HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-08-11-HSC-min.pdf HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
Minutes of the Meeting of August 11, 1986
Present Marion Shepp, Leonora Feeney, Harvey Lowell, Stan Finkelstein,
Judy Zabin, Jan Eustis, Sylvia Perlman, Steve Baran, Sheila Martin
Youth Survey
The Youth Survey's proposal to the Board of Selectmen has been post-
poned until September The Town Manager has clarified that the group
is not officially a subcommittee of the Human Services Committee not
having been appointed by the Selectmen Sylvia will no longer be able
to act as a liaison, but Sheila Martin and Judy Zabin can take on this
role (acting unofficially)
Priorities in Human Services
The larger part of the meeting was devoted to considering human service needs
and priorities in the light of the June 19th testimony Steve will write
to those who failed to attend soliciting their input and inquiring as to
reasons for being unable to attend.
Potential Analytic Frameworks
1 Frequency of need cited in testimony
2 Impressionistic--getting a sense of convergence of data
3 Feasibility--what can be affected by Committee's effort
4 Arrangement by common and basic human needs chronic problems, newly
emerging problems
S Problems which lend themselves to a prevention type of solution
6 Orientation around Committee functioning and advocacy
7 Ranking of need
8. Orientation around issues which lend themselves to a cooperative approach
of human service providers
Primacy of Need
1. Transportation
2 Housing
3 Need for recreation on the part of youth and special needs groups
4. Needs of middle age population
Pursuit of Feasibility Orientation
1 organize various subcommittees of Human Service Committee to attack problems
2 Human Services Committee as catalyst for problem-solving in various need
categories
a. to overcome turf problems
b to foster community debate on needs and policies
c. to work on a common project
3 Communication emphasis as a special project on mental health crises
a. Interested parties--Police Department Fire Department, Crisis Center,
Mystic Valley Mental Health Association
b Convene parties
Human Services Committee Minutes, 8/11/86 , page 2
i Brainstorming on subject
ii Panel discussion on "Crisis in Mental Health Care" amply publicized
iii Organize Lexington Community Mental Health Council which will
develop objectives, hold meetings, hire paid staff while
Human Services Committee acts as a catalyst
(same model might be used in re elderly crises with
a somewhat different set of actors a lead agency
in either case could be funded to carry out the
communication process)
4 Communication emphasis through encouraging communication between towns
5 Communication emphasis through encouraging a computerized resource
directory involving
a. Library
b Guidance Counselors
c. Minute-man
d. CAIRN
e Council on Aging--intention to set up computerized resource file
f Cable Television
g League of Women Voters--need assessment and resource directory forthcoming
6 Create employment Service
7 Do feasibility study for a youth health center
8. Use REP approach to target specific services not presently being provided
9 Increase agency sensitivity to needs not being met--as opposed to
offering incentives to support what has been done traditionally
10 Channel funds to address gaps in services while avoiding duplication
Announcements
1. Tickets are being sold for Mary McDonough's retirement party of 9/10
2 Expiration dates for Committee members attached--all members have 3-year terms
3 Need to recruit new members for Committee through advertising, reviewing
previous applications, seeking applications to Selectmen Steve to
obtain approval from Paul Marshall, Selectman
Respectfully submitted,
�I'4I1L- Imo,
Stephen Baran,
Human Services Coordinator