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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-11-06-HSC-min.pdf ' Minutes \ — Human Services Committee 11 /6/91 Present Renee Cochin and Ann Irving, Co-Chairmen Eva Glick, Donna Hooper and Rick Safford ; Steve Baran Human Services Coordinator ( recorder ) Absent Bob Cushman, Mimi Aarens, Dennis Murakami The Minutes of 8/ 16/91 and 10/2/01 were approved Renee explained that the Committee' s functions included reviewing bid procedures as well as supporting, coordinating and acting as a catalyst (as in the case of relating to the Integrated Recreation Panel ) Renee reported A donation in the amount of $ 1 , 500 had been received from the Dana Home in honor of its 75th anniversary stipulating that half should be used for the elderly and half to be used at the Committee' s discretion Steve will call David Wells of the Dana Home board to discuss the possible uses of the half for the elderly / \ A Human Services Fund brochure has been distributed at the special Town Meeting Renee will discuss with the Town Manager whether the brochure might be distr buted to all Lexington citizens At the Selectmen' s breakfast, Rick White painted a somber budget scenario for F9 ' 93 Family Service has moved to the center of town Ann and Renee met the staff at an open house The Kennedy School will not be available to do a needs assessment Steve reviewed RFP procedures and last year ' s bidding timetable and process Committee members accepted assignments Ann and Rick will review counseling services to youth Bob was assigned in his absence to review services to developmentally disabled Donna will maintain a liaison with the Council on Aging Eva will relate to the Integrated Recreation Panel Renee reviewed the Committee' s history with the Panel , how it had helped the parents to realize that they could work with policy-making bodies in Town / � M 5 Human Services Committee, 11 /6/91 Page 2 Bill Blout and Judy Zabin of RePlace spoke about the effects of funding cutbacks on their agency' s viability The major cut has been in the area of long term counseling Peer counseling has been cut back in the area of video CAPP was cut back last year, but it will be restored this year due to funding from the Hancock Church Fewer staff has been dealing with greater demand Cash contributions dropped from $34, 000 in FY ' 90 to $25, 000 in FY ' 91 The Hancock Church contribution, while sizeable, did not help with ongoing services since it was solely for the CAPP ( sexual abuse prevention) program Foundations and corporations- -W R Grace, Digital , Raytheon--have given relatively small amounts RePlace does collect third party reimbursement, but this does not meet the costs of providing counseling services; similarly 766 funds from the schools do not meet costs Renee asked if RePlace had taken a unilateral decision to diminish services it had contracted to provide Judy and Bill said that this was not the case Quarterly reports reflect this A Strategic Planning Committee is addressing options available if the Town should cut back further Renee suggested that RePlace consider alternative scenarios and that it was important to think of Town funds as a separate category with contractual obligations Bill reported that there has been 40 crises and 6 suicide attempts so far this year It was suggested that RePlace actually clinically define what was meant by "suicide attempt" Further , they should provide an unduplicated account of services Next time there will be a discussion of needs assessment