicky Osborne Steve Baran, Howard Levingston, John Mackey also Jim Crain, Nancy Banks, Bea Phear Budget Priorities ! The first topic of business was how the committee could best respond to the Selecmen's request for advice on budget priorities Ruth Butler pointed out that the Committee had been proceding on an agenda of trying to set up an approach to the delivery of human services and pointing out ways the system could be reshaped to focus on earlier intervention, while creating a framework that could address both program and budget. Now the charge appears to be reshaped with a short-term request that the Committee look at Replace, Mystic Valley Mental Health, CMARC, and the Council on Aging in context of the whole system in order to make budget recommendations Nicky said she felt the committee was being asked to make a decision without enough information, and that, yes, it could be done, but the result would be recommendations of low quality Jim Crain suggested that the Human Services Committee should look at only one module of the total system. It can take Bob Hutchinson's recommendations and address the impacts and possible penalties of the budget he presents, rather than trying to address the total system. Nancy said that these budget recommendations could be made available to the Committee on December 15 The Committee can discuss them on December 22 and be prepared to report to the selectmen on January 5 Jim pointed out that there is a need to search out redundancy John Mackey asked about the legal implications of cutting funds to an outside agency with whom we have a contract. Nancy will talk to Town Counsel about this Schools The Committee then moved to the question of how to obtain and integrate knowledge of the schools' human services activities Ruth Butler felt that the schools seem to define their pupils services program in terms of educational counseling and learning difficulties, and they send out to Mystic Valley and Replace for other problems Ruth Nablo also felt it was important to look at their whole focus e g getting in to college and curriculum goals John suggested that we meet with representatives from the schools, but, for now, only to relate them to the other programs we explore and to build rapport Nancy said Dr Monderer had been designated by the schools, and is ready and willing to talk to the Human Services Committee It was decided that Jim Crain will call the schools to set up an appointment with Dr Monderei for the whole committee on the evening of December 15, and will also arrange an appointment with Dr Lawson for an informal preparatory meeting With Jim and Steve Baran, and Howard on Wednesday December 10 at 8 00 am at which time they will explain what kind of information the committee wants, and that the committee is looking for areas of redundancy and areas in which linkages can be made Prliminary questions were suggested, and these will be discussed and refined on December 8 2 12/1/80 t A REFERRALS 1 How do they make the decision to refer out? 2 How many students are referred? 3 What is their policy on reimbursements? How much? The rationale? Why not reimburse Replace? f. B IN HOUSE 1 What does the counseling system do? 2 What are the job descriptions? 3 Which services are mandated? 4 Have they groups? e g Drugs, Divorce 5 What after school and vacation activities have they? 6 What is the number of students counseled, the number of contacts, and the number of contacts per student? Communications The Committee is confused about how communication with outside agencies should be handled. It was decided that all communication will be from the Board of Selectmen, through the Town Manager's Office as their agent A memo with the review criteria will be sent to the three agencies, and a supplementary letter with further questions (from Elizabeth Pressman's April 10, 1980 memo) will be enclosed for Mystic Valley Replace Ruth Butler circulated a letter from Replace (copy attached) She expressed concern that they are beginning to present themselves as a treatment center with more counselors and are moving away from their role of outreach and prevention There is also a question about why the schools refer to them, but do not reimburse Steve said that when he visited them, he got the impression that they wanted to stay just the same, But now they appear to want to grow The committee should think about this Veterans Nancy told the committee that she was thinking about looking at the Veterans ' agent and finding other areas for her to work, perhaps with the Council on Aging Ruth Nablo reported that Sam Rotundi had told her that in light of Proposition 21 the Town can withold the Veterans' Agent altogether Nancy said the laws were difficult, for example the Town must pick up the costs of uninsured premature babies and of tuberculosis patients She is reluctant to reduce the money set aside