HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-10-13-HSC-min.pdf Minutes
Human Services Committee
10/ 13//92
Present Renee Cochin and Donna Hooper Co-Chairmen; Ann Irving;
Dennis Murakami ; Rick Safford; Ruthie Liberman; Steve Baran,
Human Services Coordinator
Absent Eva Glick ; Eva Havas
Ruthie Liberman
Ruthie Liberman was welcomed as a new member of the Committee
Minutes
The Minutes of 9/ 16/92 were approved Steve' s notes on meeting
with RePlace of 9/21 /92 were corrected to show that RePlace
should not shift funds appropriated without the express
permission of the Human Services Committee
Co-Chairmen Report
There will be a meeting with the Trustees of Public Trusts on
10/21 A reply is awaited from Rick White to the Committee' s
earlier letter to him expressing concern about the Town' s letter
of intent with RePlace Renee has been trying to reach Jacquie
Smith to determine status of Committee' s Selectmen liaison
Coordinator' s Report
Steve reported
his attendance at a meeting to introduce a new infant
preschool program at Choate Health Management Inc
open house on Monday, October 5th; Steve was impressed
by the level of interdisciplinary competence shown;
they are prepared to do in-depth assessments,
particularly for preschoolers with disabilities and
emotional problems ; need for therapeutic day care for
Lexington pre-schoolers'
data has been arrayed to show history of human services
emergency fund utilization; patterns are suggested ; 35
cases to date ; needs assessment subcommittee needs to
review;
Recreation Subcommittee on Disabilities has been
surveying physical and policy aspects of programs
vigorous and informed approach under Harvey Lowell ,
Chairman; Eva Glick is representing Human Services
Committee
Human Services Committee 10/ 13/92 Page 2
RePlace budget negotiations
Renee reported
RePlace wanted to be paid in FY ' 93 for on-call
availability while providing less counseling, has had
no rate increase for counseling in last three years ;
request to be submitted for FY ' 94 budget with
consideration to building on-call availability into
basic counseling rate;
while RePlace has made progress in their reporting, it
remains difficult to know what the Town is paying for
RePlace continues to lack a clear sense of priorities ;
with more counseling in school department owing to
Martha Queenin ( former RePlace staff member ) becoming a
full -time staff member for the School Department, can
funds be reallocated into the community? what is the
proper school responsibility for youth services
complementing what RePlace does?
Ann and Rick will continue on the RePlace subcommittee and will
be joined by Donna
Long and Short-Term Goals
Plans developed in special subcommittee meeting on planning were
reviewed Ruthie Liberman has agreed to do analysis of town
agencies with Eva Havas likely to join her after being approached
by Renee Renee will send copy of plans to Jacquie Smith
Subcommittee Reports
Needs Assessment Committee
Needs Assessment Committee is looking at U S Census
data Bob Bowyer has offered his assistance as needed
Renee suggested additional possible data resources
Medicaid, Mass Rehabilitation Commission, Mass
Commission for the Blind, Mass Commission for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing ; Mass Department of Public Health
(Early Intervention Program)
Council on Aging
Donna reported "upbeat" feel of COA with special
interests in linkages and elderly abuse ; housing is not
a priority
Human Services Committee, 10/ 13/92 Page 3
Disability
Rick reported that there was a special table for
equipment for hard of hearing at Chamber of Commerce
Expo event Renee suggested that first step toward
making Town more accessible to hard of hearing should
be educational with Donna asserting the principle
( familiar to the Enablement Committee) that
accessibility to the disabled benefits everyone Cary
Hall auditorium was adduced as a case in point
Rick had attended meeting on co-housing ; Renee alluded
to continuing Lexington Housing Authority problems in
coping with one or more mentally ill tenants (also a
Statewide issue owing to deinstitutionalization)
Rick recently attended Eliot Community Human Services
open house, spoke with housing manager