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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-02-23-HSC-min.pdf HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE - MINUTES February 23, 1981 Present Ruth Butler, Nickey Osborne, Carol Perez, Steve Baran, Ruth Nablo also Bea Phear Meeting Schedule Howard was unable to attend and has trouble with Mondays; Carol is in school each evening Nicky is in a very busy period doing contracts There was a sense that it is difficult to accomplish a lot without the continuity of regular attendance There was an attempt to find a better day, but all are just as difficult It was decided to plan to meet on alternate Monday evenings, to lighten the commitment Committee Role and Structure Ruth Butler showed a transparency of different orientations to human services problem, prevention, and management/accountability Each is flawed, and she felt there is a need to find a new way to focus that incorporates the best of these Nicky said that that issue of role is not incompatable with addressing the question of committee structure and communication, and once the structure is in place, any one of many different functions and/or philosophical thrusts could be followed Bea will incorporate John Mackey's comments into Nicky's rough draft for a second draft of recommendations for a committee structure There will be two versions for membership terms (one formal with rolling two year terms and one more informal with a statement of goals) and two versions regarding composition ( one as drafted and one with an articulated link with the school department ) The emphasis on a multi- disciplinary team and on consumer input will be retained Ruth Butler will draft a position paper on the purpose and role of the committee, including the philosphical base of prevention and the mechanism of contract These drafts will be reviewed on March 9th and the discussed with the Selectmen's liaison on March 23rd at 5 30 if he's available Relationship to Selectmen and Manager's Office Ruth Nablo asked about the job descriptions in the Manager's office in terms of human service functions The Committee felt a coordinator might make that more comprehensible, but came to the conclusion that it was most important that the functions be spelled out and how they were delegated was somewhat less releventi as long as teh competancy and accountability were there Carol suggested a "Human Services Coordinator and Accountability Monitor There is still concern about the Selectmen not having used the Committee enough Bea felt that it was primarily an issue of timing and that the Committee needed to be more proactive Carol pointed out that one of the educational functions of the Committee is to educate the policy makers Nicky felt that they are open to attending to human services, but they are busy so we have to communicate with them The programmatic issues can't be divorced from the financial issues Funding Questions Steve reported that he had talked with the director of evaluation for informational services who is very positive about the computer system that Mystic Valley is using She also said the new director, Dr Lund, is oriented towards quality and evalaution Ruth Nablo asked if this meant that the Committee would discuss Mystic Valley again? We felt no, but that the Appropriation Committee.,would want to talk with us Ruth 2/23/81 p 2 will talk with Barry Marshall about scheduling a meeting Community Health Committee Steve reported on the workshop of the Community Health Committee around issues of the frail elderly Focus will be on prevention, using the elderly needs assessment as a base He reported that Bea had raised the issue of the purpose of the workshop a show and tell forum or bringing providers together as a first step in collaborative planning Steve felt that question is not yet worked through, but the sponsors are taking an educational role and asked us to give our stamp of approval on their general approach with small groups discussing health, nutrition, transportation, ,{ home maintenance, consumer education, and stress management Ruth Butler pointed out that the area of economics had been left out and the need to focus on organizing financial resources in retirement Ruth Nablo was concerned about resolutions being passed to promote certain goals, also from the point of view of the League of Women Voters as another cosponsoring group which sees this workshop as an educational function It was decided that the Human Service Committee will continue to co-sponsor and will stress the need for financial discussion and discourage the use of this as a resolution passing forum Ruth Butler suggested using booths to publicize the available programs, and Ruth Nablo suggested evalaution sheets Next Meetings March 9 at 7 30 p.m to discuss drafts of structure (Bea) and purpose (Ruth Butler) March 23 at 5 30 p.m. with sandwich supper to present drafts to Jim Crain and discuss them with him Respectfully 9i.� Submitted, C3.7i/� •" n Beatrice Phear