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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-10-31-HSC-min.pdf Minutes, Human Services Committee, October 31, 1988 Present Bob Cushman and Renee Cochin, Co-Chairpersons; Leonora Feeney; Beth Klarman; Harvey Lowell; Sheila Martin; Steve Baran, Human Services Coordinator October 17 Minutes Correction Bob Cushman, in the Selectmen's Breakfast, called attention to the fact that the Human Services Committee had emphasized (not initiated) prevention Steve noted that the Committee had initiated a policy of prevention for the Town accepted by the Board of Selectmen Coordinator's remarks Steve reported on the meeting of Department Heads with the Town Manager held at Hanscom Field on October 12 See attached. The Committee was particularly interested in comments made by Rick White as to how he was planning to encourage very careful cost analyses and that programs expecting favorable attention would have to identify costs and recommend program choices The Committee decided to invite the Town Manager and his Assistant in the near future so that he might elaborate on his ideas in this regard There was interest in consideration being given to provide employee day care through the Council on Aging, but Beth Klarman said that the ex- perience of mothers in seeking day care through the COA was that there were few old people who came forward to do this kind of activity Steve said that he was looking forward to having a liaison from the Human Services Committee to meet occasionally with the Enablement Committee The Enablement Committee had decided to retain their status as a sub- committee of the Human Services Committee Harvey Lowell commented that the Enablement Committee had made some positive gains in the last eyar Senior Health Monitor Committee Renee reported that the Committee was concerned that the elderly people being served by this program might be in need of more services than they were getting Therefore, it was important to give considerable attention to studying need as the new program began There was some question about the frequency of Senior Health Monitor visiting The current budget assumed visits of once a week whereas it seemed as if visits were now twice a month Renee felt that the planning committee was functioning quite well Bob Cushman reported that he had heard from Terry Gent , COA Chairman, that the first six applicants to the Senior Health Monitor program had, on average, required each 17 hours of assessment Minutes, Human Services Committee, 10/31/88, p 2 Drug Policy Renee felt that the Minute-man article was inaccurate The impression was created, Leonora noted, of a number of groups that had been meeting together Renee had talked to a number of community leaders including the School Superintendent who was particularly concerned even before the newspaper article appeared As a result of these communications, she had prepared a letter to the School Committee and explained the tone and approach of the letter to Jacqueline Smith, Chairperson, Selectmen Mrs Smith indicated that it would not be necessary to bring the matter before the Selectmen Two drafts appeared before the Committee, one which had been sent out with the previous set of minutes and anotherprepared by Renee While some members of the Committee favored the earlier draft sent with the Minutes, Renee explained that her draft was more positive in tone and was accepting of the work on procedures that had already been done while encouraging further deliberation so that a comprehensive policy could be prepared With some minor changes in wording Renee draft was accepted to be read by Bob Cushman at the November 1 meeting of the School Committee Although Beth asked about sending a Letter to the Editor, the Committee decided it would be more politic not to pursue the matter through the newspaper Invitation to Phil Geiger It was decided to invite Phil Geiger to meet with the Committee on November 9 or 21 at 9 p m, and to send him a copy of the Selectmen's Charge Budget Reviews/Proposals from Programs Council on Aging and related programs Steve suggested that programs concerned with elderly be considered together rather than as unrelated issues The Committee past-Chairman, Harvey Lowell, has been informed by the Town Manager that he would like to see the Human Services Committee review the COA budget in its entirety Committee members agreed that this would be appropriate for the Human Services Committee if the entire COA budget could be made available in its entirety Renee Cochin and Beth Klarman have been tentatively assigned Cooperative Elder Services Harvey Lowell and Seymour Mandel will conduct the review Minutes, Human Services Committee, 10/31/88, p 3 Well Elderly Visiting Nursing Clinic Program Presently under the auspices of the Board of Health Other Board of Health Visiting Nursing Visiting Funds appropriated to Board of Health may be available for Senior Health Monitor programming through "back billing" per advice of Town Manager Senior Health Monitor program To be reviewed by Beth Klarman and Renee Cochin as a part of their Council on Aging assignment Central Middlesex Association for Retarded Citizens Assigned to Sheila Martin and Bob Cushman ReP la ce Assigned to Leonora Feeney and Dick Dougherty Services to the mentally retarded Steve will report on aspects of a proposed regional recreation program, types of programs, numbers served, dollars needed. The Recreation Department has traditionally based its programming on the expectation that there will be fees from participants This has been a factor in the lack of programs for the developmentally delayed For next meeting Subcommittees to announce their schedule of visiting List of Committee members to be furnished with Coordinator's hours Respectfully submitted, ICV Stephen aran, Human Services Coordinator