HomeMy WebLinkAbout1985-03-11-HSC-min.pdf HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
Minutes of the Meeting of March 11, 1985
Present Roberta Black, Leonora Zola, Marion Shepp, Sheila Martin, Stan
Finkelstein, Bea Phear
Minutes
The minutes of the meeting of February 25, 1985 were approved as mailed.
Prom Transporati on
Sheila talked to Brandt Sakakeeney, the student who is chair of the Prom committee,
and he is very interested in the idea of using volunteer college students to
be on-call drivers He also spoke with Dr Waring and John McGirr, who are both
supportive Brandt will call a Prom Committee meeting and then get back to Sheila
Committee Membership
Bea did not insert a letter in the newspaper last week because she misjudged the
number of current applicants that were interested. She will do so as soon as
possible (Probabaly to appear in March 21 Minutesman)
Visiting Nurse
Leonora talked with Jayne Tapia about their request for assistance in funding the
frail elderly program. Jayne clarified that she was not asking to be included in
the Town budget, but rather had hoped that the committee could relay the request
to the Trustees Judy is out of Town, but Leonora will set up a meeting with
Jayne after Judy returns
Bea reported that she had followed up on the questions the committee had had
last meeting The VNA is looking elsewhere for money from the Farnsworth Trust
and medicaid. They did not apply for Town funds in October because at that time
they still did not know if they would get their initial funding They cannot say
how secure the Title III money is, but they are optimistic.
Bea also talked with the United Way about why the VNA had been dropped as an
affiliate agency Contrary to the ususal reason for dropping an agency (poor
management) , the United Way had felt the management and quality of care were
excellent but dropped them for having too large a reserve fund and doing too few
free care cases
Chronic Mentally Ill
Marion raised her concern, highlighted by the Boston Globe's current series, about
the chronically mentally ill and homeless population. She thinks this is an
issue for all municipalities to address She knows of several young adults, and
surely there are more in Town, but there is not enough housing or other support
services, and they often are sent as far as the Berkshires
( Leonora reported that the DSS Area Board' s Substitute Care subcommittee had
been trying to establish a residence for severely impaired adolescents in the
Mystic Valley area, but there was little support from the Area Office
Bea was asked to do a needs assessment of the chronically mentally ill, potential
or actual, and their need for housing and support services. The Committee will
discuss the issue with Richard Weiss
Bea will contact the Newton Human Services Director to explore their housing
development process Marion will contact Gary Steckler about the Charles River
Hospital plan to develop halfway houses for adolescents
Dinner Meeting
Minuteman The dinner and meeting must be in different rooms They will send
Bobby a brochure
Sheraton Wants a date (Thursday, May 16) 50-100 people can be managed. Over
75 people can have "Colonial buffet", otherwise dinner is $14 75-$19 95
Panel Jack Backman (or Kraus)
a media person - Mike Barnicle, Jorge Chiroga (5)
a corporate rep - Julian Bussgang?
Academic/provider - Barbara Cutler (Arlington) ? 'tubby to call)
moderator - Paul Marshall?
Bea was asked to explore Peking Gardens for price
Community Health
Stan and Leonora will be meeting tomorrow with Jim Lambie, Board of Health,
to discuss the VNCH proposal and ways the two committee might work together
Respectfully submitted
Bea Phear
Next Meeting
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