HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-09-22-HSC-min.pdf HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
Minutes, 9/22/86
Present Stan Finkelstein, Judy Zabin, Sylvia Perlman, Marion Shepp,
Leonora Feeney, Jan Eustis, Harvey Lowell, Steve Baran
Corrections to Minutes of 9/4/86
Corrections were noted to previous minutes to the effect that Harvey
became Co-Chairman; Leonora and Jan, along with Jayne Tapia, should have
been consulted by Steve prior to writing to Jayne for clarification; and
no limit on number of pages in report to Selectmen had been proposed.
Crisis Response Team
Harvey had talked with Michelle Anzp ., Coordinator, Mystic Valley DMH and learned
that contract for Crisis Response had passed from Norfolk Human Services to
Choate Symmes Hospital on 6/30/86 with Chris Longo remaining as Director
His supervisor at Choate Symmes is Ken Minckoff who expressed concern at testimony
alleging lack of a coordinated response system. Steve said that he had been
in touch with Dr Minckoff who assured that report on observations of response
to crises in Lexington would be forwarded to Committee by Chris Longo who
called on 9/22/86 to say that his illness would cause a delay in written response
Steve was asked to obtain contract between DMH and Choate Crisis Response
RFP
RFP memo of transmittal was approved with clause added with respect to noting
priority areas as follows addition of wording "specifically as they relate to
human service needs"
Ideas for Shaping of Report to Selectmen
Steve's draft #1 was reviewed and the following suggestions were made for
preparing next draft of Committee report to Selectmen on 6/19/86 hearing
1. Philosophical themes should be brought together and should include a.
communication; b. feasibility c. creating effective services d. avoidance of
duplication of services, reducing costs e financing mechanisms
2 Define issues (priority areas) and strategies to be pursued for each issue
Explain how Committee members will organize: themselves.
2 Include paragraph on Committee accomplishments including planning emphasis,
use of forums, impression of fragmentation growing out of first forum, use of
RFP approach to ascertain need, periodic need assessments Quote from Charge
4. Rather than creating "task forces concern is with communication in each
area and the involvement of the Committee as a responsible group in helping this
to take place In this vein it is not the Committee's prerogative to prioritize
but through RFP, forums, meetings, etc. cause priority setting to emerge
Human Services Committee Minutes, 9/22/86, page 2
Similarly, the Committee does not presume to coordinate studies but rather
participates in the undertaking of studies, invites groups carrying out studies
to keep it informed while acting as a clearing house An example would be
the Committee's role in the current concern with youth and drugs where it is
understood that a number of groups are involved in a response but in some instances
not all of the key actors are fully in touch with each other If the Committee
were to get a number of RFPs' in this area, it could make a contribution as it
could by helping participants to better communciate with each other
Steve noted that the Town Manager was in favor of the approach noted in point
4 above For example, if there has been a problem in getting host families for
Metco children, it is important to know what steps have been taken by responsible
agencies such as the school system, the ?ETC° coordinator, etc
Respectfully Submitted,
Stephen Baran,
Human Services Coordinator