HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-03-13-HSC-min.pdf Minutes Human Services Committee 3/13/89
Present Renee Cochin, Co-Chairman; Bob Cushman, Co-
Chairman; Dick Dougherty; Seymour Mandel;
Harvey Lowell; Leonora Feeney; Ann Irving;
Suzanne Larsen, Roberta Black, and Bill
Blout, Replace; and Steve Baran, Human
Services Coordinator
1 The Minutes of the meeting of 3/6 were corrected with
respect to clarifying comment of Marylou Sudders on
Bill Blout ' s position to the effect that she was not
considering eliminating it
2 Steve reported that he and Linda Crew Vine, Director of
the Council on Aging, were planning to proceed with
competitive bidding in relation to the Senior Health
Monitor program Committee members felt that such an
undertaking would require their review In view of
the extent of involvement of the Committee in working
with the present provider competitive bidding would
represent a change in policy Steve said that it was
his understanding such a procedure was purely
administrative and in line with carrying out the intent
of the Town Manager He will seek direction from the
Town Manager
3 Bill Blout presented a preliminary proposal for
school-based counseling calling for additional
staffing Present staffing amounts to 4 5 FTEs ' with
1 5 FTEs ' doing school-related tasks and 3 0 FTEs '
involved in outreach and community eduation 5 5 FTEs '
are proposed for a school based program that require
35% (1 9FTEs) of staffing doing school-related tasks
with some diminution of emphasis in the future in the
areas of outreach and drop-in
Bill said further that it was the intention of RePlace
to operate as a parallel system, not as agents of the
school system and yet work collaboratively with
guidance counselors and others as part of a network
while providing consultation and support to the
teachers
The proposal, at this point, was seen as a first step
since the proportions of prevention and intervention
depended on use of volunteers , existence of a life
skills program, etc
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Minutes , Human Services Committee Page 2
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Suzanne Larsen said that RePlace was interested in
responding to Dr Geiger' s interest in having RePlace
involved in the schools RePlace was cautioned by the
Committee not to end up simply maintaining the status
quo by replacing the present social worker who is
leaving
Bobby Black said that she was eager to work together
with the Human Services Committee in order to reach the
goal of prevention
4 Harvey presented the need for the Town to do more in
relation to special needs recreation
a Programs are lacking for children under the age of
15
b Most of the existing activities are originated by
other towns with priority given to residents of
other towns
c Structure is fee-based thereby possibly
C ) eliminating some who would use the program
d There is a lack of active staffing
The concept of special needs as far as the Recreation
Department is concerned seems to include the mentally
ill, the aphasic, the cognitively impaired, the
physically handicapped, the blind and the deaf
Programs may not fit the needs , however, of all of
these categories
It was agreed to adopt a "win-win" , rather than an
adversarial, strategy Thus , the Committee would begin
by inviting professionals in the school system related
to special needs, i e , Debby Packard Subsequently
there could be a meeting with the Recreation Committee,
a separate meeting with the parents, contact with
Hayden Recreation Centre and then a forum following
constituency building in order to create an awareness
of need for special need programming as opposed to
emphasis on physical structures The adoption of the
Collaborative idea was seen as a positive step forward
for the Town
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Minutes , Human Services Committee Page 3
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5 The Committee discussed options available now that
position papers have been written by Dave Wilson for
the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Referrals and by Bob
Pressman and Lee Feeney with respect to drug and
alcohol procedures in the school system
Bob and Renee had met with Jacquie Smith who indicated
the interest of the Selectmen to consider the point of
view of the Human Services Committee Bob and Renee
had expressed the desire to communicate to the School
Committee the importance of positively approaching
students ' problems A whole continuum of positive
interventions should be considered "the school
should be an agent for kids , not just a
disciplinarian"
Steve strongly advised the Committee to adopt a
positive stance which would generally accpet the
disciplinary procedures for overt use of drugs while
advocating a strong emphasis on treatment and
prevention "the policy doesn' t go far enough"
Renee presented her ideas for a forum that would seek
to separate myths from facts and urge supporting young
people with joint sponsorship of the School Department,
the Board of Health and the Lexington Youth Commission
Dick suggested giving comments to the School Committee
while announcing the forum This led to a discussion
of the need for planning before presenting Specifics
needed to be resolved date, place, names of people
who can participate
Harvey reminded the Committee that the needs assessment
forum was done on June 19
It was agreed to send Lee ' s document to the Selectmen
and the School Committee with a cover letter
Respectfully Submitted,
GivyStephen Baran
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