HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991-HSC-rpt, annual.pdf ( HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE
In 1990' s climate of diminishing financial resources the Human
Services Committee examined the changing needs for services in
Lexington and made budget recommendations for 1991
Human service agencies serving the town felt the effect of State
funding cuts while continuing to provide quality care The
committee continued to affirm the t
town' s policy of supporting prevention programs in order to avoid
more intensive and costly therapeutic services at a later stage
In keeping with this approach, recommendations were made to the
Selectmen to fund RePlace for short-term counseling services, a
child abuse prevention program and peer counseling The
committee also recommended continued funding for a half-time
position for a job procurement officer in the Central Middlesex
Association for Retarded Citizens
The Human Services committee noted increases in emergency
financial requests to the town from individuals This led to the
establishment of a Human Services Emergency Fund The source of
this funds is interest from investments under the jurisdiction of
the Trustees of Public Trusts In addition, some private
businesses in Lexington made generous donations to this fund
With the assistance of students from Brandeis University Heller
School of Management, the committee undertook a preliminary
survey of human services needs in the town For young people,
the report noted the need for preventive services related to
sexually transmitted diseases, alcoholism and drug abuse, boredom
and isolation The study also found that while the Senior Health
Monitor program continues to support growing numbers of frail
elderly in their homes, in general , services to this group are
decreasing while the need continues to grow
For the special needs population, resource gaps in housing and
recreation were noted In addition, the report called attention
to the need to educate and further sensitize the town to the
particular problems faced by individuals with special needs
At the request of the School Department, the committee
participated in a task force which developed a proposed policy on
school attendance for students with AIDS and HIV infection and a
parallel employment policy, to be considered by the School
Committee for adoption
Looking to the future, in light of its expectations of increasing
social need, the committee has set as a major goal for the next
year increasing its efforts to keep the community informed of
human services needs as they arise and to suggest appropriate
responses to the town
( In 1990, the members of the Human Services committee were Renee
Cochin and Robert Cushman, Co-Chairmen; Richard Dougherty;
Leonora Feeney ; Ann Irving ; Barbara Levine Seymour Mandel ;
Sheila Martin; Dennis Murakami ; and Jack Sarmanian
1
4