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Home My WebLink About1984-10-01-HSC-min.pdf Human Services Committee (— Minutes of the Meeting of October 1, 1984 Present. Roberta Black, Stan Finkelstein, Judy Zabin, Ed Foley, Marion Shepp, Bea Phear Minutes The minutes of the meeting of September 17 were approved as mailed. Appointments The subcommittee that interviewed applicants for the Human Services committee reported that they were recommending that the committee be expanded to nine members, and that new appointees be David Budding, C.C. Chao, Sheila Martin, and Leonora Zola. It is assumed that this recommendation will be followed. Paul Marshall will contact those applicants that were not selected. Committee Structure There was discussion about whether to divide the Committee to focus on different areas or ages or to function without specific spheres of responsibility Judy wanted to emphasize that she feels the planning and needs assessment function of the total committe is most important; however information and ( liaison activites could well be generated by a subcommittee structure Some of the roles, such as monitoring the currently funded agencies are less time consuming now, since there is more experience with them. The role of the subcommittees will not be to set up task forces or necessarily expand services, but to ask questions, attend various meetings, get appropriate minutes, and work with the entire committee to balance priorities It was decided to establish the following subcommittees, with one new and one old member serving on each. Exact assignments will be made next meeting Youth and Families Elderly Special Needs Health Care Community Health Bea appologized for not sending copies of material from Bill Page and Jack Gardner to the Committee for discussion. She will enclose them with the minutes It was felt that community health might be an area that committee members will work on in an overlapping way with other subcommittees Trustees Roberta, Judy and Stan happened to speak informally with members of the Trustees who said that they were deliberating about funding a ramp for a disabled person's L house. It was not completely clear whether they had decided to respond to this request or whether they were stiill considering it. There was discussion about criteria for individual requests. Committee members thought criteria should include at least 1. All other avenues of assistance have been explored. 2 Normally, assistance would be provided on a one time basis 3. There is demonstrated financial need. The committee suggested that the Trustees look to Bea for assistance in determining whether there is financial need and if other avenues have been explored. Bea reported that she had not relayed a request she had received in September for baby furniture for an unwed mother The mother had refused to apply for AFDC because she did not want to reveal the father's name The request had come through the Visiting Nurses, and Bea referred to legal aid to assist if there was a legal reason for witholding the information. It was recommended that Bea log all the various requests she receives Bea was asked to inform the Trustees of the committee's suggested criteria RePlace Stan had heard that DSS had set aside funding for Replace by the DSS Area Board, but RePlace never completed the application. Ed had thought Replace was rejected for DSS funding Bea nad Judy think there is a very real likelihood of mis- communication. Bea will try to discover what happened. Information & Referral Roberta circulated a copy of Newton's new booklet of human service resources, which she finds very useful in her work What do Lexington's guidance counselors and family service social workers use? What do they want? Roberta thinks the publication of a booklet would meet a need. Bea thinks it is not needed, as the League booklet gets a client into the right network, and then individualized I & R can take place Also, information rapidly becomes out of date. Stan suggested using a computer route for updating and sorting information. It was decided to talk to Alan November and David Budding about their ideas on such a project. Coordinator's Report Bea reported that she had been approached by Boston University Department of Leisure Studies about participating in a pilot program for computerized, interactive, information and referral around recreation and socialization programs for special needs clients. B.U. had been very impressed by the work Marilyn Able and Judy Goldner had done on their computerized referral list (due soon from the printers) , and wanted to use that information as the initial data base BU has a grant, and might be able to provide Lexington with some hardware and training. Discussions are still very preliminary Fuel Assistance will begin on October 16th. Butter & Cheese will be d4stributed November 15 & 16 Bea is advertizing for a new Meals on Wheels Coordinator and a Lexpress Assistant. Next Meeting October 15 at 7 30 pm, room 111. Respectfully Submitted, Beatrice Phear I .QF tpc iz HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE GOALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 1985 The Lexington Human Services Committee has as its primary purpose giving advice to the Board of Selectmen on human service policies and their implementation. In the coming year it will continue to carry out its charge as follows Planning Seek connections with Town physical and economic planning agencies and private and government funded human service providers Support the Human Services Coordinator in conducting needs assessments in relation to such groups as the mentally retarded, frail elderly, chronically mentally ill, and adolescents Use all possible means of sensitizing the community about need ( Support the Enablement Committee on issues of the physically disabled Use the media, especially Cable TV and newspapers to highlight need and approaches to family problem solving Coordination Recommend allocation of Town resources keeping in mind the policy emphasizing prevention. Coordinate with Town Hoards and Committee such as the Lexington Housing Authority, Recreation Committee, School Committee, and Appropriation Committee Continue regular meetings of local human service providers Coordinate efforts with State agencies , legislators, and other towns Evaluation Analyze critically the funding requests presented to the Selectmen and the Town Meeting according to established criteria. Review agency budgets ( o QA Ai 111 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE LE%IN OTO N, MABBACNU•ETTB 091T9 TELEPHONE (617) 9i 9•0500 TOWN OF LEXINGTON HUMAN SERVICES ACTIVITIES Town Provided Senior Center activities, recreation, outreach, advocacy, counseling, and nutrition Approximately 1,000 per year Veterans Services emergency assistance and medical (State mandated) 8 per year Providers Council forum for agency staff, clergy, board members serving Lexington to meet around specific topics four times per year Youth Commission. drug education evening, youth recognition awards, dance Hire-A-Youth summer employment referral bank Approximately 80 kids per summer Shared Provision Butter and cheese distribution federal commodities, Tbwn arranges 261 people Cable TV series on family problem solving Fuel Assistance Lowell worker in Lexington CoA office. Approximately 160 per year Town Contract Share-A-Ride handicapped transportation Thursdays 65 registered riders RePlace youth counseling, drop-in center, .outreach, advocacy Mystic valley Mental Health. community mental health center CMARC: sheltered workshop for retarded citizens 6 Lexington clients Cooperative Elder Services Elderly day care 4 subsidized Lexington clients Woburn Council for Social Concern elderly home sharing and housing I & R 2/27/84