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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1981-05-15-HSC-rpt.pdf To The Board of Selectmen r From. The Human Services Committee Date May 15, 1981 In response to the charge you gave us a year ago the Human Services Committee is pleased to report that it has completed the task of developing a Human Policy for the Ton. The Committee has also designed a set of review criteria and a review process that can be used in evaluating funding requests In addition the Committee suggests a Human Services Committee structure that includes sections as follows Membership and Term, Relation to Human Service Agencies, Relation to Town Manager's Office, Relation to Board of Selectmen, and Relation to citizens. We hope that each of these documents will be helpful to you and to next year's Committee To assure continuity in the implementation of the Policy, high priority should be assigned to setting up a reporting system that focuses on improvements in community well being as well as lessening of problems We are happy to meet with you at any time to discuss this report We are also happy to assist new committee members in the transition as soon as they are appointed. Ruth Butler, Chairman Steve Baran Howard Levingston John Mackey Ruth Nablo Nicky Osborne Carol Perez L • REVIEW PROCESS FOR TOWN FUNDED HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS l Timetable developed by the Town Manager's Office and communicated to Committee through staff 2 Application sent to Town-funded human service agencies by Manager's Office 3 Material received by Manager's Office and sent to Committee for review 4 Questions raised by Committee sent to agency by Committee 5 Answers to questions returned to Committee by agency II f � 6 Draft contract negotiated with agency and Committee L. c✓ . o, f` it ' 7ivU �l 7 Committee drafts its preliminary recommendations and shares its findings with agency "8 Committee and Selectmen meet to review findings .9 Committee sends written report with recommendations to Selectmen 10 Selectmen make decision and communicate it to Town Meeting 11 Town Meeting makes decision. 12 Decision of Town Meeting communicated to agency by Selectmen. 13 Contract finalized by Town Manager's Office 14 Town Manager oversees contracts REVIEW CRITERIA 1 PROGRAM SPECIFIC (INTERNAL) a Program meets an identified need (This need may be identified by the Town, The Human Services Committee or the program itself ) b. The program has a clear statement of goals and objectives c The program can measure its effectiveness in meeting its objectives d Salaries should be demonstrated to be in line with the salaries offered similar providers in other similar agencies Job descriptions should be available demonstrating that there is a fit between the jhb position and the t)pe cf services and outcomes which the service provider is expected to furnish e The program meets all licensing and regulatory requirements as established by state and federal agencies f What specific measurements would you utilize to evaluate your rendering of secondary treatment care in meeting your specified objectives? Please include measurements in terms of payroll and program dollars, as well as indicators of incidence of the program, and treatment thereof, and indicators of outreach service g How would you measure effectiveness of primary prevention? Please include measurements in terms of staff and program. 2 SYSTEM RELATED (EXTERNAL) a The program has both formal and informal linkages established with other agencies so that it sees itself as part of a system of services b. The program insures the provision of comprehensive care for all individuals served 3 BUDGET SPECIFIC a The program is financially viable b Please demonstrate why you believe it is appropriate for the Town to fund this program. 4 CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT a Consumers are satisfied with the services provided On what basis is satisfaction determined? b The Board of Directors is representative of the community at large and is involved with the Agency's activities 5 Please discuss a sample of your agency's most effective work Indicate any innovative or special activities carried out during the past year • STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE ( The Human Services Committee is an advisory committee to the Board df Selectmen. Its members an appointed in May by the Board of Selectmen. It operates through continuing educational efforts and innovative planning in relation to agencies and organizations providing human services, the Board of Selectmen, the Town Manager's Office, and the larger community Membership and Term The Committee shall consist of eight members who serve staggered two year terms The membership will be representative of constituencies which play a role in human services. These include human service management, planning and evaluation, fiscal planning, health care and prevention, Town government, providers, and citizens -Role in Relation to Human Service Agencies and Organizations The Committee in representing the Town to human service agencies and organizations will have as a goal the implementation of the Human Service Policy It will act as planner, coordinator, and evaluator It will obtain the advise and counsel of such agencies regarding human service policy while at the same time interpreting policy to these agencies and the people they serve, actually or potentially The Committee offers leadership to human service agencies, determines and requires desirable outcomes for the population served, and may function as consultant or advisor from time to time. In those instances when the Town directly funds a human service :agency, the mechanism will be through a jointly arrived at contractual arrangement. Role in Relation to Town Manager's Office The Town Manager's Office will serve as the technical support for implementing the Human Services Policy In this capacity the Town Manager's Office will staff the Human Services Committee, disseminate knowledge and information reflecting the Human Services Policy, carry out needs assessments, draw up contracts with human service agencies according to specifications drafted by the Committee, and monitor those contracts in line with the Committee's criteria. Role in Relation to the Board of Selectmen The Human Services Committee will advise upon issues that arise in light of the Human Services Policy, advise as to the level of need of different risk populations in Town as well as the results achieved by human service agencies and organizations in responding to those needs, and recommend contracts to be entered into between the Town and human service agencies and organizations Role in Relation to Citizens of the Town -The Committee will seek to initiate educational efforts so as to provide members of the community with information and awareness concerning health and human service needs and resources The Committee will be responsive to themes and needs of the community as they evolve and will act as a forum for citizen concerns L