for Veterans ' benefits, especially in a year with high unemployment Minuteman Home Care Corporation and Council on Aging Ruth Nablo read a report of her visit to these agencies (attached There was discussion about Minuteman's high administrative costs For example, the 3 12/1/80 State pays them $7 50 for a homemaker, but $2 50 goes to Minuteman and $2 00 to their subcontracted home care agencies, and only $3 00 to the worker This makes it hard for them to find workers, which causes a viscious cycle Nancy pointed out that they have been very supportive to the Council on Aging Minuteman says there is a 5% need in the region, and they serve 3% Discussion of the CoA focused primarily on their recreation budget and the traditional payments to the Senior Citizens Club There is no formal procedure for deciding who needs subsidy for trips, but the CoA does help individuals Origionally the Club was essentially contracted for recreation programs, but now it appears that there may be duplication, and also by funding two programs, it keeps the seniors divided. John felt that recreation programs are preventative mental health Ruth Butler and Howard believe that this is a different nature from the prevention of a food or health program, and can be done through clubs or volunteers Private Agencies Ruth Nablo suggested that the Committee try to get the clergy to do more human service work. Howard added the Knights, Elks, American Legion, and Hayden There was discus- sion about Hayden, which appears to be not reaching teens Hayden is complicated by the fact that they are run by trustees in New York City Copies of a Christian Science Monitor series on refugees was received and circulated The meetign adjourned at 10 00 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Beatrice Phear GI 9 RUTH NABLO' s REPORT Appointment with John Paul Marosy - Executive Director, Minuteman Home Care Corporation, Wednesday, November 26 - 1 00 p.m Minuteman Home Care is the Area Agency on Aging for 15 towns Their offices are located in Lexington where one of the programs AdultE.iDay Care is-.also located (7 Lexington residents currently) Minuteman contracts with 10 different home- maker agencies Minuteman employs 10 case managers to monitor these agencies Title 20 of the Social Security Act reimburses the home care programs Services are provided on a sliding fee scale Title 20 represents 59% of the Minuteman Home Care These programs would not be effected by local community fiscal participation The Older American Act provides various social services and nutrition services (see brochure) Mr Marosy says it is these services which are vulnerable if local communities withdraw their support Each town is assessed according to the number of poor elderly Thus Arlington with 32 percent low income elderly pays three times as much as Lexington with 10 per cent of the elderly considered low income elderly We pay $2244 through the Council on Aging Mr Marosy says that is the way most towns handle the funding rather than direct payment to Minuteman Mr Marosy expressed concern for the local Council on '. Aging and the impact of 2-1/2 He feels that programs for home care are effective and politically popular --- less vulnerable to fiscal cuts We reviewed the criteria the Human Service Committee had sent As an example of work he described the Minuteman sponsored conference on Congregate housing All 16 towns were invited Concord is opening a 36 unit congregate housing site this fall This was done through the local housing authority There is already a privately operated congregate ''housing facility in Concord Council on Aging - Monday, December 1st I first read all the material Joan Melcher gave me - then went over with her the projected budget cuts for FY 82 Some of the services received from Minuteman are extremely helpful to people served by COA Therefore they would not recommend local cuts if these programs were not available Volunteers might pick up some of the slack but COA already has many volunteers -- usually lack the expected or consistent committment Ruth Nablo' s Report (cont'd) - 2 - The rental is increasing due to the additional room to be rented for congregate meals One a week to begin in December, '81 This program will be expanded to 3 times a week They are currently writing a proposal to Minuteman Home Care for a grant to subsidize the program ($1500 ) Until this grant is through COA will be sub- sidizing' each meal 80C ($1 80) total cost This does not pay for the $30 00 daily rental of the hall (1) Question If the proposal should be for more funding? (2) Question Why does COA pay Minuteman Home Care - why does Minuteman not bill the town directly? (3) Question Why does COA use part of its budget to subsidize the Senior Club? (4) Question Should the clergy be asked to do more as a local mission - room rental fuel assistance, emergency programs, etc