HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-06-05-HSC-min.pdf ^ Minutes Human Services Committee 6/5/89
Present Renee Cochin and Bob Cushman, Co-Chairmen;
Seymour Mandel ; Harvey Lowell ; Sheila Martin;
Ann Irving; and Steve Baran, Human Services
Coordinator
1 The Minutes of 5/ 15 were corrected with respect to page
2, paragraph 2 Dick Dougherty asked Dr Geiger what
was the rationale for the reduction in crisis
counseling (as opposed to "asked about crisis
counseling" ) In the same paragraph "betrween" should
read "between"
2 Steve Baran announced that the School Department was
offering up to $35, 000 for RePlace to provide a School
Outreach Counselor administratively accountable to the
School Department and professionally accountable to
RePlace Concerns were registered about implications
for confidentiality and enforcement of the drug policy
issues to be considered by the RePlace board Renee
Cochin expressed concern about program design Steve
Baran said that the concern about program design had
been registered by him to RePlace and the School
Department
(I ) The Children' s Center of Lexington intends to apply for
Town of Lexington human services funding for
scholarships for children in need of day care
The Town has initiated a Customer Satisfaction Program
with the Human Services Department customizing its
approach to the program Materials were distributed
for the Committee members to peruse at their leisure
3 The Committee discussed contributing to the Selectmen a
goal for FY ' 90 pertaining to human services In a
conversation with Renee Cochin Jacquie Smith had
indicated her position to preserve what we have in
human services She understood that the Senior Health
Monitor program was in a start-up phase It was agreed
to ask the Selectmen to continue the Town' s
responsiveness to human service needs and support of
programs as long as they could be justified
4 Planning for a Human Services Substance Abuse Forum was
discussed Tentative dates are Thursday, October 5 or
Thursday, October 12 Steve ill clear dates with the
School Department
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(") Possible agenda items and speakers include
Facts and myths
1 Ann Bergson, former head of addiction
research, McLean Hospital ;
Program strategies
1 Ron Morin, director of Nuva in Gloucester
Harvey Lowell will contact him
2 Ron Gerson, trainer
3 Jonathan Miller, Haverhill , director of drunk
driving and related programs
Model programs
1 School -based counseling, model program,
western Mass
2 Polly Woodworth knows about program in
Virginia
C )
Dramatic appeal
"Kids Care"--DYS kids presenting drug
problems, how they became addicted and what
helped them
5 Question was raised about whether the Committee was
ready to meet with the Recreation Department It was
agreed that a fact-finding approach would be pursued
and that the Recreation Committee and Department would
be invited for June 26
6 It was agreed to invite Vicky Schwartz to meet with the
Committee on June 19 to discuss the Life Skills
Program Copies of Ms Schwartz letter asking for
support of the Committee were distributed
7 It was agreed to attend the June 14 planning meeting of
the Lexington PTA Council Substance Abuse Committee
They are preparing to present an improvisational
theatre piece called "Eddie" on Thursday, October 26
The Committee did not feel it was prepared to support
the effort since this was likely to involve substantial
time not at the disposition of the Committee members
(—) 8 The Committee discussed the request of the Lexington
Citizens with Special Needs to be given formal
subcommittee status It was agreed to recommend to the
Selectmen that the Lexington Citizens with Special
Needs be accorded subcommittee status
Respectfully Submitted,
Steph Baran
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